Anthracite Outfitters 8-12-2011 Susquehanna River Kayakfishing Trip and Report

This past weekend I was lucky to get out on the river with a longtime friend for an overnight trip that we had planned for a year. My buddy Jason had flown in from Calif. to see family and decided to take an extra day from traveling to try out kayak fishing on the Susquehanna on an overnight adventure that would take us down about 12 miles of river and camping under the full moon….

The bite has been tough with the water being stained and slightly dirty for pretty much the whole summer and free time coming at a premium this year has just stacked the deck against my personal angling time on the river this summer, so needless to say I was excited to see an old friend and hit the river

We launched later in the day and traversed through the boulder strewn area that is called the “Boulder Garden”as the sun had begun to set. We managed to land a bunch of smallies in the 10” to 12” range and landed a few in the 16”+ range.

We pulled the Hobie’s up on the island and proceeded to make camp for the night. The Hobie Outback and Quest have really proven themselves over the last few seasons to be excellent fishing kayaks on the river, carrying more than enough gear and providing perfect angling platforms in the shallow and sometimes very rocky Susquehanna river.

Unfortunately one of the larger fish was mortally hooked by the stinger hook on the spinnerbait that he inhaled and was harvested. I practice C&R with all smallmouth, but just saw no sense in tossing him back only to die within minutes, he just wasn’t going to make it..

We used my favorite campsite on an island in the river that is below a high ridgeline that shields the sun until about 11am in the morning and the moon as well until it is high in the sky at night. The full moon rose above the ridge around midnight and turned the river into an almost seemingly daylight fishing experience, but really shut the bite down in the same respect.

This image was captured at about 1am

This image was captured at 2:30am from the campsite.

The following day we awoke to a pancake breakfast and really enjoyed our float down river to the vehicle enjoying the peace and quiet that only the river can give. Just before our exit point we ended up picking up a few more smallies in another larger boulder area with some deeper water.

Smaller swimbaits and white spinnerbaits were the ticket and the fish are holding tough in the ripples and rapids behind the rocks on the down river side looking for that oxygen rich water that is naturally being cooled through the elevation drops and rapids and waiting for the food that is being transported down river through the small current seams and food conveyor belts that snake through and around the rocks and boulders on the river bottom.

This was the best trip so far in 2011, shared with a great longtime friend over two spectacular days on the Susquehanna River here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Capt. Dan Hubbard
Owner: Anthracite Outfitters LLC
www.antoutfitters.com

Anthracite Outfitters North Branch Susquehanna River Conditions and Catching Report for the week of 5/11/2011

The river finally managed to drop to an acceptable level for the kayak, so I figured with the spring we have had it was time to get out while the getting was good. The day was warm, in the 70’s and partly sunny. I launched around mid-day and was surprised the find the launch ramps were still buried in mud from the previous high water events that we have had this spring.

Once I was done dragging the kayak and my gear over the slippery mud that was ankle to calf deep in spots I was off on the first kayak fishing trip this year due to the river levels and unfavorable weather.

Anglers need to be careful around the river during these conditions because even though the levels were down, the flow rate was not and the banks are extremely slippery and the water is still very cold. An angler falling into the river would be swept downstream fairly quickly in the colder water and would have a hard time getting back up the slippery bank, so caution needs to be taken when fishing the Susquehanna or any river in these conditions.

I quickly made it downstream to a feeder stream that was swollen; I set myself in the small eddie at the mouth so that I could easily swing the lure across the merging currents and the small seams that they were creating. First cast with a 6” Storm swimshad and I had a 30” Northern hit it just as it broke the current seam at the edge of the eddie pocket running tight to the bottom on a slow retrieve. Not a bad first fish for the first kayak trip this season. Several casts later I lost a musky at the side of the kayak and decided to move up into the feeder.
This ended up being my only fish for the afternoon, but not for a lack of trying. Some days are just better than others.

