This past Sunday I had the pleasure of fishing with a crew of guys from the Pennsylvania Kayak Fishing Association. John “Toast” Oast of susquehannafishing.com started the organization this year after moving to the great state of Pennsylvania. I was impressed with the enthusiasm shown by all six of the fisherman who showed up at 6:30 a.m. at a local Shamokin McDonalds on a Sunday morning!
Conditions were less than optimal. The water temperatures had dropped almost 15 degrees in the past 7 day. Water temperatures were holding at 44 degrees when we arrived on the banks of the Susquehanna at about 7 a.m. We worked hard for every fish. We picked up a total of 10 smallmouth. Dark tubes where definitely the ticket although I caught the biggest smallmouth (17.5 inches) on a suspending jerkbait. I was able to pick up a total of 5 fish with most coming on a black tube rigged with a 1/8 oz. tub head. The action was a little slow but John managed to get some nice pictures and video.
Jon lands a bonus Susquehanna River walley on a crankbait
The most productive spots were distinct current breaks around islands. With the rising and cooling water, the fish were looking to hold in areas with very little current. The smallmouth were not in the typical late fall deep current breaks and eddies. Most were up shallow in locations that are typically characteristic of summer. I think the drop in water temperatures from the high 50′s down to the low 40′s really caught the fish off guard. Honestly it also threw the fisherman for a bit of a loop! Fish were in 4 feet of water or less BUT definitely holding on the slack water side of distinct current breaks.
I have to say that I had a great day on the water an I am looking forward to hitting the river again with these guys. They are all hard core fisherman and didn’t budge an inch despite the slow bite. Most guys caught at least one fish. The three biggest were two at 17.5 inches and on at 17 plus. Almost every fish was 15 inches or over…or at least close!
