The crappie bite has slow considerably. Delaware is a small shallow lake. I have not fished north of the no wake zone. I seems like the cats are starting to bite though. I will hopefully getting out there tuesday and can let you know more. Good luck though

 

with the tempatures were going to have there going to be deep by that point, i would imagine if you slow trolled along the east and west sides in 15-20 feet you might find them. really isnt alot laydowns that extend into the deeper water so your probally better looking for submerged wood in the open water. if you come out of the main marina and hang a left and work that bank in 20ft of water you will find old sunken wood.

sowbelly

 

I have hardly ever fished Delaware so I can't give much detailed info for there. What I can tell you though is that Saturday on the local lake that I was on the crappie were stacked up in the deep weeds. There was an area of 8-12' water where the weeds had developed very well and once we found the fish in there it was a fish every cast. Unfortunately they were mostly the 8" fish but I don't think I have ever found them so thick personally in open deep water like that. There was no bruch or bottom structure whatsoever other than the tall weed pockets. I think in an hour we probably caught 50 or more before stopping because none were over 8".

 

unfortunately delaware doesnt get much if any weed growth. i know what your saying on the weeds n the crappies, you find deep weeds in the summer and you'll find crappies..

sow

 

I have never seen let alone fished Deleware lake. But I just got a map of it and it has alot and I mean alot of ponds all around it. I am guessing these are the pond I have been reading about in some of these threads like the police station pond for example. I was wondering if in a few weeks, if somebody would like to break me in on a few of these pond. If not I guess I will make it up there sometime to just drive around and look.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Any good bait shops around the lake?

 

There's one just southwest of the park entrance -- a gas station that sells minnows, worms, etc. Can't remember the name of it, but it's on the northwest corner of an intersection with a traffic light (on 23).

chip

 

Obee's Marathon, 3 miles south of the dam on SR 23

 

There is also one in norton right on st rt 229 just west of 23 if you are coming from the south. I stopped in at abees last night and the prices are $1 for crappie minnows and $1.25 for bass. I think that norton is slightly cheaper but not sure. not worth the time if you are coming from the south.

 

RodNReel good luck to you if you intend to fish the ponds around the lake. Most of them are very shallow duck ponds and the few that are deep enough to hold fish will become very weed choked soon if not already.

Also, Delaware Resevoir holds a good number of crappie, but it is not the crappie fishery it once was. It is too small with too much fishing pressure in spring and fall to support a 9 inch limit. The 10 inch min limit was more appropriate and until it goes back to that, I won't spend much time fishing there.

CG

 

How's the minnow count at Nortons? The count at Obees is by the book

BTW, welcome to OGF crittergitter!

 

It depends who counts them at Obee's. Stopped sat. and bought 5 dozen, expecting 5 doz. based on my last visit and got 9 or 10 doz. Not the norm though.
This has been a subpar year on Delaware for Crappie. I would stay close to the river channel this time of year. You can tell where the channel runs close to shore by watching for the high walls.

 

RodNReel good luck to you if you intend to fish the ponds around the lake. Most of them are very shallow duck ponds and the few that are deep enough to hold fish will become very weed choked soon if not already.

Also, Delaware Resevoir holds a good number of crappie, but it is not the crappie fishery it once was. It is too small with too much fishing pressure in spring and fall to support a 9 inch limit. The 10 inch min limit was more appropriate and until it goes back to that, I won't spend much time fishing there.

CG

Thanks man, you saved me the time and gas money. I aint going to waste my time if they are like that.

 

Understood. I must always get the same kid when I go. I guess when I'm paying by the dozen, I shouldn't gripe if I get a dozen. You just get used to the more liberal bait shops, that it spoils ya.

 

Hi fish Delaware quite often and can tell you that it is loaded with ledges that drop into 10-15 foot of water and loads of old wood on them. I pitch jigs up on ledges and if they are not on edge of drop i parallel the drop letting jig sink at different depths usually find them about 8-9 foot down and others stacking close to bottom. If you are jigging 3" orange gold glitter or Lime green with gold flake Twisters 1/8th ounce jig works well. Don't hesitate to still hit some 4-6 foot stick-ups close to drop offs early and late in evening have caught some really nice fish shallow even after it warms up. Straight acrossed from Marina there is a deep edge that in hotter weather always does me well as well as on east shore just above the old small launch ramp on east side. If you want deep wood go north past no wake zone west bank great slip bobber area wood everywhere going into deep water. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the info. Hope to do well. I will report back next Monday.