Re-learning how to fish

[zelmo]

The Susquehanna River is now my main fishery.  For those that don't know it there are many miles of shallow, rock strewn stretches.  Then there are impoundments which create lakes that are several miles long and deeper.

 

For many years I was limited to those lakes because I was running a fiberglass bass boat with a prop.  A year and a half ago I got a jet so I had access to more of the river.  I have had some good trips but it has been like learning to fish all over again.  The baits that I have been using in the deeper water still work but I am sure there is much I am missing. 

 

As we get nearer to better weather I am taking inventory and trying to figure out what else I need.  What do you find to be your top baits for catching smallmouth in rivers? 

[cyclops2]

Start trolling. Do not worry about too fast.  SMB  can pass your putt putt anytime.  Hold the rod when trolling. They hit much harder on faster lures.       Enjoy.

 

Respool the trolling rod with ONLY BRAIDED LINE !!!!!!!! you will have long lines out. No stretch is best line to use at 60 to 120' feet out.  If there is not much boat traffic on the water ?  Let out up to 150' of line. Hold the rod & text.  Very relaxing way .

[zelmo]

Kinda tough to troll through water like this.

 

 

[Deleted account]

7 minutes ago, zelmo said:

Kinda tough to troll through water like this.

 

 

 

The lower unit installer's kid is going to a good college...  

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, cyclops2 said:

Respool the trolling rod with ONLY BRAIDED LINE !!!!!!!! you will have long lines out. No stretch is best line to use at 60 to 120' feet out.  If there is not much boat traffic on the water ?  Let out up to 150' of line. Hold the rod & text.  Very relaxing way .

 Not...

[cyclops2]

Pass  Go elsewhere.

[TnRiver46]

Tubes grubs flukes and pop Rs

[zelmo]

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

 

The lower unit installer's kid is going to a good college...  

That’s why we run inboard jets.  No lower unit. ?

 

In the spirit of full disclosure that picture is from when the river was at summer low.  Even the kayaks have a hard time then.  Normal flow has those rocks one or two feet under the surface. 

[J Francho]

Belly weighted creature baits worked well the few times I fished the Susky. What a great place to be close to. 

[roadwarrior]

Rage Rig

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=rage+rig&rlz=1CAOJUW_enUS981&sxsrf=APq-WBsdLRBo_xxKrEGVjX_vC9ymSYiaTw:1644864575114&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAsc-F7v_1AhW4kWoFHT84AKEQ_h16BAgUEAU&cshid=1644864731254321&biw=1366&bih=617#imgrc=L-By7MJ67TpzTM

[Dogface]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Tubes grubs flukes and pop Rs

 

Yep! Add some Tiny Torpedo's, some Beattle Spins and small jerk baits and you should be in business. 

 

IF I had to pick one bait for the river around Harrisburg it would be a grub and a lead head jig. The weight depends on the flow. For colors I'd use yellow, chartreuse, white or dark green. 

 

Good luck!!

5 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Start trolling.

Not in that section of the Susquehanna. We drift downstream slowly and make short casts to the few rocks ? in the river. ?

 

Actually the river above Hbg. is all boulders and great fishing. 

[zelmo]

Thanks for the suggestions.  Turns out that the stuff recommended is what I have been using in the deeper pools.  I just need to get better at reading the river and finding the fish. 

[cyclops2]

Your rocky Susquehanna sounds a lot like my old , 40 years ago, Delaware River at Frenchtown, N J side. Pure rocks boulders and rocks at all creeks feeding it.  HUGE ledges & rocks along with feeder creek shoals.  Had only BIG mamas waiting for food to come by.

The rest of the SMB split up into schools by their sizes. They went looking for bait fish schools including small size of Striped Bass young.  1 spot was a slaughter house at sundown about every 3 days.

sun just started to disappear a little. Baitfish came in. Then the small Stripers came in. Then the SMB got active. Then the about 24" stripers ate everything for 3 to 5 minutes.  Jumping fish galore. Every cast was a fish or a snagged fish.............. Life Was Great Then.    

[Dogface]

15 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Your rocky Susquehanna sounds a lot like my old , 40 years ago, Delaware River at Frenchtown, N J side. Pure rocks boulders and rocks at all creeks feeding it.  HUGE ledges & rocks along with feeder creek shoals.  Had only BIG mamas waiting for food to come by.

Life Was Great Then.    

 It is very similar but wider. The Delaware is more easily navigated but a great river for just about everything from SM to Musky. 

1 hour ago, zelmo said:

Thanks for the suggestions.  Turns out that the stuff recommended is what I have been using in the deeper pools.  I just need to get better at reading the river and finding the fish. 

 

Cast upstream of the rocks / structure and let the current sweep your lure past it. The trick is enough weight to get down but not snagged. 

[newapti5]

10 hours ago, zelmo said:

The Susquehanna River is now my main fishery.  For those that don't know it there are many miles of shallow, rock strewn stretches.  Then there are impoundments which create lakes that are several miles long and deeper.

 

For many years I was limited to those lakes because I was running a fiberglass bass boat with a prop.  A year and a half ago I got a jet so I had access to more of the river.  I have had some good trips but it has been like learning to fish all over again.  The baits that I have been using in the deeper water still work but I am sure there is much I am missing. 

 

As we get nearer to better weather I am taking inventory and trying to figure out what else I need.  What do you find to be your top baits for catching smallmouth in rivers? 

 

Jigs, jigs, and jigs. Especially finesse jigs, swim jigs, football jigs...  Also a ton of finesse stuff like Ned rigs, given the crystal clear water it'll be in the summer. To cover water, I used shallow crankbaits, light spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and topwaters. There're more and more weed in recent years, so plan accordingly. 

 

Which part do you fish mostly? Down in Marietta and Columbia there're still some deep water. Even the water at Middletown airport are decent deep, relatively. 

[cyclops2]

Can you get a bottom contour map of the river where you fish ?   I have several of my St. Lawrence River areas.   Check it out. It should have change in depth levels. Will be a big help for you. 

Buy & change the transducer of your fish finder to a WIDE ANGLE unit. 

 

 

[T.J.]

I was out on the north branch of the Susquehanna a few times last year with a guide. We did well with Neds or small paddle tails on Ned heads in spring/summer and crankbaits in the fall. 

[zelmo]

10 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

Which part do you fish mostly? Down in Marietta and Columbia there're still some deep water. Even the water at Middletown airport are decent deep, relatively. 

 

Before the jet I was limited to Frederic, Clarke, and the Conowingo Pool.  Never tried Aldred.  With the jet those spots are still in play (I still have the bassboat) and I have added Middletown, City Island, Fort Hunter and the Juniata.  I haven't gone out of New Cumberland, Fallmouth, Marietta or Columbia yet.

[J Francho]

Let's see some pics of the jet boat up here:

 

[zelmo]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Let's see some pics of the jet boat up here:

 

 

Done.

[Spankey]

Grubs, Tubes, Beavers…….. in something close to Roadkill Camo pattern. 

[Dogface]

17 hours ago, T.J. said:

I was out on the north branch of the Susquehanna a few times last year with a guide. We did well with Neds or small paddle tails on Ned heads in spring/summer and crankbaits in the fall. 

 

Just for those that don't know the river around Hbg. is very different than the North Branch.