Catch Variety by Trolling

Consistently catching a wide variety of game fish in diverse conditions is the reward for the anglers who employ trolling as one of their primary fishing techniques on big rivers (like the Delaware River) and our big lakes (like lake Wallenpaupack). Trolling will almost always out fish anglers using other fishing methods for one simple reason: An entire section of water can quickly and efficiently be prospected by trolling. The best concentrations of fish can be located with minimum effort. Then these smaller area “hot spot” sections of water can be efficiently be covered by the other methods such as fly/spin-casting and still fishing without spending as much time and energy.

Trolling is a technique that is very popular not just because it can be effectively employed by anglers of any degree of expertise. But mainly because it is easy, fun and it works. It is a great way to introduce a youngster, girlfriend or wife to fishing because the line tangles and snags are few and far between that eliminates what I call the frustration factor. At the same time there is usually something going on for everyone to participate in that will help build overall fishing knowledge and skills.

Trolling is definitly not just for newcomer to the sport. It is a fishing technique employed mostly by advanced anglers because of its proven success. Work this deadly technique at the right time and right location with the right lure riggings and you will have a fish catching combination that’s unbeatable. It is very addicting once you see your rod(s) barrel over with what I like to call a “slam-jam-shazz-aam of a hit”. After more than 30 years of trolling, it still never gets old for me, that’s for sure. I have never met an angler yet who did not find it very exciting when one or more trolling rods barrel over with heavy hook-ups! Getting doubles (multiple fish-on at the same time) is not an uncommon result of an effectively executed troll.

Trolling requires a boat, method of propulsion (motor or oars), rod and reel (preferably several) and lures. Rod holders are also recommended or you just may have a fish take your equipment overboard. You can troll with just about any lure and even some natural baits like minnows, eels and night crawlers. Some of the most effective lures are lightweight spoons, jigs, spinners, crank baits, stick baits, other lipped baits and rattle traps. The troll is let out behind the moving boat until you have enough line out to keep it away from the back of the boat. The line distance will vary depending upon the size/weight of the lure you select and how deep you wish it to run. The forward speed of your boat will dictate just how fast or slow the trailing lure will move and also how deep it will run.

Here are a few tricks you can use to make trolling more productive and fun:

Troll as slow as possible. Big fish will not expend any more energy than they have to. Additionally, most lures will not perform correctly under fast speeds. Other lures like spinners, spoons and jigs will plane upward in the water column faster than at slow speeds. The best advice is to troll slower against the current and a bit faster when trolling with the current.

Vary Trolling Speeds at least every few minutes. While slow is the general rule it does not mean slow all the time. A lure running through the water at a consistent speed, at a constant depth and giving off the same vibration pattern will not catch as many fish. By changing the lures speed and vibration pattern every few minutes will definitly trigger far more strikes.

Be sure to troll in wide zigzags and S curves. Consistent trolling results require that you do everything possible to keep from running a straight trolling line. Every time the lure is on the inside and/or outside turn it will impart a different action and speed to the trailing lure that will definitly trigger more strikes.

The Other Pocono Fish Guy

For all of you who have kept up with reading the bi-monthly Pocono Fish Guy column this may come as a shock, Will is not the only certified fishing guide we have at the Shawnee Inn. He is by all means the head guide and, in his own mind, the most knowledgeable of the staff; however we have quite a few people who can provide a high quality fishing experience on the Delaware River. I am not going to delude myself or you all into believing that I could ever out guide Will, I do however remember a couple Shad trips where my guys were hauling fish after fish in the boat and his patrons were coming up empty…but as they say even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. All kidding aside, Will has taught me much about fishing on the Big D. He is one of the rare individuals who has dedicated his life to fishing in a way I could only dream of, and by far has logged more hours on the “Big D” than anyone I know. The reality of the situation is that we wanted to do an opening day of trout season article, and he was too busy on Shad trips to get out for trout. I on the other hand was not.

I have to say that this was by far my best opening day in recent memory. This was not just due to the numbers of fish I encountered, but also the quality of the fish and the beautiful weather we had. I fished the Bushkill Creek, in a fairly popular spot, and had my limit of trout by 9:15am. I kept the first five trout I caught for two reasons, one I will get into later in this column, the other is that my wife is pregnant and due any day so I was trying to be a good husband and limit my time away from her. I ended up with two Brookies, both a solid 12 inches, and three Rainbows. One was a good 14 inches the other two were solid 12-13 inchers. Reading Will’s columns they tend to fall into two categories, observations and musings about fishing, or tips and advice; most of his columns actually contain both. Following his lead I am going to offer you the same.

Disturbing Opening Day Trends

1) Where are the kids?
Unlike the “real” Pocono Fish Guy I do not have the luxury of guiding full time. I actually teach High School science and my title at the Shawnee Inn is Manager on Duty, guiding fishing trips is an enjoyable extra to the job. That being said, as a teacher, it is very disturbing to me not to see young kids out enjoying opening day. I literally saw one kid fishing all day, that’s deplorable. I remember when I was a kid opening day of trout season was a major holiday for me. Opening day of buck season, opening day of trout season, and opening day of spring gobbler were the three days I waited for all year. I used to sleep till 10am on Christmas morning, who wants to get up for coal anyway, opening day of trout season though I was awake pacing the house at 2am. Fishing truly is a healthy, life long, activity. The best part is that it is something you can continuously improve at. That was a very important revelation for me especially since I just came to the realization this past winter that, after wrestling my whole life and coaching the sport the past seven years, I may be on the downward side of my career. The fact that the only reason my shoulders move anymore is the massive amount of glucosamine I ingest has kind of been an eye opener. Knowing that I can continue to improve my fishing skills offers me a great deal of comfort in dealing with the decline of my wrestling abilities.

2) Where are the people?
It seems every year there are less and less people showing up to fish on opening day. As a kid I used to be on the water at 5am just to get a good spot. Last Saturday people were showing up at 7:30am and there was plenty of room for them. I got there at 6:15am just out of habit and there were only a couple of other people around. The economy is horrible, people can’t afford to golf anymore…why aren’t they fishing?

3) Where are the locals?
I spent Saturday fishing next to a group of five people from Staten Island to my left, and a group of six people from Easton to my right. I am also fairly certain that the guy across the creek with the surf rod, 3oz sinker, and size 10/0 shark hook slinging cut bait wasn’t a local either. I can honestly say, with the exception of the guy with the surf rod, all the folks around me were very competent fisherman and fisherwomen. There was one women with the Staten Island group. Since she was the only women I saw all day I will add this as another disturbing trend. I have a feeling if more women were involved in the sport we would have more kids. Bottom line is I know many of the local folks who fish this section of stream, I didn’t see very many of them out on Saturday.

4) Why are you throwing back trout?
As I said earlier I kept the first five trout I caught. I know it is not fun to limit out by 9am if you plan on spending the majority of the day fishing, but I see too many people with four fish on their stringers releasing fish that aren’t going to make it, just so they can keep fishing. I must say though that I was very proud of the gentleman from Staten Island fishing next to me, his fifth fish swallowed the hook he put it on the stringer, sat down, took out a sandwich, and conceded that he was done for the day. The bottom line is trout that are released, even if hooked in the mouth and handled minimally, probably won’t make it. If you want to fish all day release fish from the beginning that are hooked well and keep the ones that are not, don’t keep the first four and throw back all the rest.

Tips for Opening Day

1) Bring a kid, or your wife, or girl friend.
2) Have a sense of humor, yes the guy with the surf rod will throw over your line on every other cast just laugh it off and keep fishing.
3) If you are the guy with the surf rod, or just inexperienced, stay out of the elbow to elbow holes, there are plenty of fish, don’t add stress to yourself and others around you.
4) Bring a variety of bait, I caught all my fish on salmon eggs, if I had brought my worms and not left them sitting in my fridge I would have limited out earlier.
5) Get on the water early, I heard one of the guys from Easton coin the phrase sliders, those people who show up at 7:55am and try to slide in, other people don’t like that, don’t be a slider.

