ALLENTOWN - For more than 30 years, anglers have made it a tradition to take part in the annual Forks of the Delaware Shad Fishing Tournament as part of their visit to the Lehigh Valley region to battle the hard-fighting American shad on the Delaware River.
During its height, the event attracted as many as 1,500 entrants, added a friendly competitive element to the shad fishing experience and was a boost to the economy of cities and towns throughout eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. Anglers purchased everything from food, gasoline, fishing licenses, fishing rods, shad darts and miscellaneous items of fishing tackle and, in some instances, even overnight lodging.
In recent years, however, this once harbinger of spring, and one of the longest-running tournaments of its kind, was affected by dwindling angler entries and sponsor support. Finally, promoters were left with no choice other than cancelling what had become a tradition among shad anglers.
Those anglers were left wondering if another event might be organized to take its place. Fortunately, they had a short wait and by the time this year's Lehigh Valley Sportsman's Show opened at the end of February, they had the answer they wanted to hear. Adding to the enjoyment of this year's shad run on the Delaware is the four-day Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest organized by Eric Fistler. An avid shad angler, he is a member of the Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Association, which supports the tournament, but is not sponsoring it.
Originally a one-day event when Fistler started it in 2011, the contest has been expanded to a four-day tournament Saturday-Tuesday, April 26-29. He said the expanded event is not indented as a replacement for the former tournament, but by expanding it to four days, Fistler believes it will help fill the void left by the demise of the Forks of the Delaware.
"A lot of fishermen are used to taking a week's vacation every year to fish the tournament," Fistler said. "It's like an unofficial holiday for shad anglers everywhere.
"They were devastated when they heard that Forks of the Delaware was not going to be held. One day of fishing just wouldn't be enough, so I expanded what had been a one-day event to four days."
According to Fistler, the Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest has grown steadily since its inception, with 106 people taking part in the event in 2013 and a top prize of $1,300. This year, the tourney already has 60 sponsors, with the grand prize for the heaviest fish already at $2,000.
As of late March, nearly $6,000 in prize money had been earmarked for anglers in this year's event. That total includes daily prizes of $100, $75 and $50 being awarded all four days of the event.
"I look at the Bi-State as a way to give back to anglers and keep a longtime tradition alive," Fister said. "It's something I've wanted to be involved in for a long time, and the response has been very positive, and everyone is very happy to see this going on."
Fister has created the website www.shadfishingcontest.com where entry forms can be printed and mailed with the $30 fee to the address listed by Tuesday, April 22. Participants must be at least 16 years old and every entrant receives an official tournament T-shirt.
After April 22 to the opening day of the tournament. registrations can be made by calling Fistler at (610) 762-0440. While anglers may launch where they choose, during the tournament shad must be registered intact at the Phillipsburg Boat Launch, Phillipsburg, N.J., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.