Fishing Log

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!

SHAD HOTLINE.....River stage at Reigelsville 6.3..Water temp is 52....water temperature has fish turned off..fronts are not helping either.Fished south of Easton .boated 8 lost 2 until thunder storm chased us off..Slow pick until water temp gets in the 50s...river has a slight stain...All fish on dipseys....

Jack, a few years ago I used to use Seagar fluorocarbon leader for between my barrel swivel and spoon. I can't tell you how many times I would pull a knot tight and the line would break. I thought maybe I had a bad spool. Other spools I bought had the same thing happen. I now use the same line I spool my reel with as the leader too. I've NEVER had that problem again and it didn't make any difference catching fish either. I'll never buy that stuff again.

fished from shore 12:45 to 4:30. Landed some nice quality fresh fish up to 5.1 # - went 10 of 12 hookups and several other bumps. NO action from 3 to 4:30 though. The action was building steadily as the water temps rose from 46.5 to 48.5 but then it just shut off like cold turkey. Guess the water go too warm for them! LOL . 5 roe / 5 bucks all nice fish. Highlight was a double landed, pair of bucks... Easiest fight of the day they just pulled against each other and swam right to shore.

JOSEPHMTREE at YAHOO dot COM

A good afternoon's fishing in the Schuylkill yesterday afternoon. A mix of Hickories and White shad on darts. The bite dropped off as the weather crapped out. One other guy there who caught more Americans than I did and more Hickories, too.

Can anyone recommend some good shore fishing spots within an hour's drive of Philly? In the past we have tried these: • Bull's Island (it looks like that may be reopened now), • Prallsville Mills Park NJ, • under Stockton Bridge on PA side • Delaware Canal State Park in PA (Virginia Forrest Recreation Area, and upstream across from the quarry) • Washington Crossing It is tough to get into deeper water without a boat. We have a canoe, and could try that for a short drift. Would need to get a suitable anchor. Thoughts?