MADISON, NJ  — John Allen Punola left this world on June 3, 2024. Known to the locals of Sullivan County as an expert angler, outdoorsman, and mentor, John was a friend to many. Born in 1930 to a coal miner just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, John Punola fought in the Korean War under the 1st Cavalry Division of the 8th regiment of the US Army. 

While his home was in Madison, New Jersey, John’s love for fishing often brought him up to the Catskills and beyond, chasing the migration of shad up to Maine and back. 

John Punola and Sullivan County Democrat’s Fred Stabbert III became good friends over their shared interests. “John was certainly one-of-a-kind,” said the publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat. “He and I go back to 1983, when we started taking out Catskill-Delaware Magazine to the World Outdoor Hunting and Fishing Expo in Rockland County. 

“He and I shared a booth for many years and then he began writing a regular article each year on shad fishing the Upper Delaware,” Stabbert said. 

“John was, without a doubt, the most knowledgeable person on shad fishing the Upper Delaware has ever known. He not only sold his shad darts but would write half a dozen books on the subject, detailing where to go, what sports shops to use and the best time to catch the shad.

“I invited John to be the guest speaker at several of Sullivan County’s Sportsmen’s Shows and he was great,” Stabbert said. “He truly put his heart and soul into everything he did.”

Tom Freda of Freda Realty remembers taking John out to his secret fishing spot. “He’s a fantastic fisherman. He fished with my uncle a lot. I once took him to my secret spot. Of course, I caught nothing, but John… he smoked me on my own turf. He didn’t brag about it though. He just smiled and we laughed about it.”

Tony Ritter of Narrowsburg, NY remembers the time he spent fishing with John on the Upper Delaware River. “John fished with me a few times on the Upper Delaware River near Narrowsburg, NY for both shad and, later in the season, smallmouth bass… He was also a promoter of the ‘Sportsman Show’ in Parsippany, NJ off of Route 46 and Baldwin Road for many years. John was a true steward of this river and I will miss him greatly. My prayers and condolences to his family.”

Not only was Punola an expert fisherman, but he was also an avid historian. His articles in Catskill-Delaware Magazine included a history of the Minisink Battle, the great train crash on the Erie and how Gen. Custer lost his battle because of the shad. 

In memory of John Punola, his family has asked that donations be made to the following organizations:

American Legion Post 43

Madison/Florham Park

20 Ridgedale Ave.

Florham Park, NJ  07932

Lehigh River Stocking Association

Attn: Tom Gyory

2075 Red Hill Road

Slatington, PA  18080

Veazie Salmon Club

Att. Bob Wengrzynek

30 Old County Road

Veazie, ME  04401