Fishing for Northeast Pennsylvania Shad

As we begin the month of May, anglers in the northeast region are still making their way to the Upper Delaware to cash in on some very unique angling opportunity. Shad begin arriving at Delaware Water Gap by mid-April but spawning fish can still be found in the upper stretches of the river through mid-June.

They do not eat once they enter fresh water, and will smash baits because they believe it to be a threat to their eggs. When you fish, look for the place where the current and slack water come together. Shad will hug this edge where they will not have to fight the current as hard but can still follow it. It is a beautiful fish, with a metallic blue-green back that lightens to silver along its sides and a black spot at the shoulder, with several smaller spots behind. The American shad can reach a length of 30 inches, and is the largest – and considered the most delicious to eat – of all the shads.

Shad fishing can be fun for almost anyone willing to give it a try, as they do not require a lot of specialized tackle. Shad can be taken with spinning gear, fly rods or even bait-casting equipment. Shad are notoriously soft-mouthed, and this must be considered when choosing your tackle in that you do not pick a super stiff set-up that will not provide enough play. The most popular lure selection is probably the old stand-by, the shad dart. These come in all colors and sizes, and the best bet is to bring a handful and keep switching to see what will work on a given day. Flutter spoons are gaining in popularity with spinning gear anglers, and shadflies are what most fly fishermen seem to prefer. Cast your bait slightly upstream and pump the rod as you retrieve. From an anchored boat, let one line out back about twenty yards to bounce in the current while you cast another.

There are a number of shad “hot-spots” as you venture north along the Delaware River, with about 12 public boat launches in the region between Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties. In the lower stretch are Smithfield Beach, Bushkill, Eshback, Dingman’s Ferry, and Milford. By mid-June, these areas may be slowing a bit and the action might be farther up the river. One of my long-time favorites and a place I have been fishing for shad as long as I can remember is the Zane Grey pool, located where the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers converge. The launch here is good, the water is deep and there is plenty of room for everyone.

Above this is another very popular launch, located at the village of Darbytown, adjacent to Narrowsburg, New York. The pool at Narrowsburg is one of the deepest in the river, and shad are caught here in good numbers. Still heading north you will find a launch at Damascus where Route 371 crosses the river.

If the shad action is slow when you visit, then take advantage of some of the often-overlooked opportunity provided by the river’s smallmouth bass numbers. The Upper Delaware is a real hotspot for smallies. You can take beautiful bronze-backs from almost any riffle. Rubber-tailed twister jigs, live bait, crawlers and a favorite, hellgrammites, all will put smallies on the hook. These fish provide an awesome chance at some great sporting action. •