camping on the Deleware and fishing..

[Scrubby]

There are a couple of Campgrounds we want to camp at both are pretty close to where I 80 crosses into PA..I think I know the awsewer to this probally dumb question but, stripers dont migrate that far up the Delaware do they? Also, I think I read somewhere that both PA and NJ actually stocked hybrids and stripers, And other species as well.. is this true? Im basicly looking to fish this section of the Delaware and hoping to find out what fish I could realisticlly target..I havent fished the Delaware River since I was kid with my dad back in the late 70's early 80's..

[AVA67]

You will still get stripers up to the Gap and beyond, but that is mostly a night bite this time of year. I would concentrate on Small Mouth during the day with jigs, tube baits, and cranks.

If your camp site is right on the water I would recommend bringing some chicken liver or raw shrimp to bottom fish at night with. There are plenty of big. Channel cats, bull heads, and eels to keep the rods bending.

Good luck.

[Scrubby]

You will still get stripers up to the Gap and beyond, but that is mostly a night bite this time of year. I would concentrate on Small Mouth during the day with jigs, tube baits, and cranks.

If your camp site is right on the water I would recommend bringing some chicken liver or raw shrimp to bottom fish at night with. There are plenty of big. Channel cats, bull heads, and eels to keep the rods bending.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info AVA what about April and May for stripers? I will probally mostly be fishing from land I know the shad run is good that time of year too..What baits are used? Ive been Saltwater fishing so much and like I said I havent fished the delaware since i was a kid with my dad..

[gwl2oneida]

I've seen stripers as far north as port jervis

[bigboy5522]

I have caught one in that area at night in July using live bait

[Wilson]

While this was a few years ago I hooked and landed a 5 -6 lb Striper on a Panther Martin just above Barryville NY on my trout rod with 4 lb. test.

Where ever you camp hit the water early, as the jet skis, tubers and what have you will probably be out in force;) The night bite can also be nice...sans bugs:D

[njflyfisher]

just go to deleware river family campground and ask for the spot in the back which i like right on the river. i would fish there at night and get huge cats and eels. you can throw a few rods out put bells on them and just chill at you camprground if you hear the bell it a 25 foot run. well goodluck

[Eskimo]

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I have seen people catch enormous Stripers in that 'Gap area, but I don't know how they did it.

I've been having trouble catching sizeable Smallmouth in that area, but other people seem to do okay. Don't be surprised to catch some big Walleye in the evening.

In the evening, massive numbers of Rock Bass come out and kind of become a nuisance when you're trying to catch something bigger.

Oh, and watch out for bears. All my close bear encounters have been when I was fishing that area of the river. It's not as bad now that they imposed a hunting season, but there are still a surprising number of bears in those woods.


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[Dave B.]

I've caught stripers as far upstream as 1/3 mile up the West Branch above Hancock. There is a small resident population but for the migratory fish they generally don't reach the gap area until around late May to early June. They will then hang around all summer. The shad don't usually reach the gap area until late April.

As others have said your best bets for action would be smallies and panfish during the day, although if it's overcast you may find some active walleye and stripers. For the night bite follow the advice already given and target cats, 'eyes and stripers with either bait or plugs.

The water along the Delaware River campground is slow,flat and deep and harbors a good deal of very nice sized fish. The downside is the daytime boat traffic oftens keeps them hunkered down until after nightfall. If you head up to the rapids at the upper end of the flat water you can have some pretty good and mostly un-molested smallie action all day long.

Good luck if/when you go!

[Scrubby]

Guys thank you very much for the replies, its a big help.. do any of you guys know how anything about Driftstone campground?? I remember camping there as a kid just wondering if anyone fished there or near there.. Im wondering what kind of baits to use. and last question, can you guys recomend a good bait shop in the area?

[njflyfisher]

Guys thank you very much for the replies, its a big help.. do any of you guys know how anything about Driftstone campground?? I remember camping there as a kid just wondering if anyone fished there or near there.. Im wondering what kind of baits to use. and last question, can you guys recomend a good bait shop in the area?

shoprite for chicken liver and backyard for worms and your all set. Unless you need tackle, i dont know where that is.

[Gerry Zagorski]

We take the kids to Driftstone camping every year. Nice place and all the sites have electric hook ups. They also have canoe and kayack rentals right on site as well as a pool if you are bringing kids. Not sure about the fishing in that area though.

If you are more into tent camping and roughing it a bit, Worthington State Forrest is a great place and just a few miles north of the Gap on the NJ side right on the Delaware. No hook ups there and much more secluded which is more to my my liking but not the wifes :) You need to be very careful there since there are lots of bear in the area... Coolers have to be in the car and hidden at all times.

[Scrubby]

We take the kids to Driftstone camping every year. Nice place and all the sites have electric hook ups. They also have canoe and kayack rentals right on site as well as a pool if you are bringing kids. Not sure about the fishing in that area though.

If you are more into tent camping and roughing it a bit, Worthington State Forrest is a great place and just a few miles north of the Gap on the NJ side right on the Delaware. No hook ups there and much more secluded which is more to my my liking but not the wifes :) You need to be very careful there since there are lots of bear in the area... Coolers have to be in the car and hidden at all times.

Actually Gerry we will be in a Travel trailer.. my wife and i love camping but were done with the tent thing.. is it really camping?? i suppose its debateable..lol..

[Gerry Zagorski]

Actually Gerry we will be in a Travel trailer.. my wife and i love camping but were done with the tent thing.. is it really camping?? i suppose its debateable..lol..

Scrubs - The wife and I used to tent camp too. Then one cold fall evening, she had enough and said if I wanted her to continue to camp we'd need to get a camper so we got a pop up... We've taken it to Worthington a few times but like I said before, there are no hook up or dump stations. There is however pleanty of water spigots around to fill your fresh water tank.

Worthington is definately worth a look, more my style of camping..

[Dave B.]

I sure do miss the Old Coppermine Campground! There'll never be another like it! That aside you could give these folks a call to see if they have any open sites. They're right on the Flatbrook, minutes from the Delaware, but about 35-45 minutes further north from the water gap.
WALPACK VALLEY CAMPGROUND
Route 615
Wallpack Center NJ,
201-948-4384