I've been fishing for shad since I'm 12 years old. I'm now 67. I have fished from shore and boat and alter back and forth depending on river conditions. Today, for instance, I wouldn't even go because the river is high and muddy and you're just wasting your time. When it begins to recede and clear up, the fish should be migrating closer to shore than they usually do, simply because the current along the shoreline will be slower than what they'd have to contend with farther out in the river. So, if you're going to fish from shore, make plans to go a little later this week when the water starts going down. I haven't been out yet, but I've seen reports on the Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Assoc. website (
www.drsfa.org) that guys have been catching them in the Easton area for more than a week. Traditionally, this is the time of year that Bucks County and lower Northampton County are seeing a lot of fish.
When you fish from shore, expect to lose lures, so you really shouldn't head to the river with less than two dozen darts of various size. Some guys like a 1/4-ounce dart and weigh it down with split shot. Getting your lure close to the bottom is the trick. Finding the bottom is easy; you'll feel your dart bounce. You'll also get snagged as you experiment with the right size dart/split shot combination. I prefer a dart that is 1/8 ounce and better yet, 1/16-ounce and I just provide the extra weight with split shot. In higher water, I normally start out with one large shot and if I'm not hitting bottom, I'll add another large one or one that's half as large. Your cast should be out into the river on a slight upstream angle. Allow the dart to drift down for a few seconds without reeling in, but do remember to "jig" the lure on its way downstream bu lifting the rod tip up and down. When the lure begins to sweep downstream, at about a 45 degree angle between the shoreline and straight out from you, start reeling in, not fast and again "jig" the rod tip. Most fish hit from that 45-degree angle downstream a bit and also will hit when you retrieve.
Start retrieving faster when your lure gets closer to the shoreline or you will lose your lure. Shore fishing for shad is just a repetition of what I outlined above. Don't give up if you don't get a hit; they come through in schools of varying size; not a steady stream. If you see a guy downstream from you hook into one, get ready because your turn may be next.
If you don't get hits and are constantly getting stuck on the bottom, move upstream or downstream 20-25 yards or so and try again. There could be a submerged tree or rock at your original spot that's eating your darts.
Now, having said all of this, I actually prefer flutter spoons over darts, although Darts will certainly catch shad.
Opps, step backward to the placement of the split shot. Pinch them on about 24-30 inches above the lure, not 12. You can pinch them on your line above a barrel swivel at the 24-inch mark. The swivel will take some of the twist out of your line.
Flutter spoons provide more, well, flutter to the action of the lure. You fish them the same way as a dart but you must put a barrel swivel on your line the prescribed two feet above the flutter spoon or your line will twist mercilessly.
As for locations, shad follow the channel, so if you are good at reading water, pick a spot where it appears the deepest water is fairly close to the shore. There are lots of good places: the head of the long pool at Riverton, PA, opposite Belvidere, NJ. In New Jersey, the shoreline at the state's boat launch just a 1/4 mile or so south of Riegelsville, NJ, has always been good, but usually only when the water is high. You may not be aware, but you can fish the Delaware in New Jersey, PA, or New York with a PA license only. It's a reciprocal agreement that's been in place since the 1980s.
Shore fishing also is good on the PA side north of Easton, where the river cuts through a ridge at a place locally known as St. Anthony's Nose. There is a scenic overlook pullout along Rt. 611 about 5-6 miles n orth of Easton, Park there and fish the river where the rapids begins to tail out. It's a good spot.
I'll be taking a week's vacation probably the first week of May. If you're interested in joining me, let me know. This will be weekday fishing, not weekend. My wife reels me in on Saturdays and Sundays. Best of luck to you. - Dennis Scholl
