Conestoga River - Lancaster, Co. 7/13/12

[elonDO]

Fished Conestoga River at Perelman Park from 9:30am-12:30pm. Been a while since I've done warm-water fishing & was the maiden voyage for my new TFO TiCrX 9ft 8wt that was a replacement for a broken TiCr that was discontinued.

Was fishing a Clouser Floating Minnow size 1. Landed 1 small rock bass & 6 smallies (1 nice smallie measuring about 12-14 inches long, all others about 8-10 inches long). Had several small fish hit the minnow and saw lots of little smallies swimming around as well. Sorry no pics, left the camera at home today.

Not only did I get to try out my new rod, but also first trip with my new Simms Headwaters Pro Waist Pack which was great. All in all great day on the water!

 

[BelAirSteve]

Sounds like a great day on the water - I could catch 10 inch smallmouth all day!

 

[McSneek]

Fished the same stretch last evening with pretty much the same results. Little ones and for once, more rock bass than smallmouths. Is there any fish that puts up less of a fight than a rock bass? They'll smash a popper and then you pretty much have to drag them in. Went down to the mouth today at the park in Safe Harbor. Used to catch a lot of fish there. Other than hooking a big carp and losing him after several minutes, not a single strike. Also fished for a little bit around Rock Hill access with nothing to show for it. Water was murky after a little bit of rain. I'm quickly losing faith in the Conestoga as a legit smallmouth stream.

 

[BelAirSteve]

I am probably going to check out the Conestoga this coming weekend with a buddy. I know about Central Park in Lancaster, and Perelman, and Conestoga Pines on the map. There is a LOT of river, if I wanted to do some exploring, are there access points along the roads downstream of Central Park? Not sure where we are going to start just yet.

 

[pennsadventures]

There is still a ton of great water in the river....Right at the mouth had changed alot...i totally agree that it used to be a great place to catch smallmouth but with the flood we had earlier in the year the bottom has changed. I fished it right after the spon with a buddy and 4 steps off the bank I was chest deep. It was never that way when the fishing was great. Just search around. There is a ton of great fishing in the city limits. I am not going to give up spots cause it took us year to find but it still fishes really well!!!!

 

[BelAirSteve]

Penns,

Thanks - would not ask for specific spots - finding the good water is part of the challenge for me. I appreciate the input.

Steve

 

[pennsadventures]

BelAir,

I am willing to take you out....Just don't want to post anything on here. Let me know when you are free. Right now I am living in central pa but and down in lancaster all the time.( will be fulltime again asap.) Pm me and I will get ya in the right area

 

[jjsjigs]

Just hit Mill Creek behind the Mill Creek Hotel next to Good N' Plenty. Manicured lawns.... good food next door. Plenty of smallies.

 

[Mike]

My recollection of the Mill Ck survey is that the smallmouth population began around Witmer Rd area. From there down the population and size distribution was good in appropriate habitat. That habitat has to be sought out, however. As a result we began stocking SMB fingerlings from about the confluence of Muddy Ck or else the dam at 772 upstream to the New Holland area. They were stocked twice in an effort to restore the population as a result of water quality improvements. This was also done on Pequea Ck from Strasburg area upstream.