Lehigh Valley Wild

FROM THE MORNING CALL

The boat launches at Beltzville Lake and Blue Marsh Lake have reopened and anglers are hitting the lakes with gusto as the water levels have risen and temperatures have cooled.
The Little Lehigh was stocked with more than 800 trout in the 12-18 inch range from the Lil-Le-hi Trout Nursery this past Sunday. That stocking took place above the nursery. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocked the creek below the nursery on Tuesday.
The powers-that-be at Tuscarora State park are reminding boaters that all watercraft must be removed from the public boat mooring area by October 31. Anyone unable to do that should contact the park office at 570-467-2404.

FRESHWATER REPORT

Wallenpaupack Sports Shop, Hawley (570-226-4797): Mark says the stripers have started hitting on Lake Wallenpaupack and the bite is on for plenty of action. Stripers measured up to 21 and 24 pounds were caught while shallow trolling with Husky jerk baits in broad daylight. Winning weights for the bass tournaments were 21 and 22 pounds. Walleye up to 28 inches have been caught using Rattlin’ rogues along the shoreline at night. Pickerel in the 3-5-pound range are going after live bait. Calico are feasting on fathead minnows on a regular float in the back ends of coves. The smallmouth bass bite is also on. Lake Shohola has been giving up 3-5 pound bass on live bait from the shore. Calicoes are going after minnows at night. Fairview Lake has been good for trout while trolling with spoons. The Lackawaxen River won’t receive its fall trout stocking for another few weeks, but anglers are having success using Thomas spinners and small Rapalas in the deeper pools. Upper Woods anglers have been limiting out on 12-15-inch trout hitting BerkleyPowerBait in 10-15-feet of water.




Peck’s Pond Boat Rentals, Tackle & Bait, Dingmans Ferry, (570-775-7237):
peckspondrentals@yahoo.com
www.peckspond.com
Roger says the shop is now open only weekends and holidays.



Willie’s Bait & Tackle, Cementon (610-261-2767): Willie says the Little Lehigh has been hot since it was stocked. The Pohopoco Creek has also turned back on for trout thanks to higher water and cooler temperatures. The Lehigh River trout action is starting to pick up as well. The smallmouth bass are still there, but their run is almost finished. A lot of fishermen went out this week, but not many were reporting back. End-of-the-season largemouth bass action is on at Beltzville. A big muskie got pulled out of Kaercher’s Creek, measuring in at more than 40 inches. Mauch Chunk bass action is on.

Backwoods Angler Guide Service, Bethlehem, (610-868-9349):
www.backwoodsangler.com
Blaine Mengel says that the Delaware River near Belvidere was at about five feet on Thursday and expected to rise a little due to the predicted rains for Thursday and Friday. The water temperature is in the high 50s to low60s with a very light stain, but much clearer than last week. Fishing will be tough through the weekend but should light up next week. Smallmouth bass are in current and haven’t retreated to wintering holes yet, so target shoreline cover, pocket water and smaller, shallow eddies with fast water or anything with a current break. Spinner baits, crank baits, jerk baits and tubes should all work. Last week, Blaine was on the Juniata River filming his TV that runs on Service Electric. The North Branch of the Susquehanna was fishing better before the rains, but will probably be blown out for a few days because of the weather.



Little Lehigh Fly Shop, Allentown, (610-797-5599):
www.littlelehighflyshop.com
Rod says the Little Lehigh was stocked last week, but stealthy anglers can target native wild trout on the stream near the shop. Before the rains, the water was discolored but fishable, and the temperature was 62.9 degrees. Al’s rats continue to be hot, and flying ants are the ticket in the evening. The Little Lehigh Fly Shop scuds are still working in the evening. Patterns to use include Size 18 pheasant tails, Giffiths gnats, honeybug inchworms, terrestrials, craneflies, blue winged olives., tricos and sculpins. Midges, tricos, baetis and craneflies are in hatch.

Archery @ The Glenn, Allentown, (610-791-7665): Tom says the Little Lehigh was stocked this week so it should be pretty good there above the fish hatchery and below. Trout fishing should be good for the next few weeks.

