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Report from the Delaware River - 2001


The following is from Gary Conner, the voice of the Shad Hotline. It is provided solely for its informational value. The Division cannot vouch for its accuracy, though we have no reason to doubt it. Please call the Shad Hotline 610-954-0578 or 610-954-0577 for the latest Shad updates on the Delaware River. More information can be found at the Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Association Website.

9/18 Report
6/11 Report
6/4 Report
5/22 Report
5/11 Report
5/9 Report
5/7 Report
5/4 Report
5/2 Report
5/1 Report
4/30 Report
4/27 Report
4/23 Report

2002 Reports
2003 Reports

FISHING REPORT 9/18/01

AFTER A LONG HOT SUMMER IT FELT GREAT TO GET BACK TO FISHING AGAIN.

BERTIE AND I JOINED OUR DAUGHTER'S FAMILY FOR 2 WEEKS IN OCEAN CITY NJ. BACK BAY FISHING WAS A LOT OF FUN WITH PLENTY OF BLACK BASS AND AN OCCASIONAL FLOUNDER OR SMALL SHARK TO KEEP IT INTERESTING. OUR 3 YEAR OLD GRANDSON, CONNER CAUGHT HIS FIRST FISH, WHICH MADE THE ENTIRE TRIP WORTH WHILE.

I BROKE OFF AFTER THE FIRST WEEK AND HEADED UP TO PULASKI FOR THE ANNUAL SALMON RUN. THIS TRIP WAS BOOKED LAST YEAR, AND GREG BOYD WAS JOINING ME;SO, NO WAY I COULD STAY AT THE SHORE.

GREG'S FATHER IN-LAW BECAME VERY ILL AND GREG HAD TO CANCEL AT THE LAST MINUTE, SO I WENT ALONE.

AS I TRAVELED NORTH TUESDAY MORNING THE CALLS CAME IN THAT NY WAS HAVING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. SOME SO-CALLED FRIENDS HAVE SUGGESTED NY TROUBLES MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO MY VISITS TO THE STATE. NC IS ALREADY CONSIDERING A BAN ON ME SINCE I CONTINUALLY BRING STORMS OF THE CENTURY WHENEVER I VISIT THE STATE.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON WAS VERY WARM IN PULASKI. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR DRAWING FISH INTO THE RIVER.

WEDNESDAY WAS A VERY WARM DAY WITH PEOPLE BARE LEG WADING, I SAW 2 SALMON CAUGHT ALL DAY AND I GOT ONE. THIS FISH WAS SOLID CHROME EXACTLY WHAT YOU HOPE FOR, WRONG, THE WATER WAS TOO WARM AND LAMPREY BITES HAD SPOILED THE MEAT.

THURSDAY WAS COOLER AND I MARKED A FEW FISH BUT DIDN'T LAND ANY.

THURSDAY NIGHT WAS COLD 35 DEGREES. FRIDAY I STARTED CHECKING THE ACTION FROM THE BALLPARK DOWN TO THE 3A BRIDGE. THE FISH WERE STACKED UP IN THE ESTUARY AROUND THE 3A BRIDGE IN THE HUNDREDS. THESE FISH WOULD BE IN THE DSR SATURDAY.

SINCE THERE WAS LITTLE RIVER ACTION I TRAVELED OVER TO OSWEGO AND WATCHED THE FISHING AT THE DAM.

THIS IS REAL COMBAT FISHING, PEOPLE ARE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND THE FIRST RANK CASTING OVER THE PEOPLE IN FRONT. THERE WERE PLENTY OF FISH BEING CAUGHT, BUT MOST WERE ALREADY BLACK AND LONG PAST THEIR PRIME. ON THE WAY BACK TO PULASKI I STOPPED AT THE DSR AND BOUGHT A PASS FOR SATURDAY 9/15 THE OFFICIAL OPENING DAY OF THE SEASON.

