The smallmouth bass bite on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River is really heating up. Although the water levels have been below normal with elevated water temps, the smallies can be found. The past few days I have been hitting well with the fly rod.
However in the past few weeks our clients have been scoring good fish with flash and vibration in the form of spinner baits and in line spinners, as well rapala type jerk baits worked on a steady retrieve in moving water, that being both in the elevation changes and boulder fields...
Dan also picked a nice fish from some dead fall.
The moving water is the least pressured water due to the fact that with the reduced flow a vast majority of boats can't get into the boulder fields and rapids, the kayaks can!!! The moving water requires two vehicles to hit as at certain spots one is not able to paddle back up current. I have been working some of the water around the launches that does get hit hard. The ticket in the pressured water has been the fly rod with a cray fish jig...
The trick has been to paddle as high up into the rapid sections where neither foot angler or boater is able to go, at least not without sending the fish for the hills, get the pattern down and stay tight to it as it clicks across the bottom. Every so often a sharp strip or a flick of the rod tip to get it some elevation in the column has been drawing strikes as the fly falls back. The pressured fish are quite warry and will often follow the fly right back to the yak so keeping the fly down and close to the bottom is the surest way to get hit.
This pattern has also been getting looks too...
But no takers as of yet, although I have yet to toss it in the unpressured areas.
So to recap, spinner baits and spinners in the moving water that is unpressured, and the fly rod for the fish that have seen all but the kitchen sink.
Until next report...
Tightlines and Safe Paddling!!!