Delaware Dilemma

[mtman]

I have been trying my luck on the Delaware since mid summer hoping to get a handle on some smallie fishing.I have floated in my kayak various stretches from Dingmans to the Gap,usually averaging about 5-6 miles.I have been trying during the later part of the day when traffic is usually less.This past Wed. I tried a little bit earlier since I knew the river would be empty.The best I can seem to do is 2-3 fish per trip.I throw everything at them and only hook up with a chrome/blue rattle trap.I Have tried anchoring and using jigs but no luck.Not looking for any spots because I am limited in my trips by how far I can bike from my truck to where I launch since I go solo often.Any ideas are appreciated.Thanks

[go_fish]

Have you tried hellgrammites for bait?

[mtman]

No because I am drifting most of the time, I thought that lures would be better than bait, tho if I anchor I guess I could give it a try.

[Eskimo]

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Hey, I never thought of leaving a bicycle down stream to peddle back to my car upstream after a drift. That's an interesting idea.

I can't help you much with the smallmouths.
Good-sized bass aren't really 'common' anywhere on the river, especially after the columnaris outbreak a few years ago. If you put your time in, you'll find a bass here-and-there and every once in a while you'll have a crazy day where the big bass are stacked deep and piled high.

I suspect the harvest pressure on the Smallmouths of the Delaware River is higher than it should be for a sustainable fishery. Baby bass are fairly common, but the population drops off quickly as they get bigger. Where did they all go? :confused:



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[Delawareriver]

Havnt done much small mouth fishing the last few years but this time of year I always had good luck either using small spinners mimicking the shad fry, or brown gitzit tubes bouncing along the bottom. Takes a little practice learning how to work the tubes and telling the difference between strikes and boulders but I had some great trips 20-40 fish on some afternoons, mostly the average 8-12" but caught plenty if 15-20" to keep it interesting.

Would be hard to get hillgramites if not impossible this time of year but doesn't matter if anchored or drifting they will put fish any other bait or lure. Can float them under a bobber or just add a small split shot, cast into good looking areas especially current seams next to fast water and drift them thru

[mtman]

Not really concerned with size of the fish as much as action,it's just the down time between hits .I fished for 5 hours on Wed. with only 2 fish to show for it. I agree learning to drift tubes and jigs has taken me some time which is why I end up throwing the rattle trap so much.
I use the Mcdade trail on the PA side for the bike path ,the only downside is leaving the kayak and gear until I pedal back.Thanks for the replies.

[Togman316]

Can't beat the old night crawler. Also, Yamamoto plastic worms work great.

[Dave B.]

Hellgies, hands down. Otherwise known as 'Smallmouth Crack'. If there's a smallie within sight or smelling distance they'll hit the hellgrammite, period. Drift them like drifting bait for trout with a couple of shot, or under a bobber set a bit deep it doesn't matter. If there's a smallmouth around you'll catch 'em.

[XXlyakattacker]

1/4 Oz Joe's fly spinner with yellow tail. Fish the fast water.

[Jersey Charlie]

About five hundred yards south of the Dingman's Bridge closer to the Jersey side there's a "small mouth hot spot". Just float a night crawler and watch the action begin. Haven't been there in years but I'll bet it still produces.
My 2 cents.

[bigfishy]

Keep the change!!!
Almost the entire length up to the tidle line has multiple "hot spots" per mile of river.....

[jimmythegreek]

if you are gonna drift fish w bait nothing beats a walking sinker w either a shiner or a worm on a 4-5ft leader behind it. you dont wanna walk the bottom you wanna touch it every 5-10 seconds to know ur in the strike zone. you can also use a walking sinker w a spinner harness and nightcrawler if you are moving above 1.2mph and just cruise like that, they catch EVERYTHING that swims no joke and the flash together w the tasty worm is killer. When all else fails my goto is that setup on any body of water