Wayne County Much of this area provides a combi- in late fall. Use lamprey eels, nightcrawlers nation of scenic float tripping and and imitation minnows. Lead-head jigs some really super shad, smallmouth work in winter. bass, walleyes and trout fishing. There Look for muskies at the mouths of the are six Pennsylvania and four New York many tributary streams, the area’s deeper accesses, and many shore access points. pools, and at the tip of Poxono Island, Trout fishing is best upstream from about mid-way through the county. Callicoon beginning in late April. A Avoid Sambo Riff, just below the 20-mile stretch from Hankins, New mouth of Flat Brook. It’s a mile of swift York, upstream is hot. Dry flies and rapids that novice boaters should avoid. tandem wet flies work equally well. Try flies in sizes 10 and 12 early, and smaller Northampton County sizes as water levels drop. Thirty-five miles of river in this section Shad fishing begins about the end have shad from April into June. There of April and continues well into June. are four PA accesses and two NJ accesses. A great variety of shad darts and The top shad spots include the mouth flutterspoons works well. Bucktails of the Lehigh River at Easton, Eddystone are the most effective lure in eighth- Beach, the pool at the Met-Ed access to quarter-ounce sizes. Various brightly (about a mile south of Portland), and a colored streamers also take shad. huge riffle below the Portland railroad Smallmouth bass take live bait and bridge. lures. The best area begins at Dam- Smallmouth bass are found in deep ascus and continues downstream. For pools with nearby riffles. Try the usual walleyes and muskies, try the big hole artificials, but crayfish are best during at Narrowsburg, at the bridge. July and August. Poppers and hair bugs Floaters should be especially cau- work during June and July. tious when going through the area at There are muskies here, too. Fish a size Skinners Falls, five miles above 5 spinner in the shallows surrounding Narrowsburg. Waters run swift and cold. deeper pools. Walleye fishing is best in late fall and early win- ter. Troll eels in big pools. Striped bass are present from mid- Pike County June through early September. They are taken on live eels, jigs, There are six Pennsylvania accesses and one New York access and crankbaits. along this 67-mile stretch. Anglers can find good trout fishing Be alert to dangerous rapids at Foul Riff, just above the Met- at the mouths of tributary trout streams. Excellent hatches of Ed Access. These rapids are among the most dangerous in the mayflies, stoneflies and caddises come off in June and into early watershed. Only the most experienced boaters should attempt them. September. This spawning ground for shad endures lots of action mid- Bucks County April through June; early morning and dusk are the best times. Divide this county into upper non-tidal (43 miles) and lower Allow your dart to drift into and then hover in deep pools. The tidal (17 miles) sections. In the upper section, boaters must watch area near the Zane Grey Access at Lackawaxen is noted for at- wing dams at Lambertville and Lumberville. Shad action peaks tracting large numbers of shad. Work the main river flow. around the second week of April through mid-May. Fish shad Smallmouth bass are active from July until cold weather sets darts and flutterspoons below heavy riffles and in deep pools in. Crayfish and hellgrammites are the preferred live baits. above the riffles. Topwater lures do well in the fall. Striped bass are present from late May through September. Pike County river flow is swift and could pose problems for They are taken on live eels, jigs and crankbait. beginning anglers and boaters. One especially hazardous area Smallmouth bass fishing heats up toward the end of June and is located about two miles above the Zane Grey Access. continues into October. Jigs with white or yellow plastic tails work well. Live hellgrammites take bass in June and July. Wall- photo-Fisheries Management Division photo-Fisheries Monroe County eyes offer an occasional cold-weather fishery, and there is some Fifteen miles of scenic beauty ending at the Delaware Water musky fishing. Gap enhance your trip in this area. There are one Pennsylvania The tidal section starts at the Route 1 bridge at Trenton Falls. access and three NJ accesses, and many shore access points. Ameri- Tides can vary some seven feet. Fishing pressure is heavy for can shad are in the area from early April until early June. stripers, white perch, herring and shad, catfish, largemouth and This stretch is a hotspot for smallmouths. Offer the smallies smallmouth bass, and muskies. Bloodworms take stripers from minnow-like plugs, live minnows, or hellgrammites. For wall- May through early October. Anglers take herring in April and eyes, fish the riffle and still water below the pool at Walpack Bend May using plain gold hooks jigged in six to eight feet of water. Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 49 Trenton Falls is a herring hotspot. Hancock East Branch Channel catfish action is excellent Delaware River in Northampton and Bucks counties, Balls Eddy and in Monroe, Northampton and Buckingham Bucks counties (non-tidal). Panfishing N is excellent for rock bass and redbreast EW Callicoon sunfish. Y Public Launch Sites Callicoon O Philadelphia County This 18-mile section is affected by Estimated distance to next site Damascus Skinner's Falls R K tides and heavy commercial traffic. Be Balls Eddy (6) miles Narrowsburg aware of treacherous rips formed when Buckingham (19) Narrowsburg the incoming tide meets the outgoing Callicoon (5) current. The best angling includes a Damascus (8) variety of warmwater species. There is Narrowsburg (13) Zane Grey seasonal striper and herring angling. Zane Grey (22) Port Jervis White perch are taken on small spin- Matamoras Park (10) ners, minnows or garden worms. Milford Beach (6) Matamoras Park Striper action starts in May and con- Dingmans Ferry (8) Milford tinues through early October. The Eshback (5) mouths of Pennypack Creek and Milford Beach Bushkill (10) Y Poquessing Creek are hotspots. Anglers Smithfield (12) E enjoy good bass fishing from May Met Ed–Portland (12) Dingmans Ferry through August. The best catches occur S Martin’s Creek, PP&L (5) Eshback between piers and in coves where weed Sandts Eddy (5) R growth is good, usually during the two Easton (17.2) Bushkill E hours on either side of high tide. Upper Black Eddy (6) Smithfield J Tinicum (26) Stroudsburg Delaware County Yardley (16) Worthington Tract W Here are 12 miles of good boating Bristol (2.5) Met-Ed– Portland E water, but consider the tidal influence Neshaminy (6) N and respect the size and power of sea- Linden (2.5) Martins Creek, PP&L Worthington Tract going vessels passing through this area. Tacony (1.5) Sandts Eddy A variety of warmwater fish are caught, Frankford Arsenal (16) especially at the mouths of tributar- Commodore Barry Bridge Easton Phillipsburg ies. Live minnows are effective for * Example: Balls Eddy Access Easton Musconetcong River gamefish. Doughballs, nightcrawlers to Buckingham Access = 6 Miles and shrimp take carp and catfish. Lehigh Riegelsville Striper fishing is best in May, June, Sep- Holland Church tember and October. Bloodworms are River a good bet for stripers along with Upper Black Eddy Kingman bucktail jigs dressed with a three-inch Bryan minnow. Stripers like areas where tidal Tinicum Lumberville Wing Dam currents are heaviest. Herring pass through in late April and May when Bulls Island anglers score while jigging with bare I A New Hope Lambertville Wing Dam gold hooks. Try fishing for herring N along bulkheads and against rocky A Scudders Falls shorelines. V Wing Dam L Yardley The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Fishing and Boating Map Y TRENTON S Bristol provides more details on Delaware N Neshaminy River accesses. For a free copy (but add Mercer Co. $1 for postage for each map), contact: N PHILADELPHIA Linden Publications Section, PA Fish & Boat E Tacony Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harris- P burg, PA 17106-7000. Frankford Arsenal DELAWARE Commodore Barry Bridge map graphic-Ted Walke RIVER 50 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime.