Fishing In Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has a variety of aquatic habitats, and is home to both warm-water and cold-water fish species. The Delaware River offers a chance to catch smallmouth bass, muskel- lunge, walleye, catfish, and panfish. Shad reach the recreation area around May. The small lakes and ponds provide excellent fishing for rock bass, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, and panfish. Brook and brown trout are found in most in tributaries such as Flat Brook NJ and Bushkill Creek PA, and rainbow trout in Van Campens Brook NJ.

All waters within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are open to sport fishing unless otherwise posted. See state information for Special Regulation Waters.

The appropriate state license is required in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for those 16 and older. Regulations are enforced. A holder of either state license can fish on the Delaware River or either of its banks. This agreement does NOT apply to the tributaries leading to the river.

Fishing is NOT permitted at:
George W. Childs Recreation Site: at footbridges and boardwalk platforms.

Dingmans Falls: from the top of the falls to the east end of the parking lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Silver Thread Falls: the pool at base.

Hidden Lake: during special regulations and water drawdown

Special park regulations apply to Dingmans Creek near the boardwalk trail; check with a ranger before fishing in this area.

Smallmouth Bass
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has a variety of aquatic habitats, and is home to both warm-water and cold-water fish species. The Delaware River offers a chance to catch smallmouth bass, muskel- lunge, walleye, catfish, and panfish. Shad reach the recreation area around May. The small lakes and ponds provide excellent fishing for rock bass, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, and panfish. Brook and brown trout are found in most in tributaries such as Flat Brook NJ and Bushkill Creek PA, and rainbow trout in Van Campens Brook NJ.

All waters within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are open to sport fishing unless otherwise posted. See state information for Special Regulation Waters.

The appropriate state license is required in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for those 16 and older. Regulations are enforced. A holder of either state license can fish on the Delaware River or either of its banks. This agreement does NOT apply to the tributaries leading to the river.

Fishing is NOT permitted at:
George W. Childs Recreation Site: at footbridges and boardwalk platforms.

Dingmans Falls: from the top of the falls to the east end of the parking lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Silver Thread Falls: the pool at base.

Hidden Lake: during special regulations and water drawdown

Special park regulations apply to Dingmans Creek near the boardwalk trail; check with a ranger before fishing in this area.

Smallmouth Bass
Best bait: earthworms, minnows, leeches, hellgrammites, spinners, plugs, flies
Best fishing: eddies, rifts, around rocks

Bluegill (Sunfish)
Best bait: earthworms, grubs, mealworms, spinners, poppers

Best fishing: tributaries and lakes

Channel Catfish
Best bait: nightcrawlers, minnows, soft-shelled crayfish, meat

Best fishing: at night or when the river is rising

Crappie
Best bait: jigs, minnows, spinners

Best fishing: lakes and ponds

Muskellunge
Best bait: suckers, big plugs, spinner blades

Best fishing: stillwater and weed beds, shallows of lakes and rivers

American Shad
Best bait: shad darts, jigs, streamers, bucktails

Best fishing: This is a saltwater species that migrates upstream in the spring to spawn.

Trout
Best bait: worms, flies, insect larvae, jigs, spoons and spinners

Best fishing: cold water

White Sucker
Best bait: earthworms. doughballs, freshwater clams and mussels

Best fishing: pools, below riffles. Suckers are bottom feeders. Best bait: earthworms, minnows, leeches, hellgrammites, spinners, plugs, flies
Best fishing: eddies, rifts, around rocks

Bluegill (Sunfish)
Best bait: earthworms, grubs, mealworms, spinners, poppers

Best fishing: tributaries and lakes

Channel Catfish
Best bait: nightcrawlers, minnows, soft-shelled crayfish, meat

Best fishing: at night or when the river is rising

Crappie
Best bait: jigs, minnows, spinners

Best fishing: lakes and ponds

Muskellunge
Best bait: suckers, big plugs, spinner blades

Best fishing: stillwater and weed beds, shallows of lakes and rivers

American Shad
Best bait: shad darts, jigs, streamers, bucktails

Best fishing: This is a saltwater species that migrates upstream in the spring to spawn.

Trout
Best bait: worms, flies, insect larvae, jigs, spoons and spinners

Best fishing: cold water

White Sucker
Best bait: earthworms. doughballs, freshwater clams and mussels

Best fishing: pools, below riffles. Suckers are bottom feeders.