Normally I put up reports after each trip. Thankfully we have been busier than in the past. I finally got a chance to attack the text to give a heads up on conditions on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River and events.I'm going to work backwards.
We've been on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River quite a bit from early May to present. The smallmouth bass bite is just starting to pick up. Anthracite Outfitters had clients, Ruby and Josh on the water yesterday...
He kissed every fish right before he released them...
Any cat doin' that is cool in my book.
This is the most active we've seen the smallmouth bass this season on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Josh started with a small spinner bait and was on with it all day. Ruby bounced back and forth between the spinner bait and in-line spinner and hit some fish as well. Josh commented that this was the best smallmouth bass action he's ever had. That was good to hear.
Last week Anthracite Outfitters had out Scott...
That trip was the first this season that really showed an uptick in the smallmouth bass activity on the susquehanna river. However, the catfish have been pounding lures. Up and until yesterday's trip every trip since the middle of May resulted in at least one solid cat coming up on artificials, and both Dan and Scott hit cats on in-line spinners.
We met Scott at the Wyoming Valley Riverfest the week prior to his trip. Anthracite Outfitters' involvement with Riverfest commanded much time in preparation, and was worth every second.
Dan and I took the opportunity to highlight kayak fishing at a River festival in Wilkes-Barre Pa, in a way only Anthracite Outfitters can.
The event initially grew out of a bunch of kayakers doing sojourns on the river through the Wilkes-Barre area. Until this year, all kayaking there was about paddling. Anthracite Outfitters was invited to sit in on the planning commission back in February. As soon as we got the confirmation that camping was allowed for the paddlers at the event...
Dan got on the horn to our friends whom we thought would be good sources of kayak fishing experience to help us discuss and highlight the sport, at an event centered around the flowing waters of the Susquehanna River, to a mass of people unfamiliar with "kayak fishing". We couldn't have been more thrilled to have had Jon Shein, John Oast, and Ole Blues Guy(Frank Patla) join us...
Next year we are hoping to add more kayak fishers to the ranks of the campers for the event. However, having had Jon, John, and Frank there, we were really able to field all sorts of questions. For instance, "Is that a motor?"
:lol:
During the down time when it got quite it was cool to hang back and listen to and tell stories of past times spent on the water, over fried striper nuggets and some adult beverages...
The second day of the event was interesting when we spotted this...
The plugs were in it so something gave somewhere. At any rate I called it to Dan's attention and he, John Oast, and I ran to help. Jon S and Frank manned the booth. Dan has tons of boat experience and knew how to refloat the stern, so he took over. After about an hour we got it floating and pulled. The boat apparently is no worse for the wear.
The last day was quite eventful as that is the day when the paddlers launch from Wilkes-Barre and paddle down the Susquehanna river to a designated take out. Each day, Fri.-Sun, has a group paddle, and the last starts in Wilkes-Barre. From the right vantage point there are some cool images to be seen...
All in all it was a great weekend centered around the Susquehanna river, and every day had events and music, with a few acts closing out the evening.
We are trying to grow this event and as the time rolls around next year we invite you to attend, and camp if you choose.
The smallmouth bass bite is picking up, and Anthracite Outfitters has another one day River Fest July 24th in Tunkhannock, Pa. where we'll be doing the same thing.
Stay tuned, as more reports shall follow!!!
Hope you have enjoyed your summer thus far as much as we have!!!
Tightlines and safe paddlin'!!!
Hank