Juniata River is RIDICULOUSLY Low

[jhoffman]

We need rain and we need it BAD. My grass on top of the mountain here looks like its August. The local river is over a foot lower than last year at this time. These water levels are too low for it to only be the first of June.

[Susky River Rat]

I am at the point on the water level on the susky where I get very selective of where and if I go there. 

[jhoffman]

  On 6/1/2023 at 12:45 PM, Darnold335 said:

I am at the point on the water level on the susky where I get very selective of where and if I go there. 

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I skipped my last trip and went to Sayers which btw I have never seen so many small juvenile largemouth there ever until this week. Took my buddy to the river and no one was there, couldnt understand why. Came home and checked the river gauge and was shocked how low it actually was. I use Rivercast on my phone but I just assumed I was good. When I looked to go fishing the other day it had dropped that foot since a week ago.

If I go to the river anytime soon Ill probably take a Kayak. Might just creek/lake fish till it rains. Its like theres no happy medium. Either too much rain or none.

[Susky River Rat]

  On 6/1/2023 at 12:50 PM, jhoffman said:

I skipped my last trip and went to Sayers which btw I have never seen so many small juvenile largemouth there ever until this week. Took my buddy to the river and no one was there, couldnt understand why. Came home and checked the river gauge and was shocked how low it actually was. I use Rivercast on my phone but I just assumed I was good. When I looked to go fishing the other day it had dropped that foot since a week ago.

If I go to the river anytime soon Ill probably take a Kayak. Might just creek/lake fish till it rains. Its like theres no happy medium. Either too much rain or none.

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 You could still putt around with a prop In certain areas I go but very limited. You will also get stuck to small portions. Some of the areas I cut through are less then a foot deep.

[jhoffman]

  On 6/1/2023 at 12:57 PM, Darnold335 said:

 You could still putt around with a prop In certain areas I go but very limited. You will also get stuck to small portions. Some of the areas I cut through are less then a foot deep.

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Ive got a jet thankfully but its sketchy in spots. The drifting is when I start to hit. Mine isnt a tunnel either so I need a good 6" to run. The susquehanna im sure in spots I can run fine but this upper end of the Juniata is crazy low. I also have garmin side image transducer on the back that although well protected I am definitely mindful I could rip it off. Why I thought I needed side imaging on a river boat is beyond me but its there now

[Susky River Rat]

  On 6/1/2023 at 1:03 PM, jhoffman said:

Ive got a jet again thankfully but its sketchy in spots. The drifting is when I start to hit. Mine isnt a tunnel either so I need a good 6" to run. The susquehanna im sure in spots I can run fine but this upper end of the Juniata is crazy low. I also have garmin side image transducer on the back that although well protected I am definitely mindful I could rip it off. Why I thought I needed side imaging on a river boat is beyond me but its there now

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My boat isn’t a tunnel either. I’ve scraped the grate in 4”  I honestly prefer no less than a foot but when you’re in it there’s no backing off.  I’ve only ever fished the juni around Newport.

 

In July I will be putting in an order for a G3 ccj 18’

[gim]

There is a mid-size river I fish here for smallmouth bass in July/August.  We float with the current from point A to point B in a 12 foot jon boat and it usually takes about 4-4.5 hours.  We do not use a motor because the average depth is less than a foot of water that time of year.  That jon boat can draft through inches of water but when the river is low, it scrapes a lot of rocks.  Gets old quick.

 

The last couple of years I really have not been able to do it.  Two years ago I couldn't do it at all.  Its a very underfished river because you can't get a sizable boat in there.  Its only fishable with a small craft such as a canoe, kayak, or jon boat.  But the smallmouth bass in there are crazy aggressive in the heat of summer and we mostly use topwater lures.

 

We could use some rain here too.  I hope a dry pattern is not setting up for the entire summer again.

[jhoffman]

@gimruis I used to fish a river like that as a kid with my grandparents. Zero chance you could run a boat in it and it was prior to cheap kayaks. My grandmother fell out of it one day  boy do I miss them. Those hidden gems are the best.

[gim]

  On 6/1/2023 at 1:57 PM, jhoffman said:

@gimruis I used to fish a river like that as a kid with my grandparents. Zero chance you could run a boat in it and it was prior to cheap kayaks. My grandmother fell out of it one day  boy do I miss them. Those hidden gems are the best.

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The deer flies out there are merciless.  They'll land right on your face and take a bite out of you.  No repellent works either.  I even tried 100% deet which actually burned my lips if I got any on them.

[RobA]

  On 6/1/2023 at 2:07 PM, gimruis said:

The deer flies out there are merciless.  They'll land right on your face and take a bite out of you.  No repellent works either.  I even tried 100% deet which actually burned my lips if I got any on them.

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Deer flies drive me nuts.  I found the only thing that keeps them away is a botanical fly repellant we use on our horses.

 

https://spalding-labs.com/products/fly_control_products/fly_sprays/p/bye-bye-insects.aspx

 

[jhoffman]

I dip my clothes for hunting/fishing/hiking in permethrin and it tends to keep the bugs down, especially ticks. Its the same thing they use in the bug clothing but they typically sew the fibers of the plant in. Bonus is I use it around my house too.

[Darth-Baiter]

last year i was selfish.  i took to the shallow lakes thinking it would be all mine!  being a kayaker, i could keep fishing as the lakes lowered and one ramp closed after another. 

 

in the long run, this was dumb thinking.   the lakes suffered health wise.   weeds choked out waterways because the sun could reach the bottom of the lake because it "was just right there".  fishing isnt just about me and my kayaking friends.  

 

i hope we all get rain and lots of it.  but the planet is in self clean mode maybe.    

[Susky River Rat]

  On 6/1/2023 at 3:51 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

i hope we all get rain and lots of it

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I do enjoy high water fishing 

[TnRiver46]

I love dry years, east TN is a tropical rainforest that usually flooding 

[jhoffman]

  On 6/1/2023 at 9:55 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I love dry years, east TN is a tropical rainforest that usually flooding 

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I dont mind it being dry but its so dry that my grass is already dead in north central pa at 2100' of elevation. We have already put out one brush fire while riding atv's.