SATURDAY MORNING I WAS AT THE WILLOW HOLE ON THE SPRUCE RUN OF THE DSR BY 6:15. HAVING ARRIVED SO EARLY I FELT I WOULD SET UP AT THE HEAD OF THE HOLE, WRONG. THE BOTTOM WAS ALL THAT WAS LEFT. JUST AFTER DAY BREAK 2 FAMILIES OF 5 EACH DECIDED TO JOIN US AFTER SEEING THE FIRST FISH OF THE DAY NETTED. MY NEXT 2 HOOK UPS WERE BROKEN OFF BY THIS CREW NON FISHERMEN. I KEPT MY COOL TILL ONE OF THE KIDS DECIDED TO CROSS THE RIVER BY WADING THROUGH THE POOL. THE KID GOT THE WORD IN A HURRY AND THEN THE FATHER GOT AN EAR FULL. BOTH FAMILIES LEFT AT THIS TIME. (THAT'S THE G. RATED VERSION).

AS THE SUN BEGAN TO LIGHT MY DRIFT I SWITCHED TO THE HOT PINK PARACHUTE FLY. IN THE NEXT 10 CASTS I HOOKED AND LANDED 7 KINGS. OF THE FIRST 13 FISH HOOKED 12 WERE GOOD MOUTH HOOKS. BY THE END OF THE DAY I HAD FOUGHT 27 FISH WITH 25 MOUTH HOOKED AND LANDED. THIS WAS BY FAR THE BEST PERCENTAGE OF GOOD HOOK SETS I HAVE EVER HAD AT PULASKI. HOT PINK WAS THE COLOR OF THE DAY AND SOON EVERYONE WAS USING IT. THANK GOODNESS I STUCK AN EXTRA 2 DOZEN IN A SPARE BOX.

WE HAD FRESH MOVING INTO THE HOLE ON AN OFF ALL DAY, IT WAS FUN HOOKING FISH FOR PEOPLE AND THEN HANDING THE ROD TO THEM TO FIGHT.

THE NEW SUN GLASSES WORKED GREAT, I SHOULD HAVE SPENT THE EXTRA MONEY YEARS AGO, BUT PEOPLE WON'T RECOGNIZE ME ANY MORE WITHOUT MY OLD FLIP UP BI FOCALS.

THE LAST DAY MADE ALL THE OTHERS WORTH WHILE.

THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR THAT THE FISHING WAS NON EXISTENT TILL THE LAST DAY. NEXT YEAR I WILL GO FROM 9/17-9/20.

NEXT YEAR, ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. AS LONG AS THERE IS A NEXT YEAR WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY COMPLAIN ABOUT.

SEE YOU ON THE WATER

Tight lines Conner

FISHING REPORT 6/11/01

JUNE & JULY ARE BIRTHDAY MONTHS IN OUR CLAN SO FISHING TAKES A BACK SEAT. REALLY.

BERTIE WAS BUSY FRIDAY NIGHT, SO SHE SAID, "GO GET A FISH FIX."

COULDN'T FIND AN 8# STRIPER LINE SO I LOADED THE OLD 10# LINE AND HEADED FOR THE RIVER.

MET TRAVIS AT THE RIVER JUST AT DARK. WE DECIDED TO WORK OUR WAY DOWN STREAM. THE EVENING WAS BEAUTIFUL, THE STARS WERE BRIGHT AND THE STRIPERS WERE NOT BITING. THE ONLY STRIPER I SAW SPLASHED ME DOWN WHEN MY WADING STAFF CLINKED ON THE ROCK HE WAS HIDING BEHIND.

MY CASTING IS TERRIBLE, I HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME AT THE SHOP PRACTICING WITH BILL. WE DECIDED TO QUIT AT 10:30, BUT TRAVIS TRIED TO SET ON A SNAG HE THOUGHT WAS A STRIKE AND SNAPPED HIS 8# ABEL AT THE BOTTOM FERULE. WE CALLED IT A NIGHT.

MY NEIGHBOR, MARK, FISHED CUT BAIT FOR STRIPERS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH 2 CATS SATURDAY AND 2 STRIPERS SUNDAY. THEY RAN A JET BOAT FROM SCUDDERS FALLS TO LAMBERTVILLE.

THERE WAS LIGHT ACTION REPORTED FROM THE SHORE WITH FLOUNDER, STRIPERS AND WEAKIES CAUGHT IN SMALL #.

