Fishing Log

TRAIN WRECK Shad from the Delaware are used to provide juveniles for the Susky. For each adult taken from the Delaware to provide spawn for the program 250 juveniles are supposed to be stocked in the Delaware. Although the DRSFA has a shad in schools program, there is no real aggressive program in place to enhance the Delaware population. The fishery came back naturally from a very low level in the 50s really blossoming after Philly finally got sewage in 1981 reducing a pollution block from 30 miles long and lasting 6 months to 10 miles long lasting only 2 months. The sewage decomposition used up the oxygen. NJ stocked shad in the Raritan system to get a run started there.

As soon as I get heeled up a bit I'll be down to Zane Grey to shoot the shit with all my fishing buddies.Thanks for the invite Shad Harris but I promised the wife I'd be careful with this and let it heel up good. I have to go in twice they're going to do 3 the first time and 2 the 2nd.

So we'll see if this works. If so, Shad Harris has always helped anyone and is a gentleman, RPS from Greeley, get your butt down to Zane Grey with a lawn chair for recovering when the weather warms up a bit, we met last year one time, you can always chew the fat and give some advice to folks. 5 hernias? Dude, you're supposed to point the shotgun AWAY from yourself!!

@ SH I am cancelling my plans to shad fish - if water temps rising instead of falling I would be all over it. Good luck to those that give it a shot. Now don't you look like a fool.

Thanks ShadHarris. Usually fish by Worthington but have occasionally fished Coppermine. Not in past couple of years.Figured it would be an option, not so much anymore. I don't mind walk from Poxono though so you never know. No worries, I always park in the car spots unless I have the boat .

to the other anonymous poster - I did end up fishing yesterday. Read again. Morning river forecast had Gap area going from 6' to over 8, lower river reports of two charter guys showed river up and muddy and "they" decided to pass. I was sharing that info - not creating "lies". By mid-day, river forecast for gap area showed no change at all. So I went and made an actual report. Not sure what your actual problem is?

To the anonymous poster. Saw a video in morning of a guide in that area showing chocolatey debris filled water and he deciding not to go. Also checked several gauges from Easton to Lambertville and saw a surge. Surprisingly up by gap was not impacted but the early morning river forecast said it would be then it wasn’t. . Good for you - great job. Whoever you are.

Against better judgement and once I saw that N of Eason got no big increase in water and rain, and the sun came out and it hit 51, I ran over and launched near Shawnee solo with boat. Mainly to break in a new 20hp motor on the 14' Crestliner Jon. Low expectations. Anchored 3:15, and landed 6 bucks in 25 minutes (one double landed both). Wow - but that also happened when sun was burning through clouds... Then it got cloudy and died... Ended up with one more flurry when sun barely broke through, landing one to make "7" and 3 other quick hookups lost. Ran motor for another 30 minutes and off by 6pm. Water is super low did not go up a bit. We need rain. I never fished shad this stretch this low. Mother nature looking to kill it for a while - she is trying real hard!

Crackleback - very long walk from Poxono launch to the coppermine “lot” that is no more. There is room for max of 4 cars along the road by old lot and that is all. Suffice to say given popularity of that spot that you can still fish - better sleep there overnight to get parking. Please do NOT park at Poxono in any area for boat trailers. There are very limited trailer spots there. Current conditions at 9:45am 4/6 show Stockton up 2’, Easton up a foot, and gap barely up a few inches but forecasted to go up over 2’ by tomorrow. Reports From Reigelsville show unfishable chocolate debris-filled water and Lambertville area reporting same. Looks still some clean water up north but the problem is temps plummeted from 53 at Gap Friday to about 49 now and dropping. I suspect some fish can be caught N of gap today if you want to put the time in as waters rise and chill further. I am cancelling my plans to shad fish - if water temps rising instead of falling I would be all over it. Good luck to those that give it a shot.

1 Shad 1 Fallfish today and a boot full of cold water.

I got the skunk tonight wading, north Worthington, never had a hookup. My buddy went 2 for 2 roe/buck. Another buddy 4 miles north wading got 3 but very very slow overall between us. Another buddy down in New Hope area got 37 from boat but started slow and moved and started casting darts for most of the catch. I got 52.5 to 53 degree water temp, gin clear and super low N of gap. Clearly not a large body of fish up here but some can be caught (just not by me).

RIVERWOLF It depends on how many lures were being fished. Some boats have so many lures in the water they are almost literally netting them.

A boat on lower river netting 40 shad in 4hrs...do the math per hour... alot of early runners....

Alex - just be aware the federal government took away a major parking area just south of Poxono launch. They repaved that section and sealed off all access for hikers and shore fisherman. Also the road from Millbrook Village to the old schoolhouse is a complete disaster of world-class potholes. At least the road is open, but they did NOT fix that entire stretch as they should have and now we lost more access for the shore fisherman. I am heading over later to fish closer to Gap for first outing of the year.

Does anyone know if Old Mine Rd is open from the Water Gap to Tocks Island yet, any info will help, thanks

RPS, what the heck am I supposed to do now! How will I know when they are hitting at Lackawaxen? Seriously, thanks for your honest updates in the past as someone else had mentioned, they have been a big help. Hope that your procedure and recovery goes well. Say the word if you want some roe or meat and I will try to help you if I am fortunate this year. Watching temps and anxiously waiting!

Sorry to hear RPS out of action this season. It's a reminder for everyone to be greatful for any time we get to spend on our Delaware

Rain hurt today's bite, Managed 24.

Phil M. Thanks for the advise I was told I have 5 that have to be repaired so I guess I be laid up for a while.

I drove down to the Schuylkill this afternoon. After a very slow start I finally got a fish to chew on my dart. Turned out to be a catfish, but it was a fish. A bit later I hooked a small shad (hickory) and landed it. Then a couple more hickories bit and released themselves, as they will do. Finally I got a solid thump and managed to land a gorgeously lilac-ed buck shad. Yahoo! my 1st of the year!

DUFF & CHJARLIE; IS THAT YOUR COMBINED RESULT?

Yes, Potomac Hickories, hours of them

we picked up 6 in about 3hrs even mix of roe/buck. crankbait spoon combination got the fish

RICK, POTOMAC; mostly hickories?