Mike’s Bait & Sports Shop, Nazareth, (610-759-2905): Mike says a lot of anglers are fishing in New Jersey chasing the trout that were recently stocked. On this side of the Delaware, Pennsylvania stocked the Bushkill and McMichaels creeks. Blaine was up at Beltzville and caught some giant blue gills along with white perch. Pickerel are hot at Minsi.

Klotz’s Bait Shop, Hellertown (610-838-7970): Caroline says the shop closes at 5 p.m. now and is closed on Wednesdays. Few anglers are returning with reports and many people are enjoying bow hunting right now. A lot of people are heading to the Little Lehigh for the stocked trout.

Rick’s Bait & Tackle, Maiden Creek (610-926-8888): Lee says the crappies are hot at Ontelaunee and Blue Marsh. Walleyes are being caught in the Blue Marsh spillway. Bass are hitting on shiners and bobbers at Ontelaunee.


Nockamixon Sports Shop, 808 Doylestown Pike, Quakertown (215-538-9553): Matt says the striper bite is picking up on the lake. Both catfish and crappie action have been good, but the crappies are on the smaller side. Largemouth bass are active in the weed beds in the afternoon using medium jigs and soft plastics. The feeding is down, so you have to work them hard, and mid-afternoon seems like the best time right. Small stripers are being hit in the same area toward evening, in 10-15 feet of water. Muskies are in the smaller size at this point. Smallmouth action is down on the lake. No reports about action on the Delaware River. Lake Galena has been pretty quiet.



OTHER SOURCES
The Pocono Angler, 570-657-6641
www.thepoconoangler.com

A Sporting Lifestyle, Allentown (610-434-3311):


SALTWATER REPORT
NEW JERSEY
The Tackle Box in Hazlet (732-264-7711)
www.striperspecial.com/home.html
Phil says the striper fishing on the boats is really good, and they’re eeling out at Sandy Hook, catching fish up to 25 pounds. Party boats are jigging and catching fish up to 30 pounds. Trolling boats are catching them between the channels. Most of the action is in the deep water with few in the surf. It should only get better as we head toward November. Porgies and black fish are still being caught on the reef. The weather the next few days could mix things up a bit.



BARNEGAT BAY
Brielle Tackle (732-528-5720):
www.brielletackle.com
There have been some small stripers in the morning caught on the surf, and some occasional big blue fish. Sea bass season is closed for two weeks, but ling and cod are being caught.




DELAWARE
Rehoboth Beach, Del.:
Old Inlet Bait & Tackle (302-227-7974)
www.oldinlet.com
Clark says the tautog are active off the rocks. Stripers are starting to appearing in keeper size. A few of the anglers were catching them in the 24-27-inch range. Action with blues has really slowed down, and flounder closed on Wednesday.

OTHER SOURCES

Little Egg Inlet: Scott’s Bait & Tackle (609-296-1300)
www.scottsbt.com

Capt. John Brackett of the Queen Mary
(732-899-3766)
www.njqueenmary.com/FishingRpt.htm

Capt Dave Riback's Purple Jet
(1-888-780-TUNA)
www.purplejet.com

Seaside Park: Betty & Nicks Bait & Tackle (732-793-2708)
www.bettyandnicks.com, place your cursor on the red tab that reads “B&NINFO” and click on “Fishing Report.”

Ship Bottom: Fishermen’s Headquarters (609-494-5739)
http://fishing_report.home.comcast.net/~fishing_report/1.html

Beach Haven: Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association
(www.fishbeachhaven.com)

SOUTH JERSEY
Capt. Brian DiLeo
Iowa Fortune Guide Service (609-432-6618).
www.iowafortune.com
Daily reports can be found at www.iowafortune.com


DELAWARE BAY FROM N.J.
Capt. Tim Smith
Bodacious Sport Fishing
856-785-1205 (day), 856-447-5000 (evening), 609-820-2019 (boat)
www.bodaciousnj.com
Fishing reports on the website.

http://blogs.mcall.com/outdoors/2010/10/the-boat-launches-at-beltzville-lake-and-blue-marsh-lake-have-reopened-and-anglers-are-hitting-the-lakes-with-gusto-as-the-w.html