MORE LATER

Tight lines Conner

FISHING REPORT - 6/4/01

THE RAINS CAME AND WASHED TONS OF MUD INTO THE RIVER JUST IN TIME FOR THE WEEKEND STRIPER TRIP.

SATURDAY WAS SO MUDDY ONLY 2 STRIPERS WERE OBSERVED CAUGHT IN THE TRENTON BRIDGE AREA. NO MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN HERRING WERE CAUGHT THE ENTIRE DAY.

STOTCH HAS HIS NEW RADAR ARCH UP AND LOOKING GOOD. ADD THIS TO THE NEW STANDUP CANVAS, PAINT AND GRAPHICS AND YOU HAVE A VERY NICE PACKAGE.

PAPPY JOINED IN TO ROUND OUT THE CREW FOR THE WEEKEND.

SUNDAY THE RIVER HAD A HEAVY STAIN. THIS IS NOT GREAT, BUT BETTER THAN MUD. WE DIDN'T WASTE TOO MUCH TIME TRYING TO CATCH HERRING. AFTER LESS THAN A HOUR WE MOVED UP BETWEEN THE BRIDGES AND SET UP FOR STRIPERS.

WE STARTED SETTING OUT DEAD BAITS WITH NO SUCCESS SO WE CHANGED OVER TO SMALL CUT BAITS TO MATCH THE SIZE OF THE STRIPERS, SCHOOLIES, 18-26" LONG. THIS DOWNSIZING LED TO 4 STRIPERS BEING LANDED IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS.

IN OTHER STRIPER NEWS; RICHARD FRANKENFIELD, OF HARMONY TOWNSHIP SET A NEW FRESH WATER STRIPER RECORD FOR NJ ON SATURDAY. THIS BEAUTY WEIGHED IN AT 36 POUNDS, 8 OUNCES, WITH A LENGTH OF 45 3/4 INCHES AND A GIRTH OF 26 ½ INCHES. RICH WAS FISHING A LIVE EEL IN THE DELAWARE REPORTEDLY IN THE EASTON AREA. CONGRATULATIONS RICH.

CUT BAITS WERE WORKING QUITE NICELY SUNDAY IN THE YARDLEY AREA. MARK CAUGHT 4 AND HIS PARTNER 3 STRIPERS 18-28 INCHES.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW, THIS WORKING FULL TIME REALLY CUTS INTO THE FISHING TIME. THAT'S THE PRICE YOU PAY TO BE BACK IN THE REAL WORLD.

THE STRIPERS WILL BE AROUND FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS, JUST NOT AS MANY AND HARDER TO FIND. TRY TOP WATERS AND SHALLOW DIVERS AMONG THE ROCKS. BUCKTAILS AND MISTER TWISTERS WORK WELL TOO.

Tight lines Conner

FISHING REPORT 5/22/01

THE STRIPER SEASON IS SHAPING UP AS STRANGE AS THE SHAD SEASON DID. THE HERRING ARE ALREADY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE TRENTON AREA. LAST YEAR HERRING WERE PLENTIFUL TILL 6/4 OR 6/5.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WE FISHED THE LAST 2 HOURS OF THE INCOMING TIDE, AS WE HAVE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WITH VERY POOR RESULTS.

RAN INTO A COUPLE OF LOCALS WHO ADVISED THE BEGINNING OF THE INCOMING TIDE WAS BEST THIS YEAR.

STOTCH & PAPPY BORE THIS OUT SATURDAY WHEN THEY FISHED THE SECOND HALF OF THE INCOMING THE OUTGOING AND THE FIRST 4 HOURS OF THE NEXT INCOMING. NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL THE EVENING INCOMING WHEN EVERYTHING CLICKED. THEY FILLED THEIR LIVE WELL WITH HERRING, AFTER FISHING 9 HOURS FOR 2 OR 3, AND THEN HAD NON-STOP STRIPERS FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS.

