<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Numerous large catfish were reported eased from Delaware River, a report said on <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia’s Facebook page. The fishing was hot, and the shop is carrying new baits in a special section for catfish and carp. Schoolie striped bass were angled from the river farther north at Trenton but also closer to the store off Station Ave. Local lakes gave up chain pickerel, largemouth bass and panfish.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale mostly took off from fishing, waiting for the worst of hot weather to become somewhat cooler, he said. He trolled for muskies on a lake, but the water was 85 degrees, awfully warm for the angling. He could’ve fished for different catches at cooler times of day, like leaving for a trip at 3 a.m. to fish the end of night into daybreak. But he decided to wait it out and enjoy relaxing. A front was now coming that should cool weather somewhat. Clients are slated to fish on a couple of his overnight trips for walleyes later this week on a lake. Those outings cast plugs to the fish. During the middle of the day in temperatures in the 90s, like yesterday that also had a completely clear sky and no wind, the chances of catching are low.  The beginning of the day, end of the day and night can fish best. Sometimes you have to pick your times this season. When water is warm like 85 degrees, fish will suspend in the thermocline where the water temp is changing from the 80s toward the top to a lower temp like the 70s and 60s deeper down. Dave also tries to avoid recreational boat traffic that can be heavy on weekends in the middle of the day this season at lakes like Hopatcong or Greenwood. Dave was at the Pocono Mountains last weekend and saw the Delaware River while traveling. The river looked low but great, he said. He apparently meant the water looked clear and attractive for fishing. Dave’s friend Paul Schmidt’s club the Northeast Bassmasters held a tournament Thursday on Lake Hopatcong, and about 16 pounds was the winning weight for five largemouths. That’s not bad, but Paul told Dave that largemouthing’s been tough in boiling water. If anglers can find the bass, Paul told Dave, they’ll catch. Bass anglers were looking in places like weeds and under docks and so on.

Fishing for trout on streams was finished, pretty much, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Little was heard about the angling in the heat. The heat can slow the fishing, but many anglers avoid trout fishing when water’s warm because the fight can kill the fish in the high temperatures. Not much was heard about Delaware River, except about small striped bass played on the river. A few bigger can show up at spots like where the Pequest or Musconetcong rivers enter the Delaware. One customer was fishing for the smaller stripers with a Zara Spook or Puppy and saw maybe a 30-incher follow a smaller striper that was hooked. Lake fishing was picking up. Largemouth bass were angled on Lake Hopatcong and Musconetcong Lake. Tackle fished for largemouths included jigs and pigs in weeds and, in mornings, chatter baits over weed beds. Fishing for walleyes and hybrid striped bass was good at Hopatcong at sunup or just before. Livelined herring were key. Northern pike were heard about from Budd Lake. Big pike swim there and can be hooked on classics like Red Devils or other big spoons on a slower retrieve.

Delaware River’s smallmouth bass fishing became good, according to some anglers, said Keith at <b>Hi-Way Sports Shop</b> in Washington. They said the angling had been slower, for some reason. The smallmouths were hooked on live hellgrammites or crawfish that the shop usually stocks, and could also be plugged on top-waters like a Rebel Pop-R. Not much was heard about striped bass from the river. Spruce Run Reservoir gave up consistently good hybrid striped bass fishing and should give up the fish until September. Customers bought herring to liveline for them. Some anglers fish for the hybrids beginning at 9 p.m. through the night. Some say 3 to 6 a.m. can fish best. But most anglers shoot for them in early morning or before daylight. Customers showed up in early morning to buy the herring every day.  Anglers said largemouth bass fishing was tough at Lake Hopatcong. A bass tournament was held there Saturday, but Keith was yet to hear results. Most anglers stop trout fishing on streams this time of year because of the heat. The heat can make the fishing difficult, but trout can also die during the fight in the high temperatures. If anglers fished for trout, they looked for current or at least deep water. No trout will be found in the warm shallows. One angler garden-wormed four trout he bagged on Musconetcong River. Little was heard from Round Valley Reservoir, and nothing was heard about trout from there. The only report about catching there was that a trip with an angler and daughter boated bass on jointed Rapala Original Floating Minnows and also caught bluegills on the outing. The angler found a submerged rock wall in 20 feet of water where he located the fish. The daughter wanted to catch the bluegills.

