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Reported by "Pic" the Fisherwoman

Here are the fishing reports from the EFCO Shad Fishing Hotline:

MONDAY, MAY 24, 1999

Fishing reports on Shad are still dribbling in at an alarmingly low rate. Seems those little fishes just don't want to be caught this year. Still some activity up and down the Delaware at a "hit & miss" ratio. Water temperatures are sticking around the 60's and that makes the little guys really "lazy." One of our EFCO members, Grey Miskowski hooked into a 4.91 lb roe this weekend that got him 5th place in the Warren County Shad Fishing Tournament and a paycheck of $650 for the day. Way to go "Major!" He reported to me that he caught 2 other roe measuring 25 1/2 " that had already dropped their eggs. He was fishing at the PP&L ramp at the time. So we can see by this how far some of these shad went before completing there designated task. The tournament in Warren County registered around 200 people this year. Brian Pysher won the grand prize with a shad weighing 5.34 lbs. Our grand prize winner from the Forks of the Delaware Shad fishing Tournament took ninth place in the Warren County tournament. While the shad fishing still continued upstream this past weekend "Striper Fishing" started 'taking the hook' downstream. Catch those 'herring, herring herring Pappy so that you and that Conner's guy can grab you some nice stripers. Now I understand fishing for those stripers with circle hooks makes it a little bit different for out "shad expert" from the Easton area. Were you in too much of a hurry to get that "big one" on the line to remember what the Captain of the boat told you about "not pulling that rod tip in the air?" Well we do have to remember, Pappy isn't getting any younger and is probably starting to "forget some things!" All in all the guys had a great time fishing for the stripers and did learn to "stay away from that wall." I also had a report from up above Port Jervis, near the Lakawaxen River and they are still catching them up that far. My pal "JW" from up that way has been keeping me caught up with their catches. Nothing to really write home about, but they are catching them non the less. My buddy Bob was fishing just north of Smithfield Beach this past weekend and said the water was higher but was out from 9am - 4pm and only got one. Boy these shad are surely persnickety this year aren't they! Please keep those reports coming in..... As I said I'm starting to get some reports on stripers from down the river. They are just beginning to hit them. Anybody catching any stripers in the Easton area? Email me at the above address with any reports. Happy Fishing to one and all....

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1999

Had my first trip out on the river since the Tournament and it was a "dud." There were only four boats on the river in Easton counting ours. It was like a "Chess Game" watching the boats constantly changing positions, depth of downriggers and colors for the spoons or darts. Our trip was from 8:00am till 2:00pm and not a shad was found by any of the four boats. Had reports from North of us and South of us and it's the same report all over the river! I think these fish are getting too smart in their "schools" and we need to find out what they are learning on their journey in from the ocean. They are sure smarter this year than the "angler's are." Did see some nice catfish caught and the bass were jumping all day. Wonder where those shad are going? How they are avoiding all of these beautiful colored lures we are sending there way and "why they are being so smart?"

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 1999

Well even the reports are coming in slower than the hits on these "shad" this year! Everyone has been reporting about the same thing..... "they're just not hitting!" My buddy "Pappy Magaro" reported that although they are still moving through they are catching far and few between. He was out the other day and counted 20 boats and at the end of the day maybe 15 fish taken onboard. Many boaters going home empty handed. He also reported lots of fish up North at Smithfield Beach and parts North of there. He had a report of good fishing south of Reiglesville near Trenton/Lambertville/ Lumberville areas of good fishing and all this week I got reports of " A slow week on the water ways this week. Not for lack of effort, just poor results" from my buddies Gary & Bertie Conner. So who's to know? Pappy bagged two the other day and is reporting that chartreuse/pink, chartreuse/green and pink/black working for him. Water temperatures are affecting the liveliness at this point, where the mid 60's may be affecting their lack of energy. It's anybody's ball game this year.... the shad are presenting a real challenge to one and all. Any body from up North of Sandts Eddy who would like to send in some reports, please contact me at "Pic the Fisherwoman" at the top of this page. My contact is down the shore for the rest of the season. So if you're from anywhere up North....... send me some reports...... Here's something you might find interesting. I just checked my reports from last year and something sounds "fishy" to me. As of May 17, 1998 a total of 1,427 shad made it up the ladders in Easton & 133 made it through the chain dam in Glendon. This year the latest reports from May 7th only 247 shad made it up the ladders in Easton. We'll need a count of 1,200 shad in the tapes in a 10 day counting period to make the count we had last year. I think they might just be passing us by........ going right up river and not even entering the ladders this year. Happy fishin' to one and all............

