MONROE & PIKE COUNTIES
For many shad anglers, the area from Matamoras downstream to the Delaware Water Gap is their favorite part of the river. Generally, the shad reach this zone in the last week of April or first week of May. With that timetable, the days are longer, allowing for more fishing time. And the water temperature is usually above 58 degrees, provoking a good bite.

Access for boaters is much better in this area, and there are shore-fishing spots available at the Gap National Recreation Area and, on the Jersey side, at Worthington State Park.

In Monroe County, a large parking area and boat ramp are at Smithfield Beach on River Road about three miles north of Shawnee On Delaware. Heading upstream, there’s boat access at Bushkill, Eshback, Dingman’s Ferry and Milford Beach. These four spots lie along Route 209.

The Delaware River has many personalities through the Monroe-southern Pike stretch. It varies from the pools of Smithfield Beach and Walpack Bend to the riffle-rich water of Bushkill and Eshback, and to the broad, straight stretch at Milford Beach.

Shore-anglers will find good wading and casting conditions at Bushkill, Eshback and north of Dingman’s Ferry.

Farther north of Milford through central Pike County, the river contains plenty of deep flat-bottom pools that are not particularly conducive to shore-fishing. But if you are looking for one more launch area, the hot place to go is the pinch point above the Zane Grey Pool at Lackawaxen. There’s a launch ramp with limited parking in front of the Zane Grey Museum off Route 590.

For additional information, call the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at (717) 705-7800, or visit the agency’s Web site at Fish.PA.US.

For trip-planning aid, call 1-800-VISIT-PA.