Susquehanna smallies

[Nick Fowler]

Hello fellow anglers! I am new to the forums and have a question. Tomorrow I am leaving for Pennsylvania to fish lakes and rivers near Scranton. One day I will be going to the Susquehanna. I  unfamiliar with what baits work well there. Any suggestions of plastics and/or hard baits would be great. Thanks a bunch!

[A-Jay]

Hello Nick and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

I am unfamiliar with that area but good luck

A-Jay

[Nick Fowler]

Thanks! 

[EvanT123]

Welcome as well....don't know the river you are fishing but can't see you going wrong starting with some tubes and tube jigs, flukes and a topwater or two. 

Checking or posting in the regional forum on here might get you some response as well. 

[Turkey sandwich]

@Nick Fowler

I know that area very well!  Where near Scranton will you be fishing the Susquehanna?  With any luck, I'll be on the river from the Falls bridge launch to the Harding/Apple Tree Rd launch on Sunday.  A kayak, jet boat, or drift boat are by far the best ways to fish that stretch, though there are some great areas to wade, too.  Last Saturday, we caught a solid 30+ fish between the two of us, the largest being 18 1/2".  

It's summer and the water temp will be in the low to mid 80s this weekend, so fish heads and tails of pools, fast to moderate current seams and riffles.  Most of the active fish will be in 2.5-5' of water near faster current, though you may find some larger fish in Boulder fields with moderate current, especially those with adjacent grass beds.  

As far as techniques, keep it simple.  Tubes and grubs will catch you both, numbers and size, and 1/8 oz is pretty much the magic weight for most presentations.  (Some stretches I'll go to 1/16oz, but no heavier than 1/4)

if you see a dude wearing a St. Croix hat on an orange Lure 13.5, don't be afraid to say hello!

[Nick Fowler]

Thanks for the input. I will definitely stick up on tubes and grubs. Which brand and length works best? Also do you use jig heads for the grubs? Thanks again! 

As for the area.  I think I will be taking a kayak from laceyville to sugar run. I will definitely give you a wave of I see you.  

[Turkey sandwich]

Tubes and grubs are pretty universal, but I like fat Albert grubs (3.5") and either Zoom or Strike King Coffee tubes (3.5").  Keep the colors simple.  I like the standard green pumpkin/pumpkinseed/watermelon colors 75% of the time.  If it's sunny, especially, red and orange fleck can get you extra strikes.  I fish the grubs on ball head jigs with 1-2/0 hooks and typically use VMC tube jigheads for the jigs.  

This is a from last weekend. I took a friend bass fishing for the first time and needless to say, he's now addicted.

Also, you'll see some great scenery in that area and there are multiple nesting pairs of bald eagles that I see almost every time out. 

[Nick Fowler]

Great. Thank you so much for the advice! If I catch some good ones I'll make sure to post them. 

[Turkey sandwich]

What will you be fishing out of?

[Nick Fowler]

Not sure what kayak I will be renting one. I know I know. I plan on getting a wilderness systems within the year. 

[Turkey sandwich]

There's a kayak rental company right by the Falls bridge launch and they're awesome.  I strongly suggest using them this weekend.  

[Nick Fowler]

Oh really that's great. What is their name? 

[Turkey sandwich]

Check out www.kayaktheriver.com

[Turkey sandwich]

Fat smallmouth like super flukes

 

[Turkey sandwich]

Glad you had a good time.  The north branch is a great fishery, and I'm always glad to put someone on fish.  Once you get a hang of fishing for smallies in rivers, it's hard to go back to fishing largemouth in lakes.