Lots of fish were weighed from the lake at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong, Laurie from the shop wrote in an email Thursday. The fish included Bryan Dunn’s 5-pound 2-ounce largemouth bass. Lou Marcucci stopped in with a 3-pound 9-ounce largemouth and a 4-pound 7-ounce smallmouth bass that he hooked on livelined herring. Jim Welsh checked in a 2-pound 5-ounce smallmouth and also reeled up several 3-pound walleyes and lots of perch and crappies on a trip. Hunter Good showed up with a 7-pound 7-ounce hybrid striped bass. Jerry Freeman and Jake Bozik both walked in with pickerel: Jerry’s a 4-pound 4-ouncer and Jake’s 3-pound 10-pouncer. Jake on his trip also hung several 1-pound rock bass. The Knee Deep Club will hold a hybrid striper tournament from 5 a.m. Saturday to 12 noon Sunday on the lake. Anglers can enter up to 8 a.m. Saturday, and Dow’s will be open early at 5 a.m. that day. Cash will be awarded for the three heaviest hybrids, and $20 gift certificates will be awarded for the fourth through sixth. 

Lot of nighttime fishing, probably because of the heat, said Virginia from <b>Hook House Bait & Tackle</b> in Toms River. Catfishing went well at night. The cats could be found at Brookside, Lake Riviera and Ocean County College Pond and the water at a couple of spots along Lakehurst Road. She thought that was part of the Toms River but was unsure. Nightcrawler or clams were fished for the cats. Sometimes anglers used Smelly Jelly or bunker oil on the baits. Yellow perch were nabbed at night on nightcrawlers along bottom. The Toms River at Trilco was notable for that. But yellow perch fishing was good during daytime at Winding River, Riviera and nearly all local lakes that held them. Panfishing was productive during daytime at many waters including Riviera and Winding River. Manasquan Reservoir fished well for largemouth bass. Quite a few smallmouth bass were socked there, too. Anglers fish the reservoir from electric-motored boats or kayaks. The launching fee is $10, Virginia thought but was uncertain. But places are available for shore anglers to fish the reservoir for largemouths, too, including the rock pile at the corner and a place that anglers call the Timbers. Catfish can also be angled at those spots. The reservoir holds many different species. So do Lake Shenandoah and Lake Carasaljo. Anglers might overlook Carasaljo, but it’s a big lake that does hold almost all catches. Virginia and family on a trip there made catches including pickerel, crappies, sunfish, yellow perch, largemouths and crappies. Crappie fishing could be good in early mornings and evenings at local lakes including Lester’s and Riviera, and at Trilco and Winding River.  Pickerel fishing could be good at many places. They could hit no matter what anglers fished for. Pickerel will bite including on paddletails on a jighead, killies and shiners. Hook House, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

Despite heat, fishing was great at many lakes and ponds last week, a report said on <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown’s Facebook page. Franklinville Lake, Laurel Lake and Bethel Mill Pond were some of the best places to catch. Mornings and evenings fished best. At Franklinville Lake, one angler socked three largemouth bass on a Live Target sunfish lure. At Bethel Mill, another put up three largemouths to 2 pounds on a KVD Sexy Shad. At Laurel, an angler totaled two largemouths to 3 pounds on a Yamamoto worm.

Not a lot of fishing was heard about from freshwater, maybe because heat kept anglers indoors, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But bass tournaments fished okay on lakes. Decent reports rolled in about largemouth bass catches from Union Lake. A couple of reports talked about alright largmouthing at Malaga Lake this week. Many largemouths were hooked in grass, often on Senko rubber worms or chatter baits. Mornings and nighttime were fished for them. The bass could be reluctant to chew in the heat of the day. Panfish like bluegills can hit in the heat. In saltwater, summer flounder fishing was decent, and the fishing seemed to be picking up on Delaware Bay. Flounder were still caught on back bays, but many throwbacks had to be weeded through. Flounder were boated on the ocean a little. A few customers got after kingfish in the ocean surf. Some decent reports were heard.

Back to Top