Dela-whack! (Pics) 2025
Kid Catch reply :
Been a terrific week on The Delaware, wading every day, fishing flats in Bucks County.
Thought I'd include a few of my better fish from this week thus far.
Smallies have been very active under mid day bluebird skies. Best numbers have been on soft paddletail swimbaits on a light weighted hook. During overcast periods or when the wind has made finesse less effective, walking baits have gotten big blow ups worked nearly as fast as I can retrieve on a 7:1 baitcaster. Short strikes or slaps mean I go into hyper-speed and burn, burn, burn - they come back for it ticked off.
First cast of the day on Tuesday, I just about jumped outta my shoes when this channel cat whacked my swimbait. Fun fight on 6lb fluoro. Caught several more channels on swimbaits while casting for smallies.
Striper have been blistering walking baits on breaklines beside flats all week. I like the Strike King Sexy Dawg, again - fast as I can burn it. Lots on large paddletails and four on a Lucky Craft Pointer 100sp, always on the pause.
All fish released as always.
Hope you guys are hammering them wherever you’re at!
bowhunter63 reply :
Good ones there,Congrats
Darren. reply :
Welcome aboard!
Nice catches!
Kid Catch reply :
Thank you guys! Been out there every day all day as I normally am, nice to know I've now got a friendly crowd to talk shop with.
buzzed bait reply :
nice smallie. really cool pic there with the catdaddy too!
flyfisher reply :
i grew up fishing the delaware in that area myself. Great place to fish for sure. Nice fish 
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/10/2016 at 9:07 AM, flyfisher said:i grew up fishing the delaware in that area myself. Great place to fish for sure. Nice fish
Oh nice man! See you're in VA now, you fish The New at all?
flyfisher reply :
nah, I live in central VA so i hit the james but mainly i fish for largemouth in the lakes around here. I do make a few trips a year to meet my dad on the susky though in central PA....
NorcalBassin reply :
Nice job and cool pics!
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/10/2016 at 10:02 AM, flyfisher said:nah, I live in central VA so i hit the james but mainly i fish for largemouth in the lakes around here. I do make a few trips a year to meet my dad on the susky though in central PA....
Very cool. I'll actually be visiting The James for the first time August 18-20 for a project for work. Really excited about it as I've heard it's a smallie factory. Hopefully I'll get some time to throw a couple in between work days.
On 6/10/2016 at 10:39 AM, NorcalBassin said:Nice job and cool pics!
Appreciate the kind words brother!
BassB8Caster reply :
nice fish and nice pics!
Hurricane reply :
Nice pics man...
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/11/2016 at 6:55 PM, LastCastChris said:Nice pics man...
Thanks man, I guess mixing work (photographer) and play isn't always bad lol. Taking expensive camera gear shielded by only 3 layers of zip lock bags is however, a very bad idea. Really need to invest in a dry bag - been looking at the stuff by Watershed.
Gundog reply :
Nice fish. I fished the big D around Matamoras PA 20+ years ago and it wasn't easy. But on those special days it seemed the fishing gods smiled on me and it was awesome. Everything from rockbass to muskie were biting.
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/12/2016 at 10:38 AM, Gundog said:Nice fish. I fished the big D around Matamoras PA 20+ years ago and it wasn't easy. But on those special days it seemed the fishing gods smiled on me and it was awesome. Everything from rockbass to muskie were biting.
Hey cool, very familiar with that stretch! And yes, The D is a tough river when compared to others (even local, i.e. Susk, Skuke). But as you know, the efforts seldom go unrewarded. What was your best catch on the Delaware?
Gundog reply :
My best catch was a fat 5 lb smallie I caught in the fall fishing around a downed tree. My most memorable was a small musky who thought he was a tarpon. He kept leaping over and over again till he finally broke my line. If I hadn't been shad fishing with light line I might have landed him.
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/13/2016 at 1:12 AM, Gundog said:My best catch was a fat 5 lb smallie I caught in the fall fishing around a downed tree. My most memorable was a small musky who thought he was a tarpon. He kept leaping over and over again till he finally broke my line. If I hadn't been shad fishing with light line I might have landed him.
