Played hooky

[Susky River Rat]

So today was a rare nice day this time of year. I didnt get to fish a lot this year because I did not have a boat. I bagged work early. My dad, dog and I headed to the river.

 

The river is very low and clear water temp 45.5. We hit seams and slack pockets with no avail. We went up into the ledges and exposed rock. 1-6ft of water We each caught about 6 decent smallies in 3 ish hours of fishing. We primarily used ned rigs and under spins is a new technique  for me I am learning. 
 

the new boat is great. I will make another post about that in the boat section at another time. 

[TnRiver46]

Nice one

[Susky River Rat]

@TnRiver46 thank you! It felt

good to finally be “home”

[galyonj]

I love looking at a chubby smallmouth.

[flyfisher]

I didn't ge to the susky but once this year and I absolutely love that place for real.  Looks like you had a great time out and I am jealous.

[Susky River Rat]

@flyfisheri am very lucky to have such a great smallmouth fishery 45 minutes from me. I’ve also learned through going out of state and fishing here some days will just be a struggle.  Anyone who hasn’t experienced river smallie fishing is missing out. 
 

what area do you normally get to?

[flyfisher]

1 minute ago, Susky River Rat said:

@flyfisheri am very lucky to have such a great smallmouth fishery 45 minutes from me. I’ve also learned through going out of state and fishing here some days will just be a struggle.  Anyone who hasn’t experienced river smallie fishing is missing out. 
 

what area do you normally get to?

all depends.  My dad is friends with a guide out there and he usually gets the intel of where to go.  Last time out we fished the Juniata about 6 miles up from where it dumps into the susky. Generally though anywhere from Duncannon upstream to Sunbury.  We try and do a couple day overnight each summer but never got around to it this year where we stay on an island somewhere and get shuttled upriver by Blue Mountain outfitters.  We both have motorized kayaks so on single day trips we just pick a spot and fish it well. That river has so much water to fish that you don't need but a mile or two for an entier day of fishing it seems.  If I could convince the wife to move there, I would.

[Susky River Rat]

Ohh nice. I fish dock street from to duncannon from time to time. I have the least experience on that stretch. I want to learn it better. I just have so much river around me it’s hard to try new areas.  I won’t try new areas when it’s this low though.

[flyfisher]

As a kid my dad took me on a guided trip with Bob Clouser and it got me hooked on smallie fishing and that river in particular.  It is about a 4 hour one way trip for me but I wil ldo day trips up there when I have the time to do it.  Totally worth the drive to know on any given day you can have multiple 18" plus fish and a chance at true giants.

[Darth-Baiter]

so we now have a boat?

[Susky River Rat]

@Darth-Baiter yes sir. My 5th time out with it. Did the motor break in. Some prefishing for a tournament caught some small stuff. Caught a walleye in the tournament thag didn’t count because it wasn’t a bass. It was the first time I was happy to post what I caught lol