In Monroe County, the largest boating access for many river miles is Smithfield Beach, about three miles north of Shawnee-on-the-Delaware within the Delaware Water National Recreational Area on River Road.

The ramp at Smithfield has immediate access to some thick, deep water, but a short trip up or downstream will put boaters into shallow but swift pinch points.

In Pike County, there is a ramp at the Milford Beach access. The flat-faced cliffs at Milford keep the deep Delaware channel close to New Jersey, and you can easily discern the outside edge of the cut by the straight line of boats that anchor along the drop. The Milford Beach access is south of the town of Milford off Route 209. The town is a good place to find tackle and amenities.

The Dingmans Ferry Access contains large parking areas and good ramps in the shadow of the Dingmans Ferry bridge. The river makes a wide turn in this stretch, and the best pinch points are on the Pennsylvania side.

Upstream from the access point on Route 209, there are short driveways in the woods where anglers who want to wade can find entrance. The Dingmans Ferry Access is off Route 739, about a half mile east of Route 209.

To continue north on Route 209 and into Pike County, theres a boat ramp at the Bushkill Access directly off the highway. The Bushkill ramp is centered on a convoluted section of river thats not as deep as certain downstream sections.

In this section of the river, it is possible to stretch boats horizontally across the Delawares currents as well as vertically downstream. Depending on the river flow, the shad run can extend to one side to the other.

After the Delaware River makes a hard turn to the northwest, boating anglers will find the Matamoras Access to be most convenient. This site is on Delaware Drive about one mile north of the Route 209 bridge. Shad use the pools around Matamoras as a temporary resting place and later as spawning grounds, making this a good spot during the height of the run and again during the spawning ritual.

Much farther north in Pike County, boater access is available at the Zane Grey access in the town of Lackawaxen. This area is a hotspot for shad because migrating fish use the pool below the long, stretch of shallow riffles as a staging area.

For boaters, the hotspot along the Zane Grey Pool is undoubtedly on the New York side of the river, north of the rebuilt Roebling Bridge.

The Lackawaxen River enters the Delaware River just above the Zane Grey House and Museum. Shallower water and the Lackawaxen River flow attract some shad into the tributary. At the curve on the Delaware River below the Lackawaxen River, wading anglers may get their licks at a few shad. But the vast majority of fish will be on the New York side, in water too deep to wade.

For additional fishing information on Pennsylvanias Delaware River shad fishing, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in Harrisburg at (717) 705-7800.

For travel information, call 1-800-VISIT-PA.