5 lb bronzie?! That's what makes the tough days worth it eh? Closest I've come to that actually came out of (and put back into), ready for this - The Neshaminy Creek. 22 1/4 inches on a sinking worm I poured, on 6lb mono (had yet to make the switch to braid/fluoro. Subsequently I take my time on the Nesh very seriously now 
.
That muskie must have been a trip, huh? I chase them on a fly rod every now and then but most often see them when they snipe a smallie I'm reeling in. They almost always swirl, bite, and freeze with in their mouth. That sudden flash scares the daylights outta me every time lol.
Any chance you have a pic of the 5lb smallie?
Gundog reply :
Sorry, no pic on the smallie. Those were pre-cellphone/camera/internet days. Yea I'm an old-timer. I've met people who have fished the Neshaminy Creek and say it was a blast. Especially in the spring.
Catch 22 reply :
That is some impressive catching WTG. Nice write up.I used to wade the Susky quite a bit yrs ago before the public found it.60 to 80 fish days were the norm.
C22
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/13/2016 at 8:22 AM, Catch 22 said:That is some impressive catching WTG. Nice write up.I used to wade the Susky quite a bit yrs ago before the public found it.60 to 80 fish days were the norm.
C22
Thanks Catch! I've been told that 20 years ago it was absolutely nuts.
Between myself and another fisherman I've seen an 80+ day or two on the North Branch, especially in the fall when they really stir up. It's also terrific smallmouth fishing in the winter. Big fish. No rats in January
Catch 22 reply :
On 6/13/2016 at 12:35 PM, Kid Catch said:Thanks Catch! I've been told that 20 years ago it was absolutely nuts.
That is true. All thru the winter ,it was me and a few duck hunters.
Matt Van reply :
On 6/10/2016 at 8:41 AM, Kid Catch said:Thank you guys! Been out there every day all day as I normally am, nice to know I've now got a friendly crowd to talk shop with.
Went and fished the big D yesterday on the Jersey side just past Washington Crossing and didn't catch anything. I was fishing poppers, spooks, senkos, and keitech paddle tail swimbaits...conditions were great...can't believe I didn't catch anything. Maybe I'll have to try the PA side since the NJ side has a lot more grass than last year.
YoTone reply :
sweet, ive always wanted to fish further up. i do my fishing in south philly mostly and im dying to catch a small mouth.
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/14/2016 at 9:24 PM, Matt Van said:Went and fished the big D yesterday on the Jersey side just past Washington Crossing and didn't catch anything. I was fishing poppers, spooks, senkos, and keitech paddle tail swimbaits...conditions were great...can't believe I didn't catch anything. Maybe I'll have to try the PA side since the NJ side has a lot more grass than last year.
I was about 4 miles down river from you in the morning, before I left for the Raritan. Did okay in the AM, all on paddle tails. Funny thing is I've tried, and tried, and tried to get a consistent Delaware bite on the keitech and regardless of size or color it's been sparse action at best. Done better with them on an umbrella rig fishing largemouth in lakes. Although, my Girlfriend had a striper swipe at the 4 inch last Thursday but didn't swing and missed it. My personal experience has been that a Reaction Innovations or similar style swimbait gets a whole lotta attention on The D. I rig it on as light of a weighted hook as wind and current will allow, and am looking for a nose-down, very slow fall rate. Later in the summer I'll throw it heavier when smallies move into the faster nervous water. I (and the striper especially) like a blue/purple back with a white belly. I maintain that it's all about the fall, let that tail thump on a controlled-slack line and be ready to swing when they nab it. Not many mushy bites on the swimbait. Usually a very easily detected strike though I'm also *awesome* at getting too jumpy, swinging too soon, and blowing out the fishes mouth before the hook's had a chance to pin it. Easily lost triple what I've caught on swimbaits in my first year or so fishing them. Over time I've learned to calm myself down as best I can and familiarize myself with an effective hookset method. But it ain't always easy, know what I mean?
On 6/15/2016 at 2:49 AM, YoTone said:sweet, ive always wanted to fish further up. i do my fishing in south philly mostly and im dying to catch a small mouth.
Catch a nice one, and game over - hooked for life. If you're looking for a fight, you'll find it in the bronze ones,
Matt Van reply :
On 6/15/2016 at 3:28 AM, Kid Catch said:My personal experience has been that a Reaction Innovations or similar style swimbait gets a whole lotta attention on The D.