ANDY MERRIT WENT WITH ME ABOVE THE BRIDGES TO THE SECOND OVERHEAD SIGN ON NJ RT. # 29. WE SET UP ABOUT MID-RIVER AND HAD THE FIRST STRIKE ON LIVE HERRING IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. THERE WAS NO HOOK UP BUT THE HERRING WAS DEAD. AT THIS TIME WE DECIDED TO CONSERVE BAIT AND SWITCHED TO CHUNK. WE LANDED 2 NICE STRIPERS, 2 BIG CATS AND HAD 8-10 RUN OFFS.

RON BAUER JOINED ME SUNDAY, THE WEATHER MAN MISSED ANOTHER ONE. THE DAY WAS NOT NICE AND HERRING WERE VERY SLOW. WE SET UP FOR STRIPERS IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES OF THE INCOMING. BOTH LIVE HERRING WERE HIT AND KILLED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. THERE WERE 3-4 MORE RUN OFFS IN THE NEXT HOUR BUT WITH DETERIORATING WEATHER WE CALLED IT A DAY.

THE NEW $10 LIVE WELL SYSTEM WORKS LIKE A CHAMP. THE HERRING KEEP MUCH BETTER, I DON'T WORRY ABOUT AERATION, WATER TEMP OR WATER CYCLING. TO TOP IT OFF THERE IS MORE ROOM ON BOARD AND I'M NOT LUGGING 200# OF WATER AND KILLING A BATTERY PUMPING WATER.

IF YOU COME, BRING PLUGS, WITH THE HERRING SLOWING UP THEY ARE STARTING TO HIT TOP WATERS AND SHALLOW DIVERS.

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/11/01

THE RUN IS DONE, THE SPAWN IS ON. THE FISH ARE STILL IN THE RIVER, SO GO CATCH SOME.

AS THE SEASON WINDS DOWN HERE IS ONE LAST TIP FROM MIKE KAUFMANN.

NOW THAT THE SPAWN IS ON, THE SHAD CONGREGATE IN THE TAIL OF THE POOLS. FISH THE LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING, FLAT LINING INTO THE TAIL OF THE POOL. RELAX & WATCH THE SPAWN.

TECH REPORT FROM MIKE KAUFMANN & DAVE MIKO

THE FINAL ELECTROFISHING AT RAUBSVILLE TODAY PRODUCED A CATCH RATE OF 21.9 SHAD PER HOUR. 56% ROE . The majority of the fish were found in the deepest water at the tail end of the pools. The females were at least fifty percent spent. Today's results confirmed earlier angler reports that the 2001 shad run is nearing an end.

THE AVERAGE CATCH RATE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS WAS:
47.6/2001
29.3/2000
14.1/1999

THANKS GO TO SHAWN, DAVE DACZKA, MIKE IN CARPENTERSVILLE, JIM HARRIS, GARY GREENAWALT, STEVE MESERVE, BRENT HILDEBRAND & MARK BORIEK FOR THEIR REPORTS THIS WEEK.

FISH NORTH OF THE GAP FOR YOUR BEST CHANCE AT HIGH #

THE SHAD CLUB DOESN'T CLOSE UP JUST BECAUSE THE RUN IS DONE, WE ARE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL SO COME AND JOIN US. OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 16 AT 7:30 @ THE SE WY CO FIREHOUSE ON RT # 378 IN SOUTH BETHLEHEM. THERE WILL BE AN IN-BOAT DEMONSTRATION ON DOWNRIGGING FOR SHAD. COME OUT AND SAY HELLO.

THANKS TO ALL, FOR HELPING TO PUT OUT THE HOTLINE THIS YEAR.

IF YOU SEE MY BOAT "A LURE" DON'T FORGET TO STOP & SAY HI.

SEE YOU ON THE RIVER

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/9/01

THANKS FOR ALL THE REPORTS YOU HAVE SENT MY WAY THE LAST FEW DAYS. KEEP THEM COMING.

FROM PORTLAND SOUTH THE REPORTS WERE VERY CONSISTENT. FEW TO NO FISH CAUGHT OR EVEN SIGHTED.

TJS FISHED THE GAP, 2 FISH BETWEEN FIVE BOATS.

