Delaware River smallies

[Brian Martalus]

I am from hills of NW NJ originally and once the hot weather came and trout fishing slowed down, I really enjoyed wet wading the Delaware River in and just below the water gap for smallies with the fly rod. I fondly remember catching so many fish that my arms would get tired on many bright and sunny July and August afternoons. Lots of fish were 9-14 inches but some pushed 20 inches. I haven’t lived in the area for over a decade but am wondering how the Delaware is fishing these days for smallies? Was 2005-2007 just a good time in the rivers cycle or is still a really good smallie fishery? I remember thinking smallmouth bass fishing was so easy compared to wild trout fishing as I would catch fish without even trying.  Now I live in DC and find the Potomac a much more challenging fishery in comparison.