Fishing should improve barring hurricane remnants

If you want big fish, consider booking a saltwater trip on The Big Jamaica out of Brielle, NJ where these anlgers caught nice Mahi Mahi. Contributed photo

With all the rain we had, productive fishing came to a halt as fishermen had to wait for local streams to clear and recede. When that happens most die-hard anglers hit the lakes as they’re generally not as affected by rain.  

But with cooling temperatures, fishing picked up over the weekend and may continue barring any hurricane remnants. Our fishing reporters have this to say:

Willie from Willie’s Bait & Tackle in Cementon says in light of  all the rain, the Lehigh River cleared quickly but is still on the high side. Despite this, trout, smallmouth bass and rockfish are being caught at the Cementon/Northampton dam area. And they’re being caught mostly on worms. One customer fished the Lehigh near Bowmanstown where Lizard Creek enters and caught over 20 trout, mainly rainbows. And believe it or not, he was using Chinook salmon eggs. 

Then there’s the fisherman who came in the shop for bait and said he was catching loads of fallfish by wading the lower section of the Lehigh near Hokendauqua. In between fallfish bites, he had what he estimated to be a 30-inch musky on, but lost it. 

A few lucky anglers discovered that Trout Creek in Slatington has been producing leftover trout from the deep holes in this small stream. 

As for lake fishing, Leaser Lake seems to continually produce  Muskie, panfish and small largemouth bass. But no trout. Speculation has it the stocked trout there became a dining delight for the muskies. Maybe that’s why they’re getting so large so quick.

Willie added that Mauch Chunk Lake was fishing fairly good for largemouths and panfish and a few local anglers have been hitting Pocono lakes like Shohola for anything that bites during local high water times. 

Mike from Mike’s Bait & Tackle in Nazareth said, once the Delaware River cleared, locals were picking up good numbers of smallmouths and a few walleyes, all on medium shiners. Seems they want meat. 

Mike was getting good trout reports from the Big Bushkill Creek where guys have been picking off leftovers from spring-summer stockings. 

One customer, who primarily fishes small lakes in the Poconos, said he was catching 12-15 inch crappies up there, but wouldn’t divulge what lake. 

And for those who heard Shohola was weed-choked earlier in the season, Mike said the lake has reportedly cleared-up somewhat and is more fishable now that the weeds died-off. 

Bill Brinkman of Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle in Philadelphia,  says Kevin, a regular customer, evening-fished the Water Gap on the Delaware River for four hours with Zara Spooks, Tiny Torpedo’s, 3 and 4-inch Fin-S and Senko worms and caught 20-30 smallies. Another angler fished from Long Eddy to Callicoon and picked up 47 smallmouths, one striper, four bluegills and a bunch of river chubs. 

On the saltwater scene, Brinkman said several surf fishermen hooked-up some kingfish and croakers from Cape May and Wildwood with bloodworms and Fish Bites. Up at Atlantic City in the Back Bay, one customer hooked a few blackfish and sea bass on squid and clams along the rocks. Off the jetties at Island State Park, a few smaller bluefish where being caught with mullet and metal spoons. 

From The Fisherman magazine comes reports that ocean swells of 4-7 feet are building to 6-10 feet, so forget offshore. But inshore striper action has come alive with live eels scoring fish in the northern region as well as to the Mullica River. Big Blues, they say, are on the prowl down into Cape May County. And coastal party boats are mixing it up with catches of bluefish, ling, bonito and porgies. 

Anglers should keep their fingers crossed that hurricane remnants are minor, as fish generally go on-the-feed once water temperatures dip. 
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CABELA’S LADIES DAY OUT EVENT

Cabela’s is celebrating female outdoor enthusiasts and helping them enjoy the great outdoors this fall by offering educational activities, discounts and more during its Ladies’ Day Out event, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. 

The event will offer free, hands-on activities hosted by local experts that inform and instruct customers on a wide variety of outdoor equipment, while also preparing them to enjoy time pursuing their interests in the great outdoors.

“We want to support our female customers and help them find or build their passion for outdoor recreation. Whether they are looking to branch out and explore a new activity, or they are an experienced outdoor enthusiast, Cabela’s is here for them and wants to help in any way we can,” said Ron Leh, Retail Marketing Manager. 

Free activities and seminars offered between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday will include:
* Archery fitting and testing in the Archery Range
* Flip and pitch casting and fishing
* NRA’s Self Defense: Refuse to Be a Victim class

Additional activities throughout the event will include: 
* Dutch Oven Cooking
* Intro to Archery

In addition to seminars and product displays, Cabela’s will offer an in-store discount to all customers, female and male, who attend seminars throughout the weekend. Every attendee will receive a “VIP Badge” to present at checkout that earns them employee pricing on all in-store purchases made during the Ladies’ Day Out event.

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