VIC FISHED DINGMAN'S FERRY BRIDGE, NO BENT RODS WITH PERFECT CONDITIONS AND A WATER TEMPERATURE OF 65 DEGREES.

BILL GUTHIER FISHED PORT JARVIS/MILFORD AREA 5 LANDED 4 BREAKOFFS. OTHER BOATS WERE DOING WELL IN 65 DEGREE WATER.

KEVIN RILEY FISHED UP BY POND EDDY. HE OBSERVED FISH SLAPPING THE WATER AND SPAWNING. IF THE WATER CAN COOL TO 58-66 DEGREES KEVIN THINKS THE BITE WILL IMPROVE AND THE SPAWNING WILL MAKE THEM MORE AGGRESSIVE AND ANXIOUS TO BITE.

HIGH HOOK AWARD GOES TO DINO, WITH 24 LANDED IN THE MOUNT BETHEL AREA. DINO CAUGHT 10 ON A FLY USING A 350 GRAIN SINKING LINE WITH CHARTREUSE/ WHITE AND PINK/WHITE CLOUSERS.

AND SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST...

DINO REPORTS THE PEAK OF THE RUN WAS IN MOUNT BETHEL YESTERDAY.

JUST ANOTHER REMINDER, THE SHAD MEETING WILL BE NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 AT THE SE WY CO FIREHOUSE ON RT# 378 IN SOUTH BETHLEHEM. THERE WILL BE AN INBOAT DEMONSTRATION ON DOWNRIGGING.

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/7/01

I WISH MY CRYSTAL BALL WASN'T BROKEN, SO I COULD TELL EVERYONE WHICH 10 FOOT PIECE OF WATER HELD THE MOST SHAD.

THIS IS REALLY A MYSTERY, SOLVABLE BY THE CLUES FROM THE SHAD HOTLINE REPORT. THE WINNER IS HIGH HOOK FOR THE DAY.

HERE ARE TODAY'S CLUES:
1. WATER TEMPERATURE 68 DEGREES
2. WATER LEVEL, JUST RIGHT
3. CLARITY, BETTER THAN AVERAGE
4. WEATHER, PERFECT.

WHERE ARE THEY CATCHING SHAD?

ONE REPORT FROM TRENTON HAD 26 SHAD AND A COOLER OF HERRING. ANOTHER HAD 6 SHAD, LOTS OF HERRING AND 2 STRIPERS.

LAMBERTVILLE NO BOATS WERE OBSERVED WHEN I CROSSED THE RIVER

NO FISHERMEN SEEN AT RIEGELSVILLE.

PAPPY REPORTED 11 AT EASTON

SANDTZ EDDY, FRANK YONES LANDED 11 IN 6 HOURS WHILE THE JAY MORGENSTERN FAMILY BOATED 6 IN 11 HOURS.

STEVE FISHED BELVEDERE FOR 7 HOURS AND NEVER SAW A BENT ROD.

WE NEED REPORTS FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES. PLEASE VOICE MAIL YOUR REPORTS TO (215) 674-1117 DURING THE DAY, (215) 570-3811 IN THE EVENING OR E. MAIL TO CONNERFISH@AOL.COM.

DON'T FORGET THIS MONTH'S SHAD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, 5/16 @ SE WY CO FIREHOUSE ON RT# 378 IN SOUTH BETHLEHEM, WILL FEATURE DOWNRIGGING FOR SHAD. THIS WILL BE AN IN-BOAT, HANDS-ON DEMO, SO JOIN US AT 7:30 PM .

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/4/01

TECH UPDATE: MIKE KAUFMANN ELECTRO-FISHED RAUBSVILLE WEDNESDAY WITH A CATCH RATE OF 58.5 SHAD PER HOUR. THIS WAS A HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED RATE THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. 37% WERE ROE. SPAWNING HAS BEGUN. 3 OF THE 11 ROE IN THE SAMPLE WERE AT LEAST 50% SPENT. OTHERS WERE FIRM, BUT THE EGGS SHOWED CLEAR SIGNS OF THE FINAL MATURATION PROCESS.