Good to know! Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it man.
Kid Catch reply :
On 6/15/2016 at 4:10 AM, Matt Van said:Good to know! Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it man.
Any time brotha
Gmarrazzo reply :
On 6/15/2016 at 3:28 AM, Kid Catch said:I was about 4 miles down river from you in the morning, before I left for the Raritan. Did okay in the AM, all on paddle tails. Funny thing is I've tried, and tried, and tried to get a consistent Delaware bite on the keitech and regardless of size or color it's been sparse action at best. Done better with them on an umbrella rig fishing largemouth in lakes. Although, my Girlfriend had a striper swipe at the 4 inch last Thursday but didn't swing and missed it. My personal experience has been that a Reaction Innovations or similar style swimbait gets a whole lotta attention on The D. I rig it on as light of a weighted hook as wind and current will allow, and am looking for a nose-down, very slow fall rate. Later in the summer I'll throw it heavier when smallies move into the faster nervous water. I (and the striper especially) like a blue/purple back with a white belly. I maintain that it's all about the fall, let that tail thump on a controlled-slack line and be ready to swing when they nab it. Not many mushy bites on the swimbait. Usually a very easily detected strike though I'm also *awesome* at getting too jumpy, swinging too soon, and blowing out the fishes mouth before the hook's had a chance to pin it. Easily lost triple what I've caught on swimbaits in my first year or so fishing them. Over time I've learned to calm myself down as best I can and familiarize myself with an effective hookset method. But it ain't always easy, know what I mean?
Catch a nice one, and game over - hooked for life. If you're looking for a fight, you'll find it in the bronze ones,
I recently rediscovered my joy of fishing and have become very fond of smallies - fishing Neshaminy Creek and now venturing back to Big D? Igrew up in Morrisville and I'm familiar with most stretches of the river in Bucks - can you tell me where you are wading in?
fishinfiend reply :
well done!
Keepin.it.reel reply :
On 6/12/2016 at 10:38 AM, Gundog said:Nice fish. I fished the big D around Matamoras PA 20+ years ago and it wasn't easy. But on those special days it seemed the fishing gods smiled on me and it was awesome. Everything from rockbass to muskie were biting.
where were you fishing back then? i live literally in that town and i cant seem to find the big ones. only like 2-3 lbs. tryna catch a monster. caught a small stripper couple months ago but only like 14". my buddy caught a good sized smallie 4lbs in may. oh and to the guy who started this thread, badass bro. the pics and the fish, nice catches
Gundog reply :
On 10/4/2016 at 4:18 AM, Keepin.it.reel said:where were you fishing back then? i live literally in that town and i cant seem to find the big ones. only like 2-3 lbs. tryna catch a monster. caught a small stripper couple months ago but only like 14". my buddy caught a good sized smallie 4lbs in may. oh and to the guy who started this thread, badass bro. the pics and the fish, nice catches
Just north of Milford Beach off of 209. Road leads down close to the river and there are spots you can bushwack through. Big ones are hard to come by but if you are there at the right times its more fun than a guy should have with his pants on. Late spring/ early summer were the times for big fish. Before all the tourist start paddling down river in there inner tubes.
Keepin.it.reel reply :
On 10/4/2016 at 11:42 AM, Gundog said:Just north of Milford Beach off of 209. Road leads down close to the river and there are spots you can bushwack through. Big ones are hard to come by but if you are there at the right times its more fun than a guy should have with his pants on. Late spring/ early summer were the times for big fish. Before all the tourist start paddling down river in there inner tubes.
hahaha i like the pants on joke. ill have to use that one. and i go there all the time. one of buddy lives in that house there. i caught some good ones but still no monsters. guess ill have to get out there more. what were you using for bait or tackle there?
Gundog reply :
On 10/5/2016 at 12:00 AM, Keepin.it.reel said:hahaha i like the pants on joke. ill have to use that one. and i go there all the time. one of buddy lives in that house there. i caught some good ones but still no monsters. guess ill have to get out there more. what were you using for bait or tackle there?
Crank baits and spinner baits mostly. If the water is muddy I make sure I'm using a big colorado blade on that spinner bait.
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