Short on the water

Experience Day 3 on the Delaware River with Elite pro Kevin Short!

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Day 3 started on a low tide. Low enough that a local was out pushing his boat from a bar. That’s Philadelphia in the background.
Day 3 started on a low tide. Low enough that a local was out pushing his boat from a bar. That’s Philadelphia in the background.
Low tide leaves this vegetation high and mostly dry. Those stems are 3 ½ to 4-feet tall.
Low tide leaves this vegetation high and mostly dry. Those stems are 3 ½ to 4-feet tall.
After a 25-mile idle, we find Kevin Short in the back of his creek. He has one keeper to that point.
After a 25-mile idle, we find Kevin Short in the back of his creek. He has one keeper to that point.
At low tide in the creek, there are just a few things in the water.
At low tide in the creek, there are just a few things in the water.
But the impact of the tide isn’t as drastic there as on the river, allowing Short more of an opportunity to concentrate on fishing.
But the impact of the tide isn’t as drastic there as on the river, allowing Short more of an opportunity to concentrate on fishing.
Even on low tide, there is still plenty of cover in the water.
Even on low tide, there is still plenty of cover in the water.
Some of it is manmade, this dock was so old Ben Franklin may have fished from it.
Some of it is manmade, this dock was so old Ben Franklin may have fished from it.
Short spends most of his day concentrating on a half-mile area.
Short spends most of his day concentrating on a half-mile area.
In between the better parts he would idle.
In between the better parts he would idle.
He hooks up as soon as he arrives to his favorite bank.
He hooks up as soon as he arrives to his favorite bank.
The fish makes a big splash as Short fights it from a laydown.
The fish makes a big splash as Short fights it from a laydown.
And it easily comes aboard.
And it easily comes aboard.
Although his Marshal gets a little surprise ...
Although his Marshal gets a little surprise …
... and almost a slap in the face.
… and almost a slap in the face.
Even Jim Sexton of Bassmaster.com seemed a little surprised by its entrance.
Even Jim Sexton of Bassmaster.com seemed a little surprised by its entrance.
Short, though, would quickly handle the fish.
Short, though, would quickly handle the fish.
And allow photos all around.
And allow photos all around.
A few minutes later and he was hooked up again.
A few minutes later and he was hooked up again.
This one, though, wouldn’t measure.
This one, though, wouldn’t measure.
The fish are biting all of the sudden.
The fish are biting all of the sudden.
This one had some shoulders and length to it.
This one had some shoulders and length to it.
Short gets it close and prepares to bring it aboard.
Short gets it close and prepares to bring it aboard.
The fish makes one last jump,
The fish makes one last jump,
And in the middle turns its head.
And in the middle turns its head.
And comes unhooked.
And comes unhooked.
Short looks to the skies in frustration.
Short looks to the skies in frustration.
But is soon back to fishing.
But is soon back to fishing.
And hooks up with yet another.
And hooks up with yet another.
This one would be close.
This one would be close.
But it brought a smile to Short’s face.
But it brought a smile to Short’s face.
He returns to the magic tree where the last three bites lived.
He returns to the magic tree where the last three bites lived.
He mostly pitched all day.
He mostly pitched all day.
And by noon, the vegetation was almost fully flooded by the tide.
And by noon, the vegetation was almost fully flooded by the tide.
The extra water allowed Short to get deeper into the cover.
The extra water allowed Short to get deeper into the cover.
And he would catch another keeper.
And he would catch another keeper.
Another smile and time for a photo.
Another smile and time for a photo.
Then Short stretches and starts the process again.
Then Short stretches and starts the process again.
Despite the lost fish, Short was upbeat most of the day.
Despite the lost fish, Short was upbeat most of the day.
For his last pass, he would break out the crankbait.
For his last pass, he would break out the crankbait.
Pitching the shallow running bait into thick cover.
Pitching the shallow running bait into thick cover.
The heavy cover required a re-tie every once in a while.
The heavy cover required a re-tie every once in a while.
And every once in a while, he would catch a short fish.
And every once in a while, he would catch a short fish.
And he would quickly be up and casting again.
And he would quickly be up and casting again.
Swinging the crankbait into every tangle.
Swinging the crankbait into every tangle.
Once an area was worked thoroughly he would idle to the next.
Once an area was worked thoroughly he would idle to the next.
On one idle he passes the turtle man of New Jersey.
On one idle he passes the turtle man of New Jersey.
The turtle man was setting traps to catch snapping turtles in the creek.
The turtle man was setting traps to catch snapping turtles in the creek.
But he didn’t want to grab one and hold it for the camera.
But he didn’t want to grab one and hold it for the camera.
One of his traps floating in the creek.
One of his traps floating in the creek.
Short would continue working the thick cover.
Short would continue working the thick cover.
Moving from one prime spot to the next.
Moving from one prime spot to the next.
And pointing out things we needed to see.
And pointing out things we needed to see.
Before he would take off and leave.
Before he would take off and leave.
And of course what we needed to see was a sign that instructed us what to do if we had a dog.
And of course what we needed to see was a sign that instructed us what to do if we had a dog.