Fishing Log

We usually fish out of the ramp at Dingman's Ferry but just got notice that it will be closed until almost the end of May. Any helpful information or tips for fishing out of Eshback or maybe Bushkill access? Just looking for anything to point us in the right direction in those stretches so we can catch some fish until they open our ramp back up.

Finally caught my first shad of the year on my third outing. Actually, I hooked 7, landed 5. One on downrigger, the rest on crankbait rig. Orange and black on gold were the only colors that worked. Very tough day. But from 3:45 to 5:15, I had decent action at the Lehigh River confluence island.

Fished after lunch today landed 4 out of 7. Red and white spoons for me worked best but orange/black and yellow/green all caught. Right on bottom. I was in 8' of water temp 51.5 Best of luck to all and hopefully it will be a great tournament

Shadharris r you taken north of water gap

Got out just N of gap with my son in the boat. Slow very slow action. 1:30-4:30, 7 hookups, 3 netted, all small bucks. I was in the absolute best spot of the river, where I have gotten 15-20 shad an hour with ease in the past in mid-April. Good conditions, water 49 and rising. The fishfinder was only marking a few fish here and there which explained the lack of action, but hey it's fishing and it's still early. Saw 3 shore guys hookup with a couple but slow for them too. Had a bit of drama to start. Left ramp, boat up on plain and engine cut out. Ball would not pump - no suction at all. I removed the 4 screws holding the gas line connection to the tank - and my suspicion confirmed - the plastic tube with a filter at the end disconnected from the valve and was underneath 4.5 gallons of gas. Needed to drain the tank to fish it out. What to do? Had a 4 gallon empty chlorine bucket. Poured gas into that, but still half gallon remaining. Have a cut laundry soap container for a boat bailer / "pee jug". That took the remainder of the gas. Fished out the plastic tube and reconnected... VERY loose will not trust it again have to replace... Scooped gas out of pail with boat bailer and back in business

Joseph C. For sure, looking forward to it. My wife is currently 35 weeks pregnant so hopefully we can make something work. If not...I’ll see you next year. :)

Age 66 ,I fish year round for anything that swims.

Anywhere from New Hope area to north of Easton.

Thanks Joseph C, that gives me hope as I do as well. Congrats on the double, that’s awesome! I’ve yet to catch even 1 ever, I hooked one as a kid once but lost it about 10’ out. Maybe this is my year.

Are you guys in boats or wading?

Any reports of shad up north? Sandyston wallack area?

They should unlock the gates. They can keep the toilets locked. It is the fisherman who will remove the debris from the ramp

Haven't heard much from dingmans bridge

Estcu, I feel much better! Thanks! I think it's going to turn on in the whole lower river as soon as night time temps stay over 50F. WG, you've been very quiet. (These days my mind immediately leaps to concerns for somebody's health when I don't hear from them. I hope all's well with you and yours.) I met a fella named Chris who's known you a long time fishing the Schuylkill. I think you taught him his main shad skills as well.

Joe, I stayed through low tide and 1.5 hour into incoming at trenton today and nothing. Hope I calmed your fears :)

I spent an hour at the bridge in Trenton yesterday. Nada. I saw 1 fish landed by a guy fishing with his son in a boat 50 or 60 yards out. I think the tide was fine, the water flow rate and clarity were fine and the temperature was just a bit too cold. I was throwing darts, which is contrary to most guys fishing that locale, but the spoon chucker next to me wasn't doing any better than I was.

Only landed 11 yesterday,1dead sticking,5 on crankbait and torpedo rigs,nothing casting. Water was very dirty in spot a and b,had to run up river around 3 miles for cleaner water above a tributary that was dumping chocolate milk on pa side.

THE SHAD HOTLINE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED DUE TO THE MONTHLY COST OF 70 DOLLARS, CHECK FACEBOOK OR THIS SITE FOR REPORTS..SORRY JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE DRSFA

The curse of R-ville is over! Put in a lot of time and finally did 1 for 2! Another nice trip on the river. Also want to commend those folks practicing good social distancing! Folks were taking turns on the dock, spread out on shore and obviously boat traffic was nothing. Three boats out today including me. Now, some folks at the launch are not social distancing well...if you are talking with someone and they keep walking away (like me) don’t follow them!..or lean all up on their boat...or try to climb in the car window while launching...my goodness! Our president has asked us all to do our part, let’s! Be a germaphobe now and let’s fish this season and next! Out on Thursday for next trip, hope numbers are better! But hey 1 is better than none! Anyone know how to make these things taste better?

I'm reading these posts and would like to inform the disheartened anglers that it is still March. While we have had warmer overall temperatures, it is still March. I don't think the timing of the run will change much from what its been in the past. I'm now retired so I have time to get out, but I'm in no hurry. Once the sun starts shining consistently, the river will warm up and the shad will begin biting. Not to worry. Binge watch Ozark on Netflix. It's great!

also have downrigger release clips

Keith, not to discourage you, but once you catch a feisty shad, trout fishing will never be the same. Maybe the big lake run fish like they get up in Pulaski would be something to pursue, but shad are the wonders of our waters here, IMO.

fished Easton sunday from 11-6..got one right away, that was it for the day..water temp dropped..was 49..dropped to 46-47

My two boys (ages 12 and 15) fished for 2 hours at Stockton this afternoon (2:30-4:30 PM). We from shore on the PA side from right under the Center Bridge to about 150 yards down stream (covered some fast moving water and a nice eddy below the bridge). Not a single strike in 6 person-hours of fishing--though this could be related to our lack of experience. We lost several darts and flutter spoons to snags. I suspect there is a lot of debris in the water there. Water temp read 44 degrees on my thermometer. Turbidity was moderate (I could see my dart, down through about 20 inches of water).