"As far back as I can remember I’ve
always loved to fish"
When i was 5 years old I would be content to fish
for hours as long as dad put a worm on the hook once in a while. Many years have past since my childhood but time
did not diminish my zeal for fishing. One day I found myself fishing
Lake Ontario tributaries for spawning salmonoids. This was a new experience for me and I found the challenge of
trying to land 20-30 lb. king salmon alot of fun. The more I fished up north the more I heard about steelhead (sea
run or lake run rainbow trout that grow to large sizes). I learned that many experienced steelhead anglers consider a successful
day just catching a steelhead and many fishermen have spent years without catching a steelhead.
I soon became determined to catch a steelhead and set dates to head north when the fish were in the river. I learned first
hand just how difficult these fish were to catch. Two trips of fishing from dawn to dusk produced not even hooking one of
these fish. I planned a 3 day trip in late October, the first two days produced
nothing, but at the end of the second day, I found a pool that was holding steelhead, so I planned to be there first thing
in the morning. It was still dark when I arrived at the river. After 20 minutes, another fisherman approached and asked if
I minded if he fished the pool also. Not minding, I said, "sure", and he started fishing about 10 feet downstream.
I was surprised that he quickly hooked a steelhead and played the fish down river. He came back and hooked another fish. I
soon lost count of how many fish he hooked. I hooked on the same type of fly as he had on but nothing worked. I simply couldn't
hook up with a fish. Seeing my frustration, he came over and gave me some
pointers. He told me a large run of steelhead were in the river and that I needed to use a longer, lighter leader and change
my drift. Doing what he suggested, it didn't take long before a large steelhead took the fly and raced down stream. After
a twenty five minute battle I landed a 13 1/2 pound steelhead - a real trophy.
BUT
THAT WASN'T MY CATCH OF A LIFETIME...
I was working as a mail handler
moving sacks of mail from tractor trailers. One night I was taken back when a driver named Tom asked me if I felt I was going
to heaven. I thought for a minute, being a regular church attender and what most people would think of as a nice guy, and
said, "probably." We got together a short time later and Tom shared
from the Bible that no one deserves heaven by being what they feel is a good person. The Bible says that there is no one good,
no, not one (Romans 3:10) and that all have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23).
JUST
LIKE FISHING FOR STEELHEAD, I THOUGHT MY METHOD WAS RIGHT, BUT I WAS WRONG.
Jesus said "The only way to the Father is through Me" (John 14:6). Most people know Jesus died on the cross for
sin, but they fail to realize that He died for their sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (hell) but the free
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Even if people think we're good we still need Christ,
without Him we are doomed to hell, which the Bible describes as the lake of fire and eternal torment (Revelation 20:10). It doesn't matter how bad or how good you think you've been, Christ loves
you and His death on the cross is sufficient to cover your sins. All you need to do is let Him into your life. Christ says,
"Behold, I stand before the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation
3:20). That door is your heart. Don't be like I was and feel that you
are good enough to get into heaven or let pride get in the way. Life is short, the Bible says that it is like a vapor that
soon passes away (James 4:14). Everything we possess on earth, we will leave behind when we die. Jesus said, "What good
is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul" (Mark 8:36).
IF YOU FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN YOUR LIFE...
...remember that
Christ can change your life. All you need to do is give Him the opportunity.
You can ask Him to come into your life right where you are now. All it takes is a simple prayer like, "Jesus, I know
I don't deserve to go to heaven and that I'm a sinner. I accept what You did on the cross for payment of my sins.
Please come into my life." But don't stop there. Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow Me" (Matthew
16:24).
HERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU FOLLOW HIM:
1. Get a Bible and
start to read it. 2. Find a church where the Bible is taught as the infallible
Word of God and attend regularly. 3. Pray daily. Find a time that you can
spend in prayer every day. Committing to these 3 things will help you grow
as a Christian. I can now
catch steelhead on a regular basis, but this has taken committment to practice different techniques and alot of reading on
these fish to learn about them. The more you read the Bible and pray, the
more you will learn about God. Please consider this - if you forget me and
this tract you've lost nothing, but if you forget Christ, you've lost everything.
Bob Delonas
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| 20 lb salmon river steelie |
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| Delaware river walleye |

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| Delaware river winter walleye |

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| Delaware smallie |

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| Delaware stringer winter eyes |

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Current River Conditions
-What's New?Latest fishing report . This reports geographic area is from rt 80 upstream to Narrowsburg
for the Delaware river.Trout stream and lake conditions for Wayne and Pike counties PA, Sussex county NJ. Also quick updates
on Lake Ontario and Erie tribs when runs happen. Links on bottom of report will give flows For Delaware and more detailed reports
for Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Tribs. Also check links for weather and information on Delaware river .06/26/09 Consistent
fishing in all areas,cool weather and lots of rain have kept the bite on. Fished the Delaware twice this week and caught smallies,
walleyes and one 22 inch striper .The river is high and off color but fishable all fish were close to the bank and took shinners
and worms. Local trout streams fished well for me as well I used spinners and worms, lost a large Brown close to the Delaware.
Shore action is good for blues and stripers. The lakes schould be fishing decent as well work shore lines with shinners and
lures. 06/21/09 Heavy rain this week brought Delaware up 6 feet. fisherman that are working the tribs entering the Delaware
and being rewarded with some large trout.The river is also prime for some big channel cats, fish the deep holes and use cut
bait or chicken liver, heavy tackle is also needed. The local trout streams are also fishing well,bait,lures and spinners
are productive in this higher water. Shore action still good with lots of Blues. Area lakes still have fish on the shore lines
with the cooler water. 06/14/09 Delaware is up and a little off color the fishing is a tough go. Tribs entering the river
is the best areas to try, smallies,walleye and channel cat schould be in those areas. The area trout streams look good and
have little fishing pressure ,baits,lures and flys schould all be productive. The area lakes are fairly consistent work the
shore lines with minnows and lures.06/07/09 Delaware fisferman have been catching some smallies,walleyes,channel cats and
a ocassinal small striper. A good week of warm weather would bring more consistent catches. Best tactic cover water by boat
throw lures and bait. Area trout streams have fish but are low, fly fishing prior to dark is the most sucessful. Area lakes
are starting to slow down, working the shore line is still producing. Fished Atlantic Highlands on Wednesday, the boat
limited out on Stripers up to 20 pounds. The shore action schould hold up for a couple of weeks for Stripers,Blues and Sea
Bass. 05/29/09 Delaware is starting to pick up with smallie action but still not consistent. The action seems to be
best towards dark with the fly rod being the best producer with some trout mixed in. Fished area lakes twice this week
with one good day and one bad. Caught crappies,pickerel and trout trolling with Jigs. The larger area trout streams
will produce right before dark the fly rod will take the most fish.Flatbrook,Paulinskill and Lackawaxen will be good
choices.The shore action is very good Stripers and Blues {Worth the trip} Check Link 05/22/09 Delaware is high and off
color ,but some walleye,smallie and small stripers are being caught. Tonight fish were active on top wish I brought a fly
rod. Lakes schould be good work the shore line with lures and bait. The Shore action is great on charters and party boats
for stripers and blues. Trout streams have good flows this is the time to pull out the fly rods fish late for the best action.Bottom
line decent bite all over get out before summer heat shuts it down.g caught.
LINKS
Salt water Reports
Lackawaxen Water Flow
Flatbrook/Sussex Co report
East Branch Water flow
West branch water flow
NPS site Delaware river info and map upper river
Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal
Wayne county N.Y. fishing report
weather information
salmon river reports
Do you want to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
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