Location and Ramps
The Nanticoke River is located in both Delaware and
Maryland, and runs through several small towns all the way to the
Chesapeake Bay. There are two ramps that you can access from
Delaware. Phillips landing is the most popular. It has a big parking
lot with room for about 30 boats and trailers. It has two ramps that
can be reached by taking rt. 13a to the town of Bethel, going over
the Bethel bridges, and past the Bethel hole to Portsville. Take
your second right after Portsville Pond, and follow the signs to
Phillips landing. The other ramp can be reached by turning off
rt.13, and taking rt#20 west, down to Shipley Street in Seaford, and
following the green signs to the launching ramp. There are restroom
facilities, and room for about 40 trailers. There are two ramps
there with deep water and good docks.
LOCATIONS AND LURES
The best location to start searching depends on the
time of the year. In the spring from April to the end of May,
launch
at Phillips landing, and head to the right towards Broad Creek.
About 1/4 mile up, past the lily pads on the left hand side, is
a
series of laydowns, and underwater boulders. The sun hits this
area all day, and warms the water up a few degrees more than the
rest of
the area. Start working all the visible structure, laydowns,
etc. with a fast moving bait such as a 3/8 ounce Terminator Spinnerbait
in chartruese/white, with tandem blades. If you don't get any
takers
in a short time, re-work the same area with a crankbait parallel
to the pads and in the wood. You should have a spider grub rigged
on a
spinning rod also, with 6-8 pound test line. Brown/orange or
watermelon area good choice. If you can't locate any bass in
this
area, then continue up into Broad Creek, all the way towards
the Bethelhole. Work the bridge pilings and the wood on the! turn
before
the Bethel hole, with a black/blue tube bait, jig, and a buzzbait.
If these locations fail to produce, turn on the outboard and head
back towards Phillips Landing. Proceed past the ramps, and make
a
left turn at the main channel towards the Woodland Ferry. There
will be a series of docks, and pilings a short distance before
the
Woodland ferry that should be worked well with a buzzbait and
spinnerbait, then move in closer and flip a black/blue jig or
a
Senko. After working these docks. cross over to the entrance
of the creek, and work the mouth with a spinnerbait and a buzzbait,
then
work all the wood with a jig and a Senko. Next, move down to
the Ferry crossing, and throw small worms and Senkos right up
against
the sea wall, being careful of the ferry and the cable. After
leaving this area, head up river towards Maryland to the next
major
creek on your right. There is a lot of wood there that should
be worked thoroughly with spinnerbaits and buzzbait! s first,
then
re-work the same area with the jig and Senko. Many times while
searching for bass here you will run into some decent size Stripers.
BEST TIMES
The best time to work these areas is the first two hours of the
incoming tide, and the last two hours of the outgoing tide. Three
days prior to a new moon in April are best, but other times produce
with a little patience. Many 2-3 pound bass are caught in this area.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
When all else fails, run up into "Broad Creek",
on either tide, and work the Bethel hole with tube baits and Senkos
cast directly up
on the bank and then pull them slowly into the water. This is a
bass spawning area only one of a few on the river, so be respectful,
catch and release.
Bait Stores and license
A&k tackle has a variety of lures and bait,
and are open year round You don't need a freshwater license in
Delaware to fish
tidewater, but youneed botha freshwater and Bay Sport license
in Maryland. The weekends will have a lot of boat traffic, jet
skis and
the like, but all in all, most people are pretty respectful.
There is a variety of wildlife along the river to enjoy, so take
the whole
family sometimes. It will keep them occupied all day.