Delaware 6/7

[Eskimo]

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I fished the Delaware Water Gap at Route 80 this afternoon.

It was weird because the rangers had the place locked down tight. I guess they were determined not to have the number of drowning they had had last summer. The main parking lot was gated off at one end and they had two park rangers closing the entrance at the other end. The lot was full of cars so I assume they let new cars in as other cars left.

The parking lot for the boat ramp (next to the beach) had a big sign that said "Parking By Permit Only". I have no idea what this permit thing is, so I left.

On the other side of route 80, they had the parking lots barricaded because they were full and the lawn area next to it was closed off to parking.

For some reason I can't explain, I was determined to fish the Route 80 area. I drove up to the parking space by the 3-minute light, unloaded my kayak, and sent my kayak tumbling off the steep bank into the water. I scared the crap out of an old bucket-sitter fishing under the bridge. Then I loaded my kayak up and paddled away.

The scenery and weather were beautiful, but the fishing was not great. I was catching fish, but I seriously didn't catch a Smallmouth bigger than eight inches all afternoon.

It didn't used to be this way. I recall the fishing being much better when I was younger. I'm not a fisheries biologist, but I blame over-harvest and the young-of-year disease (columnaris) for the poor yields.






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[FASTEDDIE29]

They are in!!! Yea buddy!!!:d

Fished the same area at the Gap today with the same results. All very small smb, a few rock bass and a load of blue gills on a blue fox. Water was extremely clear. I fished from the bridge up to the rapids not down river. I'm more a salt guy than fresh but I agree with your comments. Years ago I use to fish that area quite a bit and we would always get nice smb there. Was surprised at how many small fish there were today. Don't get me wrong in and of itself that's good to see. Actually I should probably say I was surprised there were no decent fish.

No matter even though it was scattered thunder showers almost all day up there, it was a very relaxing day on a very beautiful river. Couldn't believe how many dead shad there are on the banks of the river there. I assume these fish made it up river, died and floated down. Surprised they are that far down river as I thought shad ended their journey in upstate NY. Hope something didn't cause them ti die before making it to the promise land upriver. The banks were loaded with them, it almost looked like the Salmon River in November!

Dakota

[Eskimo]

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The Smallmouth fishery has catastrophically collapsed. Here is an article from a guy who believes the Delaware River lost 70% of its Smallmouth bass:

http://jbkasper-outdoors.com/River_Stories.php

A quote from the article:

Smallmouth fishing continues to be a big question mark and numbers have never been the same since the record years of 2007 and 2008. The spawn in 2009 produced one of the smallest ever on the river and the 2011 year class was also very poor. Enter the columnaris disease that ravaged the population in 2010 and 2011, and the fishing in 2013 was the poorest I have seen in the 50-plus years I have been fishing the river.

I guess the dead shad collect around Route 80 because the water slows down at that section. It was interesting to see all the vultures feeding on the fish. I bet a lot of bears are feeding along the river at night.


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Yes the volume of vultures was pretty amazing. I had the same thoughts about bears. I always worried about that at the Salmon River when venturing into the woods at 4 in the morning to secure a spot but everyone says there are no bears in that region which shocks because I would think that terrain would be perfect habitat for bears. I'm not a hunter so what do I know and apparently that's not the case.

But as I was walking back to my car down the single lane road between the three minute lights, I had the same thought about the NJ / Pa bear population. I would have to think after coming out of hibernation and I assume this is the time of year they have their cubs that the smell of those rotting shad would be something they couldn't pass up. As crazy as it sounds I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder for that exact reason! Sad to hear about the small mouth population, the Delaware was loaded with them for a long time and they're such a prize catch. Hopefully they mount a comeback.

Dakota

[420*NightCrawler]

I was up there buying tobacco in Milford PA this past Sunday and went up just past Pond Eddy looking for spots to park along the river and fish. I only fished for about 20 minutes, but managed 2 smb @ 14", 2 smb @ 8" and 2 rock bass. I was impressed with the fight on the 14" bass, having forgotten how much more fun river bass are on a line. All fish were picked up on a silver and grey 3" grub w/curly tail on a jig. Now is the time to be out there if you know some good spots to park and fish. I found a lot less spots along 97 north of Port Jervis. I should've hit the gap and north of there on Old Mine rd.

[ReelErIn]

WTG Budd!!!!