Prepping the kayaks for a day of fishing on the river
Saturday, March 20, 2010 brought sun and warming temperatures and the hopes of catching some big smallmouth bass. As I waited for the rest of my fishing party to set up their kayaks, I tossed a suspending jerkbait to a nearby current break. One of my casts yielded a heart stopping encounter with a smallmouth well over 18 inches. It had unwittingly followed my jerkbait right up to the bank. I saw him coming at the bait so I paused it then restarted. As I watched wide eyed the bronze torpedo submerged quickly just inches behind my bait. Several more casts with two other baits to the same vicinity bore no fruit but the close encounter fueled our enthusiasm.
Water conditions
I was fishing with two other experienced river fisherman but the day turned out to be one of my toughest river outings in several months. The water was rapidly dropping from near flood stage just 5 days ago. This usually makes for less than aggressive smallmouth. The water level was still almost two feet above normal and stained. The water surface temperature was 48 degrees.
Weather
The sun was shining with hardly a cloud in the sky. Winds weren’t a factor today. The air temperatures started at about the mid 50′s then climbed to 67 degrees by late afternoon.
The fishing
Mid river current breaks were non existent because of the high water. We fished current breaks along the shore with a variety of baits. We threw suspending jerkbaits, tubes, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and several other soft plastics. I caught the only fish. It was a 12 incher that bit so lightly on my green pumpkin tube that it took three taps for me to be convinced that a fish had eaten my tube. The fish was very lethargic ..at least for a smallmouth bass. I caught the fish several feet off a stone wall in a big eddy. It was sitting in about 4 feet of water.
We floated seven miles and fished hard. We did however take some time to enjoy a beautiful day. Two notable things happened during the trip. First, we saw a bald eagle up close and personal. That’s always an awesome site! Second, I learned that only being able to see the head of the first guy through a rapid means there’s a serious drop ahead!
The rapid had been clearly marked on my river map but typically rapids on this river are class II at best. Due to the high water and the large rocks located on the drop, this rapid had become what I”d guess to be borderline class III. I decided to take a line close to the mid river island and avoid the heaviest part of the rapid. My “sit on top kayak” is a great fishing platform but not designed for running rapids. I quickly realized that there was way too much exposed rock in the line I had chosen so I’d have to paddle out in the heavier current. It turned out to be an exhilarating ride. A couple of times water came completely over the bow of the kayak but luckily I always paddle with my scupper plugs out. All three of us made it though the rapid safe and sound. As they say, “hind site is 20/20″. I had tired to get out to scout the rapid but the banks were too steep so I abandoned my efforts to map a path from high ground. …I should have tried another spot to get out and scout!!
I’m looking forward to my next fishing trip which will happen VERY soon! Hopefully it will involve more fish this time!!
Well at least you saw a fish
I had absolutely no luck on the river this weekend. I traded my baitcaster for my fly rod on sunday, but didnt even have any luck with the trout either 
Hopefully this coming weekend will be better for us!
Nate, were you on the juniata?? I falling water is tough. The bite is usually off. In particular the water was falling VERY rapidly which compounded the situation. If the rain holds off the fishing should be great this weekend Fish should be solidly in pre-spawn locations AND feeding heavily. Again, depending on the weather this weekend could be “off the hook”!
Hey Juan was good river running with you again! Too bad conditions weren’t just a little better for catching, eh? Can’t say we didn’t try. At least the float was a great one. Great section to catch again as conditions improve for sure.
It was a great paddle! I’m still kicking myself for not trying s hair jig given the hatch that was taking place.
Got that right, me too! They were probably hugging the shore line pockets just focused on eating those stone fly nymphs that were crawling right to them by the thousands
Yeah, I was on the juniata in granville. Actually I’m about to head out now. I may try the fly rod and a stone nymph and see if the smallies will take it!
hello juan,
i am semi new to central pa, i live relatively close to the juniata and the little juniata. wondering if you know of any groups in the area that do kayak runs on the river. i am having a hard time trying to find someone who would even consider getting in a kayak let alone fish out of one.
Matt, most kayak shops do sojourns or have paddling clubs that meet regularly and do trips. Try contacting either the folks at Rothrock Outfitters in Huntingdon or Tussey Mountain outfitters in Bellefonte…depending on your location.