Susquehanna River SMB

[reason162]

Years ago I took a guided trip on the Susky with a river boat guide...what an insane smallie fishery. Thanks for the write up Bob, the section of river we were at the water was gin clear. Saw a few HUGE carp grazing too, should've brought my fly rod!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Susquehanna on my bucket list... Nothing like the fight of a Smallie swimming against the current of a river...

Thanks for the report!!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by reason162

Years ago I took a guided trip on the Susky with a river boat guide...what an insane smallie fishery. Thanks for the write up Bob, the section of river we were at the water was gin clear. Saw a few HUGE carp grazing too, should've brought my fly rod!

That was in the Pennsylvania section I would imagine.. Up here, its a very muddy, shallow river that is almost never really clear... Lots of dead, mud bottom water. The bass concentrate on rocky bottom.
Lots of Tiger Muskies as well, and I have caught them, but don't fish for them.. Too much time needed, and I always have been more of a "high percentage" type of fisherman.

I think if the susky were as clear as the Delaware, we would have better fishing in the spring and summer..

The river is barely fished most of the year, especially now that the Walleyes have become scare, and if you can find out where the SMB are holding[they aren't everywhere] the fishing can be mind boggling... The NY DEC is trying to re establish American Shad , but I have my doubts , just too far from the Chesapeake bay, and too many BIG obstacles. An adjoining river, the Chemung, once had a hybrid fishery, and a few were caught in the susquehanna over the years . The NY DEC doesn't invest in stuff like that although the fish did well... They are totally focused on the Great lakes Pacific salmon, as well as the Catskills trout streams, and thats where the management money goes, because thats where the return is...bob
http://www.landbigfish.com/fishingsp...se.cfm?ID=3043

[AndyS]

Wow, thanks for the heads up !!

[Brewlugger]

Thank you for this Bob. you brought back alot of great times I had on the Suss in the 80s and early 90s fishing the Afton Sydney area. I can attest to the Smallmouth fishing I have never seen better. Got my share of Walleye in the mix too. the carp fishing was very good there as well. another good one is the Chenango, SMB pike and Walleye there. Never got Pike in the Suss, have you? the streams in that area were great for Trout, i really miss it up there.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Bob is spot on with this fellas! The river is a gem when it comes to certain species. I’ve seen that action. A great friend of mine lived in Nanticoke for a bunch of years. We fished that river open water and through the ice. I can’t remember too many disappointing days. There was always action! Get up there, it’s not far at all! I passed a few Walleye and Smallie spots on the way home from NY yesterday. I would’ve stopped if the weather was better, Hahahaha!!!

Thanks for the report Bob! You’ve been around man!!! Seasoned angler!!!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Brewlugger

Thank you for this Bob. you brought back alot of great times I had on the Suss in the 80s and early 90s fishing the Afton Sydney area. I can attest to the Smallmouth fishing I have never seen better. Got my share of Walleye in the mix too. the carp fishing was very good there as well. another good one is the Chenango, SMB pike and Walleye there. Never got Pike in the Suss, have you? the streams in that area were great for Trout, i really miss it up there.

Yes Afton and Sydney are closer to the headwaters.. I get the river after it goes through Binghamton, Vestal, Owego, and several treatment plants and municipal storm drains. Up where you were, the water quality is better. There are Pike, but are typically in slower backwater areas that don't have much current.. For whatever reason they are hard to catch on any type of artificial, but will hit big live bait.. My son caught a big one many years ago while we were walleye fishing, I have never caught one personally, but see them here and there.. The pike fishery isn't close to what NJ has in the Passaic river.
Lots of big Channel Cats,and submarine size carp too!
I don't fish for carp or cats, but they will both grab small natural colored jigs meant for bass , and then its a monumental battle, especially if they get into the rivers current!.
I only wish the walleyes would come back in good numbers.... bob

[thmyorke1]

Great info! I drove out to Susquehanna university for my brother's graduation. River is epic looking! Never fished it tho. One day.

[XXlyakattacker]

The Susquehanna is a great small mouth fishery. I fished it in my kayak north of Harrisburg and it was just unreal. 20" smallies are not uncommon. It's a kaysk fisherman's paradise. Not a good place for the novist though. You could get seriously messed up in the ledges.