Shad arrive on the Delaware

[afishinado]

From the PFBC site: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/splsero.htm

American Shad have arrived on the Delaware!

PFBC Area Fisheries Manager Michael Kauffman reports, “The unusually warm weather has brought the American Shad run on early. Not only are the lead fish here, but we already electrofished American Shad about 35 miles above the head of tide at Riegelsville, Pa./NJ, on the Bucks/Northampton County line today."

"Adding to the surprise was that there appeared to be row shad, one was a buck. Usually we first hear of anglers catching them around Yardley or New Hope in lower Bucks County and just above the head of tide. River clarity and level are excellent for shad fishing at the moment and this discovery of shad in the river will add a few weeks to the average shad angler’s season.”

For more information about shad fishing on the Delaware River, check out our shad feature web page at: http://fishandboat.com/shad.htm.

Bucks County

Several anglers have reported catching the first few American Shad in the Delaware River, from Riegelsville south to Morrisville. This is very early, but the fish are there so go ahead on out and get ahead of the fishing pressure!

 

[Mike]

Yes, and before someone points out my spelling error...as in typing too fast for my own good...row shad should have been roe shad, as in shad roe (developed shad eggs enclosed within the ovarian sheath).

As for the fishing, the river level is great but the fishing is not a high percentage ball game as of tomorrow and Monday when I expect the river temp to be falling. You want to catch it on the next rise in water temp, which will occur later this week.

 

[sandfly]

I don't think they are early, right on time for winter like we had. I have records where I have caught lots of them around march 15th during a mild winter.

 

[krayfish2]

I got a text the other day.....catching them in Narrowsburg already.

 

[sandfly]

in February back in the day the old walleye fishermen would catch them at the Zane Grey hole, mouth of the Bushkill, etc. all were small buck shad under a pound.

I would be out at the wing dam in bucks county right now if I still lived down there. 8 wt. with lead core shooting heads.

 

[afishinado]

Der dare in the D

http://www.drsfa.org/fishin14.html

6 or 7wt rod, an 8 will work.

Cone head or bead head weighted bucktail or marabou streamers in a bunch of colors like these.

Sink tip line, but a floater will work if that's all you have > try adding a sinking poly leader with a short tippet.

Low light times are best for catching.

http://fishandboat.com/anglerboater/2000/maju00/mattshad.pdf

http://fishandboat.com/anglerboater/2006/03mayjun/feat1shad.pdf

http://fishandboat.com/pafish/shad/ab_claim_del_r.pdf


Give it a try.