Parting Advice

* Saturday April 25th was the first day of gobbler season. Hunt till noon, then fish till dark, there is no better time of the year for sportsman (it is also my birthday and I can’t think of a better present!)

Till next time

The “other” Pocono Fish Guy
Josh Fuller

Call for the American Shad Angler

Welcome to a new spring of fishing on our Pocono Mountain waters. Wow, what a great angling start we have had already! First, we kicked things off the with “more than” plenty of safe ice on even the biggest of lakes that were yielding anglers nice catches of bass, trout and pan fish right up through early March. We then had a good mid-March thaw that allowed anglers to connect on the early season of open water with decent catches. A short window of time that many anglers have termed “fishing during Ice-out” is considered to be a very good fishing time when ponds & lakes go thru a brief “turn over” period that jumpstarts many fish species into actively feeding. Now here we are …on the eve of another “Regular” Opening Day for trout fishing statewide.

At 8:00 am on April 18th, let the “games” officially begin on our heavily pre-stocked Pocono Mountain waters. It is also at this same time that another very special annual fishing event unfolds. That is…the yearly spring migration of the American Shad up the mighty Delaware River. These silver anadromous beauties are already making their way through our section of the “Big D, as they normally do at about this time every year.

Where else can obsessive anglers like myself bag plenty of nice trout in the morning and then fight big shad on the fly by evening? Or of course, do the reverse… by catching the morning shad bite then heading out to one of my favorite trout holes later in the day. Either way, I do not know many places outside of the Pocono Region and our Tri-state area that can offer anglers (in April and May) such an awesome “all you can catch (and release) buffet …that’s for sure!

This is just one of many “angling fringe benefits” we receive bordering one of the last big eastern rivers that still flow’s unencumbered by any full-length dams from its headwaters to the Atlantic Ocean. Most of our “trout filled” cold mountain creeks of our region also feed into this big and scenic river that anglers come to know as “The Big D”. These feeder tributaries can really help sustain cooler water temperatures longer on our section of the Delaware River (along with reservoir-portal releases of cold water) with the enviable warm up that will come by early summer. The cooler waters aids to prolonging the window of opportunity anglers have to take full advantage of this “dynamic Pocono fishing duo” of shad and trout.

For the anadromous American shad, cold water temperatures (50-60 degrees) are one of the most important variables (along with the role water levels/flows, dissolved oxygen levels and favorable river bottom areas) that dictates when and where the shad will spawn. Once the fish spawn, its game over for the shad angler and time to change fishing pursuits towards other game fish. Generally there is good shad fishing available for anglers in our region of the Delaware River for about 7 weeks (Mid April until the end of May).

For most shad anglers like myself, they are not greatly prized for their table fare like trout. That is another good reason to carefully employ “catch and release” tactics. Anglers greatly value Shad for just how vicious they can strike a fly or lure and giver you a true battle royal. I think of them (in the pre-spawn stage) as muscle, fins and attitude! This is because they hit with shear aggressive annoyance and once hooked, they use their very streamline bodies to their every advantage.

A good general rule of thumb during the early stages of the run is “the bigger the shad (like the big row (egg bearing females)…. the harder the hit!” I have participated firsthand in hits that were so hard that the rod was just about ripped out of my hands! Then the epic battle begins! These fish know just how to use every bit of the river’s powerful current against you. It is not uncommon to have an average sized shad strip the main line off a 6wt fly reel right down to your backing. It takes a mighty big trout to do that!

I believe that “ounce for ounce” shad are one of the hardest hitting and most powerful fighting sport fish that we have here in the Pocono Mountains. This is why the American shad fishing season is an annually celebrated event that compliment our popular spring trout season and strong fishing tradition.