STEVE, FRED LEWIS' GRANDSON, ADVISED THE RUN IS ABOUT OVER IN THE LAMBERTVILLE AREA WITH THIS WEEK'S CATCH AT 'M4,'T6,'W7,'T4 &'F3. FRIDAY'S WATER TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES. THERE WILL NOT BE A HAUL SATURDAY. THE SEASON'S LAST HAUL WILL BE MONDAY EVENING AT 6:00 O'CLOCK.

NOW FOR THE FISH NEWS

NICK TOOMA, FISHED SANTZ EDDY AND LANDED 4 BUCK IN 2 HOURS.

RON BAUER FISHED SANTZ EDDY UPRIVER AND DIDN'T SEE A FISH BEND A ROD.

RICH CONN FISHED FROM SHORE IN EASTON AND REPORTED A TOTAL OF 10 SHAD AMONG THE SHORE ANGLERS ON THE EVENING BITE.

MIKE'S CREW WAS HIGH HOOK AGAIN IN EASTON REPORTING 27 SHAD IN 13 HOURS.

STOTCH AND PAPPY FISHED EASTON ALL DAY FRIDAY WITH 12 LANDED.

GERRY SHAFFER FISHED RIEGELSVILLE WITH NO SHAD.

H. WOODRUFF FISHED LAMBERTVILLE CATCHING HIS LARGEST ROE OF THE SEASON. BOTH H. AND NISH REPORTED THE RUN IS ABOUT OVER FROM LAMBERTVILLE SOUTH.

NOW THAT THE RUN IS DONE IN THE SOUTH, LET'S HEAR FROM YOU NORTHERN FISHERMEN. CALL IN YOUR REPORTS TO (215) 674-1117 DURING THE DAY, (215) 570-3811 IN THE EVENING OR E.MAIL ME AT CONNERFISH@AOL.COM.

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/2/01

OH WHERE, OH WHERE HAVE THOSE LITTLE SHAD GONE, OH WHERE OH WHERE HAVE THEY GONE.

REMEMBER, THEY DON'T FLY, ONLY SWIM.

ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A GOOD RUN, AND NOW THAT THE WEATHER HAS SETTLED DOWN THE RIVER IS IN PERFECT SHAPE TO FISH.

HERE A FEW TIPS:
1. GO FISHING,THE FIRST RULE OF CATCHING IS FISHING.
2. STOP COMPLAINING, YOU COULD BE WORKING.
3. FISH THE CENTER OF THE CHANNEL, USE THOSE ANCHORING TECHNIQUES LEARNED AT THE LAST SHAD MEETING TO FINE TUNE YOUR LOCATION ON THE RIVER.
4. IF YOU'RE FISHING FROM SHORE TRY PLACES WHERE THE RIVER NARROWS LIKE POINT PLEASANT (ABOVE THE WALK BRIDGE), REGALSVILLE, OR EASTON ABOVE THE PAY BRIDGE. THESE ARE ALL PLACES YOU CAN CAST A NOODLE ROD ACROSS THE RIVER.
5. CHANGE LURE COLOR AND DEPTH FREQUENTLY UNTIL YOU GET A STRIKE. ONCE THERE ARE 2 STRIKES ON THE SAME COLOR AT THE SAME DEPTH YOU HAVE A PATTERN. FISH THAT PATTERN TILL THE BITE ENDS, THEN START ALL OVER AGAIN.

TIME FOR THE FISH NEWS

STEVE MESERVE, OF THE LEWIS FISHERY, REPORTS ONLY 4 ROE AND LOTS OF SMALL MOUTH ON 300 YARDS OF NET. THIS COULD BE A LULL OR THE RUN MAY BE UP RIVER. JERRY SHAFFER REPORTS HE WAS HIGH HOOK AT POINT PLEASANT WITH 9 ON DOWN RIGGERS.

RICH CONN FISHED FROM SHORE IN EASTON AND REPORTED A SLOW BITE. MARK MULRINE, CHAIRMAN OF THE SHAD TOURNAMENT, ADVISED THE BITE PICKED UP A BIT IN THE AFTERNOON.

