Delaware
Delaware River shad fishing contest opens, with big payday on the line (PHOTOS)
It’s the subtleties that can make the difference between catching no shad and potentially one worth about $20,000 this week in the Easton-Phillipsburg area.
The 14th annual Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest opened Thursday on the Delaware River and runs through Sunday.
This year’s contest drew 1,157 registrants, up about 50 from last year, organizer Eric Fistler said.
They’re vying for the top cash prize estimated at $20,000 that’s part of the top-10 payout, in addition to three daily prizes for the heaviest American shad. The grand prize has held steady in recent years but is down from $25,000 in 2024, due to organizers having to buy the boat that’s also up for grabs after efforts fell short on getting it donated, Fistler explained.
The new 17-foot boat package with Yamaha jet-drive motor and trailer will be raffled off during Monday’s awards ceremony. All participants who registered by Thursday’s deadline at 8 a.m. are in the running.
Fistler also offers bonus prizes for seniors, veterans and women, plus children in two age groups: 11 and under and 12 to 15.
American shad are anadromous, meaning they hatch into fry in freshwater like the Delaware, live into adulthood in the ocean then return to the river of their origin to spawn. The spawning run up the Delaware is well underway, and Thursday’s anglers were bringing in shad in the neighborhood of 5 pounds to the weigh station at the Phillipsburg boat launch.
Fistler updates the contest’s Facebook page each time the leaderboard changes, so participants in the contest know not to keep shad under a certain weight.
With picture-perfect weather overhead, Thursday’s sunshine pushed the river’s temperature over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Fistler said. That’s about the point shad will start to spawn, rather than hitting anglers’ lures like they do when the water’s in the 50s, he said.
“The shad fishing slowed down a little bit, I think, because it’s too hot,” Fistler said Thursday afternoon at the weigh station. “Earlier this week, they were catching big numbers of shad. Some of the guys still are, but the majority of them aren’t. It’s slowed down for sure.”
Rain forecast for Saturday could push water temperatures back down, to the benefit of anglers.
“Shad fishing is better when it’s like drizzly overcast — not pouring down rain, but a drizzly day is your best, for me personally,” said Fistler, a lifelong Delaware River fisherman who lives in Williams Township.
Anglers in the Delaware River at Easton-Phillipsburg are also catching smallmouth bass, walleye, trout and a few small striped bass, according to Fistler. He lost a lure rig earlier this week when it was bitten off by what he suspects was a muskellunge.
“They’re huge and they have teeth,” he said of muskies. “The biggest one I caught was 35 and a half pounds.”
For shad, it’s all about picking the right color dart or flutter spoon that’ll pique the fish’s interest. The weigh station is stocked with lures and other gear from Rusty Balls Tackle & Guide Service. Another spot close by to pick up gear is Shad Den Bait and Tackle in Easton.
Once outfitted, anglers zero in on just the right spot to fish.
“Last week, me and my brother were out and we were catching them, but it was kind of slow,” Fistler said. “I said, ‘For the water clarity and the temperature, we should be doing better.’ I said, ‘We’re gonna move.’”
Within moments of the move, they were pulling out four or five at a time.
“We only moved over maybe a boat width, we just moved over a little bit, and moved it out towards the middle, got in the current more, and it was on,” he said.
He recommends looking for an eddy along the edge of a current where the shad might pause for a rest.
“Poor man’s salmon,” angler Tony Glennon quipped Thursday at the weigh station, in recognition of the fight shad will put up.
Scroll through the photos above for a look at Thursday’s opening day of the 2025 Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest. Spectators can find spots to watch the fishing action from Easton’s Scott and Riverside parks or along Union Square in Phillipsburg.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Monday, April 20, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 2-2-8
Night: 4-8-2
Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 5-8-5-9
Night: 8-8-4-8
Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from April 20 drawing
02-04-06-10-11-25
Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing
05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 5 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 1-5-6-0-1
Night: 0-6-7-5-5
Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky?Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
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Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
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Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
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Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
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Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
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For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.
Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?
Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.
How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?
Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.
When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?
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Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
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Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
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Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
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Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
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Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
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Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Missed a draw?Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 20, 2026
MUNCIE, IN — Five individuals and one organization were recognized for their contributions to Delaware County during the annual ViVA (Very Important Volunteer Award) luncheon on April 14, according to a community announcement.
The event, hosted by the Muncie Noon Rotary Club in partnership with the Muncie Sunrise Rotary Club, has been a tradition since 1993. The ViVA Awards celebrate those who dedicate their time and resources to uplift the community.
Vickie Armstrong Oliver, Ken Glaub, Dottie Kreps and Beth Kroehler each received individual ViVA Awards for their volunteer efforts and commitment to various causes.
The Muncie Central High School Alumni Association was presented with the 2026 ViVA Organizational Award. Since 1995, the association has supported the high school through philanthropy and historical preservation.
The association has awarded more than $76,000 in scholarships to seniors and nearly $39,000 in teacher grants. It has also financed various campus needs, including the restoration of the school’s Abraham Lincoln statue. The board maintains a public Memorabilia Room to preserve the school’s legacy.
Linda Gregory received the Edmund F. Ball Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong dedication to service in the community.
The ViVA Awards luncheon served as a reminder of the generosity and compassion that define Delaware County’s volunteer heritage, according to the announcement.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
The Delaware Marathon Run Fest on Sunday ended with a photo finish that proved nothing is over until it’s over.
In a video taken by the Instagram user @aktiv8edleem and shared with NBC10, a runner is seen jogging in the lead with his arms raised as if he’s won. But then, another man sprints up the final stretch and passes him for the win.
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