In more recent years, the numbers of shad making their way up the river to spawn has greatly decreased since I was a young boy. But I can also tell you first hand that there is still plenty of these great fish to make any angler’s arm sore regardless of what anyone else may say!

Snow, Snow Everywhere

After this last weekend, the northeast was given some of that great White Gold, the great natural snow! Over the last couple of days we have received 8 inches of fresh fluffy snow, which makes the skiing here near perfect. The fresh snow added to the already nicely packed man made snow on the slopes makes for a great reason to join us here at the Shawnee Inn, located only 5 minutes from the Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort. Make sure that you get on the phone or on the computer to book your room here with us, so that you too can enjoy the new snow on the slopes.

The White Gold that has been provided for us from the heavens not only makes the skiing great, but adds to the wonderland of beauty here at the Inn itself. The freshly fallen snow on the front lawn here at the Inn lays untouched adding to the perfect serenity of the beautiful Inn. Again I can tell you how perfect it looks, how breathe taking it is, and how it seems to be only in our thoughts and dreams that we could come up with such splendor, but I am only telling you! The best advice I can give would be…

Get here and see it for yourself.
Have a great winter and Holiday season,
And we hope to see you here very soon.

Winter Recreation

The Shawnee Inn and golf resort is known for it great recreation in the warm spring months and hot summer months, but do not count us out in the chilly winter months. Location, location, location. When you come and stay at the Shawnee Inn, you are just 5 minutes from on of the areas best ski resorts, and we pride ourselves on this great feature for the winter months. The ability to ski at Shawnee Mountain and stay at the Inn has more benefits then one might think. For example, the hiking trails have just as much beauty and picture perfect views in the winter as they do in the summer. Much of the wild life here does not take a break when the chilly temperatures come to town, as a matter of fact, some wildlife are more active in the winter. The fishing and river trips are not available to you in the winter, but the river still has its greatness when the snow flies. Let me paint this picture for you: Fresh white snow on the front lawn, an almost still Delaware River flowing past the front of the Inn, the trees, yes lacking leaves, but wearing a perfect white blank of snow, and a small family of deer on a near island coming to the waters edge for a refreshing midday drink of water.

Now a picture perfect winter wonderland right outside your warm hotel suite, and until you come to take it all in yourself that is all that it can be is a picture in your mind. Come on out to the Shawnee Inn and enjoy the winter wonderland yourself!!

Fall Foliage

It’s back! The time of year when the mountains fill with orange, red, yellow and brown, the time when pictures do not do the scene any justice. You got it folks, the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing colors. Right here in the Pocono Mountains, some of the best autumn views in the great state of Pennsylvania are now and you are slowly letting these great views slip away. Get out of the house and get to the mountains!!! Get on the hiking and biking trails, or get on the river while you still have the time. Before you know it, the snow will be flying and the weather will be colder than you can imagine, so get outside and see the oranges and reds before they are gone for another year.

In a closing note, the BEST place to see all this beauty is on the Delaware River. Get there with us at Shawnee. It’s all here!

Cool Nights and Hot Days

September is the month that gives us great cool nights to sleep, and hot beautiful days for recreation, lets remember that even though the days might be shorter and the nights cooler, its still perfect canoeing weather.

A typical daily temperature on the river in mid-September is an average of 70 degrees. It is still a little too cool to head onto the river at 9 am because the sun has not been out long enough to clear the clouds from in the valley. Your best shot at getting the day perfect would be to take the 10 am trip and spend the late morning and early afternoon on the river. In late September you’ll have to hold off to get onto the river until noon. Might I add that the water is still on the warmer side even though the air temp gets lower at night, maybe not swimming weather, but not a major threat if you were to fall or jump in.

Also, on the closing note, keep in mind that the weather getting cooler means that trees will be more colorful at the end of this month. Keep checking back, and we will see if I can get you a closer date of the best time to see the colors on the river.