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 1999

Well if you missed the "festival" this year you have no one to blame but yourself. We had a "blast". WEST provided us with live radio from the park this year. John & Pam Richetta of "Tempo Itialiano" were in the park broadcasting from 9am -3pm. They had the crowds bopping to the music in between our "Zany Parade", "Awards Ceremony "and the "EFCO Cookout." We had a great crowd to cheer the winners as they received their much deserved prizes. The Parade included a color guard, boats, clowns, Crayola Crayola's and humvees from our local military reserves. The parade ended at Scott Park where the Cookout was in full force and winners were lining up to receive their prizes and the children were enjoying having their faces painted by the girlscouts dressed as clowns. EFCO did still another great job "feeding the multitudes." They provided shad cooked on planks over an open fire and several other recipes that were provided by our local "hometown Mothers." Not a drop of shad was in site at the end of the day...... which means to me...... "everyone enjoyed the feast." We told you last year not to miss it...... if you missed it put it on your calendar for next year. It's a really nice day in the park for the "entire family."

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1999

I really know you all were watching for the fishing reports from the "Shad Tournament" and I was really looking forward to sending them to you but I got hit with the C1H VIRUS on Monday. Just got my computer back late last night and just now completed reinstalling such things as email.........Hope you all have a "good anti-virus" agent on your computers. You really need a good one. Well I only wish that I could report some really great fish stories to each and every one of you but "shad fishing" has really been a task this year. The fish are here and in large quantities but are passing the boats and shore fisherpeople like a "shot in the dark." I sat on the river on Wednesday with three of us in the boat, two poles on downriggers and three poles flat lining. Not a hit among the five poles in an 8 hour period. We were sitting in the channels, off to the side of the channels, down the middle of the river and there were fish on the screen "all 8 hours." Every where we moved to there were fish coming up the river. We sat among 10 other boats and only saw 6 shad boated in the 8 hour period. Everyone is talking about how they are just passing by without a whisper. Water temperatures went from 49 on Monday morning to 61.4 degrees on Thursday at 5:00 o'clock. Conditions "should be" perfect but the "dang things" are just not cooperating at all. The top Shad for the Tournament is still 6.61 LB. 25 1/2" whopper caught by Gene Tilstra from Milford, NJ. I'll be sending the breakdown on all the days to the webmaster tonight and perhaps we'll see them on the website tomorrow. Happy fishing and don't forget to join us all at Scott Park in Easton on Sunday May 2, 1999 from 9am - 5pm when we will have a live broadcast from our local radio station WEST 1400am on your radio dial when "Tempo Itialiano" will do his Sunday show from the Park. We will have a "Zany Shad Parade" at 1pm, the Awards Ceremony at 2pm and Easton Fishing & Conservation Organization (EFCO) will prepare some planked shad for the crowds to taste. This will be a really fun day in the Park for the entire family! We will have clowns, food vendors, fish tales and some "old fashion home town fun." Bring the entire family. The weather should be wonderful with a high projected for 75 degrees. Please join us for some "fun in the park."

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1999

What a miserable rainy day!!! The weather just wasn't there for the opening day of the Forks of the Delaware Shad Fishing Tournament. But what else is new.... Seems like the shad always bring the rain. Could be that's there way of making it upstream in a safer manner. Not many boaters out today and even less anglers. The weather kept them all in their safe environments and using there telephones to call into the weigh station! The anglers that did weather the storm did bring in some fish but had to "sit it out and wait for hits." Weather is looking good for Saturday and Sunday. Bring that sunshine on and "bring on the shad." Big catch for the day was from Barry Moyer, 5.59 lbs., 23 1/2". Way to go Barry! Let's see some 6 pounders tomorrow.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1999

Well howdy to everyone! Hope you all had pleasant holidays and got some really good gear to start the fishing season 1999 off with a bang! Yes, I've still been watching the "River" for you while you all watch "TNN OUTDOORS" and let the 'big guys' catch those 'biggins' for you. The Delaware was up quite a bit but has receded to a nice level. FYI: there were a few boats by the overpass of RT.-78 in Easton a few weekends ago when we had that warm weather. Didn't get to talk to any of them, I'm one of those "sunshine" fisherpeople. Give me sunshine and I'm on the water all the time.....when it gets cold I head for the cabin. Tired of being cooped up watching the fisherpeople on T.V.? Going through those fishing tackle boxes and rod cabinets with too much of one thing and not enough of the other??? Well here's what you can do! Rent some space at EFCO's Tackle Swap! The price is right and when you sell the old ''stuff'' you'll have room for the ''new stuff'' that you could buy with your profits! Jack & Neil have posted the Tackle Swap for us and you can view it at: http://www.mgfx.com/forks/ It's under "Fishing Seminar &Tackle Swap". We are hosting it at a new facility this year and the website is complete with a map. So check it out and contact me at the top of this page for any additional information that you might need. 'HAPPY FISHING' to all............

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