PAPPY REPORTED FINDING THE CENTER OF THE CHANNEL CRITICAL TO A GOOD BITE. NICK TOOMA FISHED SANTZ EDDY LAST EVENING. THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAD JUMPED TO 64 DEGREES, THEY GOT 3 BUCKS IN 2 HOURS.

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 5/1/01

THE WEATHER IS GREAT AND WATER TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO CLIMB. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS SAW A RISE FROM 58-60 DEGREES YESTERDAY.

THEY SHOULD START TO BITE AT ANY TIME NOW; BUT, THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES. THE CRYSTAL BALL IS NEVER AS CLEAR LOOKING FORWARD AS IT IS LOOKING BACK.

RON BAUER FISHED SANTZ EDDY FROM 2-6 PM AND LANDED ONLY 5 SHAD. HE REPORTED THERE WERE NO OTHER LANDINGS OBSERVED FROM THE DOZEN OR SO BOATS IN VIEW.

REPORTS FROM EASTON SOUTH TO LAMBERTVILLE WERE ABOUT THE SAME. A NICE DAY TO BE ON THE RIVER BUT LITTLE OR NO SHAD ACTIVITY.

MAY 16 IS THE NEXT SHAD MEETING. THE INSTRUCTIONAL TOPIC WILL BE DOWN RIGGING FOR SHAD. THIS WILL BE A REAL TIME DEMO WITH MY BOAT AND RIGGERS. THE CLASS WILL START IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO COME EARLY.

DON'T WORRY IF IT RAINS YOU WILL STAY DRY UNDER THE OVERHANGS.

KEEP SENDING IN THOSE FISHING REPORTS TO (215) 674-1117 DURING THE DAY AND (215) 570-3811 DURING THE EVENING OR E.MAIL TO CONNERFISH@AOL.COM.

SEE YOU ON THE RIVER

Tight lines Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 4/30/01

THIS WAS A TOUGH WEEKEND TO FISH, LOW NIGHT TIME TEMPERATURES LED TO FALLING WATER TEMPERATURES, AND WINDY CONDITIONS LOWERED THE COMFORT LEVELS FOR THE FISHERMEN.

LAST MONDAY THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS ON THE RISE AT 65 DEGREES. LAST TUESDAY THE FIRST OF MANY COLD FRONTS CAME THROUGH SENDING THE WATER TEMPERATURE INTO FREE FALL ALONG WITH THE BITE. BY LATE SUNDAY 57 DEGREES WAS REPORTED.

LOCKJAW HAS BEEN STANDARD FARE SINCE LAST TUESDAY BUT A WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED TO EXTEND THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. IF FORM HOLDS THE BITE SHOULD IMPROVE WITH THE WARMING TEMPERATURES.

NOW FOR WHAT HAPPENED WHERE.

JIM HARRIS, REPORTED YARDLEY VERY SLOW.

PETE BUNTING, LANDED ONLY 5 IN LAMBERTVILLE.

MIKE'S CREW, REPORTED THEY WERE HIGH HOOK IN EASTON WITH 30 SHAD IN 26 HOURS OF FISHING.

STOTCH FISHED FROM SANTZ EDDY TO LAMBERTVILLE AND REPORTED FISHING VERY SLOW AT ALL LOCATIONS. THAT'S A LOT OF LAUNCHES AND RECOVEREES WHEN FISHING ALONE.

GEORGE WESTENBERGER FISHED DARTS FROM SHORE NEAR MILFORD AND REPORTED STEADY PICK ON GREEN DARTS.

NARROWSBURG REPORTED A STEADY BUCK BITE.

Tight lines, Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 4/27/01

FIRST SOME TECHNICAL INFO AND A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.

1. MIKE KAUFMANN COMPLETED THE THIRD OF FIVE ELECTRO-SHOCKS PLANNED FOR RAUBSVILLE. THE CATCH RATE WAS GOOD ON 4/26/01, 58.8/HR. WITH 47% ROE, 4/20/01, 36.4/HR. 43% ROE, AND 4/17/01, 62.5/HR. WITH 40% ROE.

THE AVERAGES FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS WERE
1999, 14.1/HR.
2000, 29.3/HR.

