Philly Fishing

[Oscar O.]

I'll probably be going to UPenn for college this coming fall and was wondering how's the fishing and where are some good places to go around there? I'll be visiting soon and i might test some of the local waters, but i'm more interested in the coming years than the very near future. Thanks in advance.

[Team_Dougherty]

You have the Delaware and the Schuylkill Rivers right in the city. If you want to venture further away both rivers flow into the suburbs and offer good fishing for multiple species. There are various ponds, lakes and reservoirs both in the suburbs and on the NJ side of the Delaware as well.

follow this link http://fishandboat.com/county.htm you would be interested in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties.

[stratos 375]

To be perfectly honest, the fishing around Philly sucks. You didn't say if you had a boat or not. Makes a big difference. If you're bank fishing, the Delaware has very limited opportunities for bank fishing, and the fish are few and far between unless you've spent lots of time on the river. You can fish the Skuke above the Art Museum falls along the banks, lots of people do, again, good luck with that. Carrying a weapon of some sort is advisable if you will be fishing the low light periods. If you've got a vehicle, head to one of the outlying counties, preferably Chester Cty.

If you're a boater, you can give the Delaware & Skuke below the Art Museum a shot. The Delaware has a less than average population of Bass, but has fishable populations of Musky and Stripers as well. Beware, it's big water, it can get rough and there is a lot of commercial traffic out there. In the future if you land here, PM me for specifics on the Delaware, it was my home waters for many years and I've logged a few hundred trips there. See the PFBC website for descriptions of other local lakes in nearby counties, again Chester County would be a good bet. If you have the cash, get a membership at Van Sciver lake. It's run by Waste Management. Fishing can be decent there.

There's always that state that's over the bridge, I can't speak for the fishing there. I stay away from there, the judge in Penns Grove told me to never step foot in their state again. Some years later, a judge in Edison told me the same thing.

[Team_Dougherty]

To be perfectly honest, the fishing around Philly sucks.

I beg to differ.

[stratos 375]

That's why this forum is so wonderful, we're all entitled to express our own opinion. BTW, the Delaware & Skuke don't flow into the suburbs, they flow into the city. The only way they would flow into the suburbs is if water was able to somehow run uphill and backwards.

I regularly fish the Flats, the Potomac, Gaston, Santee and Seminole. Compared to Many waters on the east coast, fishing in and around the city is the pits. I've fished plenty of tournaments on the Delaware, a lot of times 10-12 lbs can get a win. Lunkers rarely exceed 4 lbs. Venturing out of the city, anglers can do well.

[Team_Dougherty]

BTW, the Delaware & Skuke don't flow into the suburbs, they flow into the city. The only way they would flow into the suburbs is if water was able to somehow run uphill and backwards.

True. My mistake. But, I think he got the idea I was trying to convey.

I have fished those places as well. I have caught many nice fish from the Schuylkill. Just gotta know when and where to go.

[stratos 375]

Agreed my friend, the Skuke is a very under rated fishery and has produced some good fish for me as well. Once you get away from the stench of downtown, it's a different river.

There have been some monster cats coming out of it in the last several years. It's only 10 minutes from my house. I've been fishing it since the early 60's. It's come a long way since then. Sorry for ranting on the OP's thread. I'm bored.

[Team_Dougherty]

I am three blocks from the schuylkill. I often walk down and wade in the shallower areas.

[Dogface]

Look at this site. It has a lot of good info and the guys would be happy to point you in the right direction.

http://www.cookplex.com/pac/forum/index.php

[edbassmaster]

Join Penn Warner aka Van Skiver in Morrisville. A good day on the Delaware is 3 bass and you def need a boat unless your fishing for cats or striper. Penn Warner is expensive but worth it.

[Oscar O.]

Thanks everyone! I'll be checking out all the links and see what I can do. As a freshman in college, I don't know how easy keeping a boat's going to be ha. I do have a float tube though  . I'm used to catching 1 fish in some of the lakes around here that get lots of pressure so, I'm not too worried about catching lots of fish to make a good day. Obviously, school is the most important thing, but I don't think I could live without fishing for 4 years! 

[Jay S]

Lots of good fishing in the area. Lots of lakes, rivers, streams & ponds. The Delaware and Skuke also get migratory species like shad and striped bass, with some monsters in the spring that can be caught from the shore.

There is a TV show called City Limits Fishing on .vs which does an episode on Philadelphia.

The Jersey shore is an hour ride away if you like salt water, buses and trains go from Philly to Atlantic City several times daily.

Good luck!

[Oscar O.]

Although I've been swamped with schoolwork, I would really like to check out the fishing soon since warmer weather is gonna be coming up (I hope). I'm guessing that the trains and busses don't mind a dude with a few rods plus tackle?

I'm definitely limited to the banks since I don't have a car, and a boat is wayyyyy out of the question. Same goes for that membership to the Penn Warner Club. It sounds great, don't get me wrong but that kind of money is not worth it (I don't know if it's a one time charge or not but either way it's not happening).

Are there any solid (and I use that term loosely from what I've read so far) places for bass near campus? Or is it fairly easy to get to other locations through public transportation with tackle and all?