Shore fishing from the Delaware river in Sept

[NYCSTRIPES]

Hello folks
I am planning a camping trip in September on the Delaware River. Heard there are smallmouth bass there in good numbers. I have not handled fishing rods much, especially for fresh water. I have 2 light spinning rod sets for the trip and I was looking for recomendations for live bait and lure setups.
So far I have purchased some 2 and 3 inch Mr Twisters and jig hooks for them as well as a couple of 1/8 and 3/16 ounce buzz baits. I also have a Hula Popper for top water action.
What else should I be bringing to the shore for this type of fishing? Is there a preferred live bait for that region?
I will be just South of Port Jervis, NY camping on the bank of the river. Looking forward to it.
thanks
Ken

[charlie sterner]

I haven't fished up that way since college, but I'm sure not much has changed. The Delaware up there can be pretty weedy and we had our best luck tossing jigs into and along the weedbeds. We had our best luck on "gitzits", those little tube lures with the jighead inside. Brown, watermelon and/or chartreuse. Anything that looks like a crawdad.Used to have good luck on Roostertail spinners and Rebel Crayfish crankbaits (NOT deep divers, just the shallow ones).

My buddy has 3 walleye from up there that are over 14 lbs. All were caught at night trolling large crankbaits. There's some biggies up there, and you might even snag into a musky.

Good luck.

Charlie

[Zeus]

As I read your post I thought to myself...."Mr. Twister".....Then you said it!......I've caught more types of fish on those little lures. Mostly bass...so I think your on the right track.....Also you might want to try a Rattle Trap.....They have produced many larger fish.....but you need a little deeper water to fish them. Rapala's work good too. Zeus out.

[NYCSTRIPES]

Thanks fellas. I was hoping I was on the right track. I may wait for getting live bait until I get into the area and just get what's recommended out there. I appreciate the input on the lures, I think I have spent my money wisely so far.
Ken

[charlie sterner]

you may find helgramites by rolling over rocks and placing a net or screen on the downstream side of the rock. These are my favorite smallie bait. But careful of the pinchers. OUCH If you can get any, they work great and one bait lasts several fish. From the shore, I typically put a float on the line and about 2-3 feet below a hook with a helgramite. This rig will catch fish and prevent snags.

My old standby is the medium shiner. You'll catch all different kinds of fish on these, but you'll go thru a lot of them. Get 3-4 dozen per day. Fish the same way on a float.

Another thing to ask for is the stone cat. These are tiny little catfish that are supposed to be the cat's meow for smallmouth and walleye. I've never been able to find them in a bait shop though. My buddies catch their own at night at secret spots even I don't know about.

Good luck. Take lotsa pictures!

Charlie

[NYCSTRIPES]

you may find helgramites by rolling over rocks and placing a net or screen on the downstream side of the rock. These are my favorite smallie bait. But careful of the pinchers. OUCH If you can get any, they work great and one bait lasts several fish. From the shore, I typically put a float on the line and about 2-3 feet below a hook with a helgramite. This rig will catch fish and prevent snags.

My old standby is the medium shiner. You'll catch all different kinds of fish on these, but you'll go thru a lot of them. Get 3-4 dozen per day. Fish the same way on a float.

Another thing to ask for is the stone cat. These are tiny little catfish that are supposed to be the cat's meow for smallmouth and walleye. I've never been able to find them in a bait shop though. My buddies catch their own at night at secret spots even I don't know about.

Good luck. Take lotsa pictures!

Charlie

Thanks Charlie,
I will try to find some hellgramites while I am there. I also figured that shiners would be good bait, I used these on Lake Trout at Round Valley a couple of years back.
Ken

[NYCSTRIPES]

Are #4 and #6 standard sized hooks for live bait for smallmouth bass?

[charlie sterner]

Yes, #4 or #6 will work fine. Catch a bunch!

Charlie

[NYCSTRIPES]

Thanks Charlie

it was tough ordering hooks online since you can't tell how large they are from the pictures.
Ken

[NYCSTRIPES]

I had a great camping trip, unfortunately, the fishing was not as good. The section of the river I was on was a bit too shallow and the water was too swift for good fishing. I caught two juvenile smallmouth bass, threw them back in and saw nothing else for the weekend. I did manage a canoe trip with my girlfriend and the dogs, saw some great places to fish but most of it required a boat. Next time I will bring a rod on the canoe trip.
I have to go back for another section of the river just to drop a line in someday soon. The gear advice was terrific, so now my tackle box is full. Now I have to pick a better fishing hole.
Ken
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/Me%20and%20Jen/Camping2007018-1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/Me%20and%20Jen/Camping2007026.jpg

[Duff]

Dude, your dogs are killing me:D My boxer turns 14 today (can't believe it). He won't be with me forever-enjoy them while you can. Your Bull doesn't look like much of an "aqua dog". ha ha neither is my boxer.

[NYCSTRIPES]

Thanks, figured that somebody would get a kick out of the pictures. The bulldog actually enjoys the water, so long as its on his terms. If I draw up a bath for him, he hides...go figure. Happy Birthday to your Boxer.
Ken

[BrianHHI7265]

So what are their names?

Dogs, better and more honest than most people. I wouldn't be w/o dogs.

BTW, bummer that you didn't catch "the big one".

[NYCSTRIPES]

The dogs' names are Meatball and Suki, you can see which one is which..LOL
Ken

[10MMGary]

Great pic of the dogs Ken. Man o man do I love English Bullies. Ours was short lived(as are most), but he would make you smile by just looking at him. I have been told by more than one person that they are very poor swimmers(gee imagine that:) ) and are basically negatively buoyant:confused: . Budlite(he was just Bud until we had him fixed:D ) would walk into the water of Tampa Bay and when he hit a hole he would sink and stand there with bubbles coming out his nose looking all pitiful at me until I would pull him out. We could never allowed him alone in the backyard due to the pool. I want another but the prices down here are starting at 2K!:eek: for a good pup.

[NYCSTRIPES]

I hear you Gary. They are truly a great breed. Mine would probably sink straight to the bottom of any body of water including a bath tub, hence the heavy life jacket with the added pad to keep his face out of the water as well. When he's near water I refer to him as "cannon ball".
When mine was at the shore front, he was constantly on the leash. Great feature of the vest was the grab handle on the top...just in case.
I bought mine 2 years ago and he was almost 3k. Quality breeder, excellent pups but the prices keep climbing here too. Vet costs are the primary reason behind it. Vets see the $$ signs and cash in on the popularity of the dogs. Breeders aren't making as much as you think on the litters. The vet makes the lion's share on these dogs.

Ken
PS thank your son for his service.