MIKE THINKS THE RUN IS PEAKING AT RAUBSVILLE NOW.

2. FRED LEWIS' GRANDSON STEVE REPORTS THURSDAY EVENING'S CATCH WAS 74 AND FRIDAY'S CATCH WAS 12 SHAD. STEVE ADVISED THE ROE % HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AT ABOUT 40%. STEVE REPORTS THE PEAK OF THE RUN IS SOUTH OF LAMBERTVILLE.

3. MARK BORIEK, NJ SENIOR FISHERIES BIOLOGIST, ASKED FOR INFO REGARDING POSSIBLE SHAD AVERSION TO SHADOWS (SUCH AS BRIDGES). IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS SHOOT THEM MY WAY. (Or call Mark at 908-236-2118.)

LOCKJAW IS STILL IN EFFECT WITH ANOTHER COLD FRONT COMING OUR WAY. SATURDAY NIGHT WILL BRING FROST, COOLING THE WATER EVEN MORE, WHICH KILLS THE BITE. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP FISHING, JUST BRING ALONG A GOOD BOOK OR CATALOG TO FILL IN THE TIME BETWEEN STRIKES. WATER LEVELS AND CLARITY ARE GREAT AT THIS TIME, BUT THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAS FALLEN TO 61 DEGREES FROM 65 ON MONDAY, THE LAST REALLY GREAT BITE DAY.

FROM YARDLEY TO PORTLAND THE REPORTS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, VERY SLOW TO NO BITE.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT'S SHAD SEASON. THE WEATHER ALWAYS MESSES WITH THE BITE; GET OVER IT, GO FISHING.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT IN REPORTS. I WILL TRY TO GET YOUR NAMES IN NEXT TIME. TOO MUCH TECHNICAL DATA THIS REPORT.

Tight lines, Conner

SHAD HOTLINE REPORT 4/23/01

IF YOU LIKE GOOD NEWS, THIS REPORT IS NOTHING BUT.

ANYONE NOT CATCHING SHAD ON SUNDAY MUST HAVE BEEN BOWLING.

PAPPY REPORTED FROM EASTON WAS SO HOT YOU COULD SMELL THE SMOKE. PAPPY BOATED 50 AND WASN'T HIGH HOOK. THE BOAT NEXT TO HIS BOATED 81 AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIM THEY BOATED 35. YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S SHAD FISHING AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE.

KEVIN INGRAM REPORTED FROM YARDLEY THE FISHING WAS GREAT ON GOOD WATER CONDITIONS. KEVIN AND THE OTHER BOATS ALL ENDED THE DAY WITH 20+ ON BOARD.

LAMBERTVILLE WAS STEADY ALL DAY. WE DIDN'T GET ON THE RIVER TILL 4 IN THE AFTERNOON BUT STILL MANAGED TO LAND 18 IN A LITTLE OVER 2 HOURS. MAX &MARGE HESSELGESSER JOINED US AND BERTIE TOOK SOME PHOTOS OF THEM FIGHTING DOUBLES. SORRY NO AUDIO ON THAT ONE. BY THE WAY WE ARE LANDING SOME VERY HEAVY FISH THIS YEAR.

THE TEMPERATURE AT LAMBERTVILLE JUMPED FROM 49.4 ON SATURDAY TO 55.7 SUNDAY AFTERNOON. PASSING THAT 50-52 MAGIC MARK USUALLY TURNS THEM ON AND THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION.

WITH THE HUGE CATCHES IN EASTON AS A GUIDE YOU HAVE TO LOOK NORTH OF EASTON THIS WEEK, FIGURE THAT SUNDAY EASTON SCHOOL WILL BE MOVING UP RIVER AT A NORMAL RATE OF 6 MILES A DAY. MONDAY AND TUESDAY SANTZ EDDY BY THURSDAY THEY WILL BE PASSING PORTLAND.

THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF FISH IN THE LOWER RIVER; BUT, REMEMBER THOSE 4 PEEK DAYS A YEAR, THE LOWER RIVER MISSED THAT SCHOOL DUE TO VERY POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS IS THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP TO IT.

Tight lines, Conner


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