Smallmouth Taco? Delicioso!

I broiled a smallmouth fillet for lunch today and at the last minute I decided to see how it tastes in a soft taco.  Delicioso! The fillet was prepared with fresh garlic, fresh rosemary, a little white pepper and oil.  Broiled 15 minutes wrapped in foil and 1 minute with foil peeled back.

Fall Smallmouth Fishing on the Delaware

This is what Fall smallmouth fishing is all about on the Delaware river!  I found a lot of success Friday evening as well as Sunday morning, both times throwing a dark natural color (watermelon or pumpkin seed) 4 inch senko, rigged wacky style.  I search out fast moving current, preferably in the 4+ feet of water range and throw the wacky rig straight out (not up current), or maybe 10 degrees up current and just let it drift down river.  I caught 7 smallies south of Dingmans Bridge Friday evening, but none of them were larger than 13 inches.  The Delaware current seemed much weaker on Sunday morning when I went out, so I headed north of Dingmans Bridge searching out some faster current.  I caught another 6 smallies, 3 of which were about 13-inches or bigger (pictured below).  

Delaware River Update:

Friday Evening - Water was clear and low, current was moderate (for late Summer, early Fall).  The green algae which has been a bother for the past few weeks has resided at Dingmans Bridge.  I received little if no algae on my cast..

Sunday Morning - Water was clear and extremely low.  Current was exceptionally weak.  Could not fish my wacky rig South of the Bridge as there was not enough current (relatively speaking of course for the Delaware River).  Went north of the bridge and found a big rock in the middle of the river to anchor the kayak (with my feet, not a real anchor).  The smallmouth bite did not really start until late Morning (10:00 AM) when the sun finally broke.

The Delaware River

Labor Day weekend, 2012

I finally made my way to the Big D and launched my kayak from Dingman’s Ferry.  I was most impressed, and will be surprised if the Big D does not turn out to be my favorite fishing hole in the area.  On the advice of Rich at Simon Peter Outdoors, I decided to use 5-inch senkos set up in a Jersey Rig (aka a Wacky Rig).  The idea is to throw the jersey rig into the current and let it sink naturally and wait for a strike.

First thing I noticed fishing from my kayak (in a river) is that it was going to be awfully tough to fish from the kayak and not drift down river.  Since I didn’t want to spend more time paddling up river than drifting downriver (and fishing), I came up with an idea of “Park Benching” the kayak.  I deduce the river channel at Dingman’s Ferry was closer to the New Jersey side of the river (across from the boat launch), so I headed to the New Jersey shoreline.  For those who have never fished the Delaware, it is rocky.  I am not sure what type of rock it is but it is blackish with sharp edges; very dangerous to walk on, especially wet.  I parked my kayak about 4 feet from shore, parallel to the shoreline with the bow of my kayak facing up river.  This created minimal drag on my kayak from the river.  I would then sit sideways, in such a way my feet could still touch the bottom of the river and I could hold myself in place.  At this point, I was pretty much sitting on a “park bench” only one cast from the deep channel of the Delaware.  I spent the morning casting my jersey rig into the channel, letting it float down river and reeling it in.  Since I could touch the bottom with my feet, I would also walk up the river and down river, depending on where I thought the first were.

Overall, a huge success! I caught these two smallies; a 15 ¾ inche and a 15 ¼ inch.  I will definitely be back and maybe even for some wallies or maybe some muskies.