I'd only clip if the eggs are laid in the bark as by cicada. If it's eggs on the surface just scrape them off. If it's not eggs then I'm out of ideas unless you can post a closeup picture.

For fear that it is very likely fireblight, regardless of not being springtime, personally to be safe I would prune off that end of the branch plus another 3 or 4 inches. When I see orange ooze.... well, I am thinking it is very likely the beginnings of fireblight. A little overkill on detection and prevention now could save you a lot of heartache later if it did end up to be blight.

There are what appear to be dimples in the bark in a straight line, some have these orange sack like pieces. It doesnt look wet like ooze, but looks skin like.

I may just clip it anyway, the branch is stunted.

If you are going to clip it, I would take it down to my local county extension service and leave it for evaluation. In a few days you will get a call or a note explaining your problem. Its free and more reliable than what you should expect from your fellow gardeners. Al

I clipped it down to a 3/4" nub, the end of the nub was green.
I think it is fire blight, there are a few other places on it including a stretch mark that had a orangish hue to it.

How could I have contracted fire blight if this tree didnt blossom this year? Aphids?

Cali, thanks for the advice, ill bring it to the coop in town today.

For reference, this variety is Orleans Reinette.

Those marks in a straight line aren't fire blight. Looks a lot more like cicada egg laying site.

Was the tip of the branch blackened and bent over in usual FB fashion?

It wasnt black but it wasnt doing well.
It looked shriveled, and the leaves at the end were curling.
What bothered me most was the orange color, and that I see it in more than 1 spot.
Let me get another pic...

-Eric
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Here is another, you'll need to look close, but you can see orange on the stretch mark on the bark to the left of the line of orange.
Makes me think its the beginning stages of fireblight.

Got a letter back from the Cooperative Extension.
This damage was reviewed under a microscope and turns out to be from leaf hoppers.

As I was reading the letter I looked down at my shorts... sure enough... a leaf hopper clinging to me.

would you post a pic of the leaf hopper for us? Thank you
Tim