I was targeting Northern, Walleye and Musky, so I wasn’t looking for or even fishing for smallmouth, which are in their spawn time currently and are only a catch & immediate release fishery from mid-April through to father’s day. I like to give them a break this time of year and concentrate on the Pike, Musky or Walleye while they are still very active with the colder water temps.

The river was a work out to get back upstream with the increased flow rate and would have been a tough paddle, but this season I’m using a Hobie Outback and I have to say that the Mirage Drive System on the Hobie made heading back upstream against the current in that particular area much easier than it would have been by paddle.

The river is forecast to rise again to a level that I prefer not to kayakfish on, so as soon as I can I will get out there and catch up another report.

Capt. Daniel Hubbard

Anthracite Outfitters Owner/Operator
Pa Licensed & Insured Fishing Guide
www.antoutfitters.com
Tactical Anglers Pro-Staff
www.TacticalAnglers.com

Anthracite Outfitters North Branch Susquehanna River Conditions and Catching Report for the week of 4/11/2011

Anthracite Outfitters North Branch Susquehanna River
Conditions and Catching Report for the week of 4/11/2011

The almost seemingly winter like weather temperatures and elevated flow rate are seeing outstanding conditions for musky. The water temps are relatively cool for this time of year, and with the high flow rate of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, these toothy fish are ripe for the catching. As well the small mouth bass are making a showing and the walleye being landed are fat, and healthy. Walleye are closed for the spawn and they are not being targeted, but when caught as by catch should be handled carefully and released quickly as they are heavily egg laden.

First and foremost for those who may be making an angling foray to the North Branch of the Susquehanna River’s edge, safety during these elevated flowrates with cool water temperatures should be paramount. I carry a spade shovel and dig healthy footholds into the shoreline sediment to create footholds as well create a landing area for the trophy fish likely to be caught.

The musky in the North Branch of the Susquehanna River are falling to primarily larger profiled jigs, 3/4oz or better, as well, large profiled swimming plugs, commonly used by surf casters, who target striped bass.

The musky I have been landing on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, are tipping the bogas to between 12# and 15#+. Fish weighing in at 20#’s or more are not uncommon, but so far my biggest musky this season weighed a little better than 16#’s.

By far the most productive areas to target these toothy fish are eddy pockets and current breaks, not to mention areas where feeder creeks adjoin the main flow of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. These are prime areas where these big opportunistic fish may sit comfortably and be in a prime position to target hapless forage as it drifts by on the swollen flow of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The most productive technique thus far has been getting the jig down close, preferably right on, the bottom, and to keep it moving steadily while
imparting slight “hops” to the jig when it contacts the bottom. For the larger swimming lures, the trick has been a steady retrieve, with intermittent acceleration during the retrieve. On one outing a couple weeks ago I saw more than 4 musky follow with out committing to hit the lure. Often it’s necessary to trigger these fish to attack, as they will follow the lure for some distance. So contacting the bottom with a jig with a subsequent snap of the rod tip, or an acceleration during retrieve with the large swimming plugs are getting these fickle fish to commit to the take.

The small mouth bass are also becoming quite a bit more aggressive as they too are getting more into a pre-spawn mode. The smallies I have landed of late have all been hugging sticky structure, that being submerged brush and large boulders. They have been hitting larger jigs intended for the musky. They seem to want the jig paused on the bottom, in the smoothest pocket water, where they are inhaling the jig.

I’d like to note that as of yet I have not had the kayak in the river due to extremely dangerous shoreline conditions in the form of strainers, as well the high fast flow of the river. Anthracite Outfitters is however taking bookings for the start of our kayak fishing season which is scheduled for May 1st, 2011, flow rate permitting.

In closing, if you are intent on setting out after that trophy musky, now is the time to do it. Please be careful and always put safety first, and I wish you tight lines and screaming reels!!!

Anthracite Outfitters Kayak Fishing & Angling Guide Service
www.antoutfitters.com
Tactical Anglers
www.tacticalanglers.com

NonStopFishing.com is dedicated to bringing quality fishing gear to the discerning angler. Whether its surf, boat, fly or kayak fishing we have the gear for you.