Fishing Log

Fishing out of Martin's Creek with my 14 year old daughter this afternoon and evening. She caught her first shad tonight. So far 5 for 7. Mostly buck. Nothing on down riggers, only the flat lines. But we are having fun!

2 hours on the Schuylkill this morning to get the taste of my humiliation up in Easton yesterday out of my mouth. 20 or so fish, a mixed bag of American, Hickory and River Herring. All but 1 fish on the 1/16th oz trailer dart. No American roes.....the season isn't done on the Schuylkill, but I can smell it from here.

I live 30 minutes from the Delaware and wish I could look out my window to see what the river looks like before I drive down there. Last night’s rain storms has me concerned the river is unfishable, turbid with debris. I found this (Live Cam),... http://www.lambertvilleriveredge.com/#vid Any comments on viewing the Day to Day water color as an indication of good fishing ? Can shad be caught in muddy water as well as clear water ?

I’ve been fishing Easton everyday for the last 3 weeks. The last good day was last Saturday for me. The first 2 weeks had the most fish and if it wasn’t for the cold water temps I would have done better but I honestly think most of the main run is up north from the water gap up so if you want to get into some good numbers take a ride up north! Every year is different and this year the cold water killed the bite most of April! I went trout fishing today in the Lehigh at treichlers bridge from 4 till 6 and caught 4 rainbows and one was over 20 inches! All on smelt gulp minnows! I might take a ride up to the gap tomorrow to try to get some shad! They are fun to catch and hopefully I won’t have to go further up to get good numbers! The people up north should do well for the next few weeks! So pack a lunch and take a ride!

RCusty pretty sure it’s vanish ? Label is worn off. Bare end of spool. About done with it. I would not expect many 8# lines can have opposing 4-5# fish that are hard fighters individually pulling against each other in current not break? Landed a pair of bucks last weekend but they were not sting enough to break same rig.

What kind of knot do you use for the dropper I at times use 8 pound trilene ht it test to almost 12 pound the dropper breaks sometimes after40 or 50 fish mostly when I grab the dart to land and release the fish I use a bloodknot dropper never had anyone show me another way

FINALLY - a more satisfying session showing some decent shad action. First morning session of the year from shore, amidst many so-so afternoon sessions and one decent Lambertville boat trip and one abysmal Eshback boat trip. Landed 19 of 27 hookups... Should have been 21 landed but had two double dart hookups where a big roe was tugging against another shad and both times it busted the 8# fluoro leader right above the dropper. Mostly roe in this mix. Hot dart starting out was a 1/32 Candy corn with UV tail behind a 1/4 ounce orange/white dart on a moderate jig/retrieve. Then felt need to slow it down as action slowed and went lighter to a 1/8 ounce Pink/white followed by a 1/32 "classic" red/white dart. All white tails. No was just drifting no reeling except at the end and it was my hottest combo of the session. Then darts went totally cold, and went to a #1 size Turqoise / chrome spoon and whacked out a quick 5 more and wanted to hit 20 but had a hard stop. Will be out in boat next two days... Fish very fresh, the cold water has kept them that way.

Fished Milford again yesterday. Same as day before. A short flurry in the morning then ya really had to work. Place is loaded up with fish, just not in the mood. Trolled up a 5# plus roe. The whole time I fought here she had quite the entourage. Just don't see anybody gettin big numbers. Went 6 for 6.

Randy, ...teach a man to fish and you aggravate his wife for years and years.

Finally back on the water after cold cold rain for a couple weeks. Water temp rising again in the low 50’s and numbers are right back where we left off. Yesterday 4 for 4 with 1 roe and three small buck. Today, bad timing 0/0 with mixed reviews from those who spent far more time than me. Still waiting for the numbers to set in. I think the thick run is still pending. Stay safe y’all...waters still cold PFD’s for you wader wearing folk still a good idea!!

shadini... thanks. I hope to hit martin's creek area Saturday. Matt... they are north and will be up north for a while!

Nice work Joseph C! You did a good deed for humanity and the proverb lives on! “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Where the devil is shadpappy?

Wanted to fish Poxono area but got intel parking lot was packed and I know would have been impossible to get a good slot. My buddy that pulled in there went down to Worthington instead at another popular spot. He and his partner fished 2 hours with no hits. Meanwhile I went way North, about 3 miles S of dingmans in what was once a good, proven shore spot but has really sucked this season and past 2. Had two hits, landed two very small bucks in 2.5 hours. I was fishing really good looking crystal clear water, covering the zone perfectly tried every color dart and spoon. The fish simply were not there. Will give it hell with boat this weekend

Fished harmony today 330-630 with kids, went 7 for 9, water temp 53 degrees , pretty cold for mid may!, debris still present, but tolerable, all caught on spoons on down riggers.

All fees should still be waived for the 2020 season. There is a fee office # in this article if you want to check ahead. https://www.nps.gov/dewa/learn/news/delaware-water-gap-national-recreation-area-temporarily-suspends-amenity-fees.htm Here it is. Fee Office at (570) 828-2321

Hi. Can someone clarify the situation at the Dingman's Bridge launch site. 1) Is it open, 2) is there a fee to park there? Thanks.

Fellow shad fishermen! The US Army Corp of engineers is proposing to build a “floating classroom” of over 5400 square feet and locate it just downstream of fairmount dam on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. The area they are proposing is the only area of the river that provides habitat for juvenile shad during their growth and outmigration to the ocean in the Fall as well as bank access for fishermen. Once in plane it will serve as habitat for the predatory snakeheads and flathead catfish that feed on juvenile shad and lead to increased predation! The facility could be moved about 1000 feet downriver and away from the critical juvenile shad habitat. The Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association has written to the USACOE to express their concerns and ask that the facility be moved downriver so the critical juvenile shad habitat can be preserved. If you would like to express your concerns, the person to send comments to by May 14, 2020 is David.J.Caplan@usace.army.mil Thank you!

Hi Tony | e c twp lancaster co, I've not witnessed it myself, but i have it on good authority that Shad have gotten to the Flat Rock Dam.

Rob, thanks for the info, Dingmans is my usual launch on the D. I'll see you out there.

Fished north of dingmans 330 to 700. Landed 26 lost 3 water temp 51, river rising but clear, a little debris, windy

Where is shadpappy?

Fishing from a boat. Flutter spoons. I made several phone calls and letters. Finally found a sympathetic ear. Got ramp open last week. Best fishing during downpours.

Another good couple of hours on the Schuylkill for me on the way home from work today. It was windy, but with lots of quiet spells thrown in. I have no idea of how many fish, but I believe that the tally ran 4 or 5 Hickories to each White shad. I was throwing a dart with a little 1/16th oz curly tail. Since I rerigged with 10# mono instead of 6# I fished all afternoon without losing a dart until the very last fish. That one swallowed the trailer jig so I broke it off and sent him swimming. Not much company. Met a youngish guy named Edwin who caught his first shad. Good going Edwin!