Juniata River, Perry County, 7/12/20

[klingy]

Water Fished: Juniata River

Location: Southeast of Newport, PA

Weather: 80s, Mostly Cloudy, light showers (heavy rain stayed south)

Productive Flies: Small weighted Green and Black Buggers

Hatches Noticed: Sporadic White Flies started around 7:30, left before any heavy hatches

Water Temp: Around 80 Deg.

Discharge: 950 cfs (Average = 1,600 cfs)

Fished the Juniata southeast of Newport with my dad for about four hours last evening. I was using fly gear and he was using spinning gear. We both managed to land between 20-25 bass. More successful trip than my past several trips to the Susky.

All of my fish were in current, either at the edge of deeper runs or in 2-3 feet of water moving over structure. Small buggers were the ticket for me and provided steady action throughout the evening. Green and black both worked equally well.

Most fish I hooked up with were small (6-10 inches). My biggest of the evening was 12 inches. Dad landed two around 15-16 inches. It was good to see so many small fish, but larger fish were hard to come by.

Notes: A lot of eelgrass in the shallows. Numerous crayfish including many YOY. No signs of fish crashing bait. One large bass swimming slowly near shore with large lesions on the head/mouth area. Several large channel catfish stationed in runs. Saw only 5-10 YOY smallmouth.

 

[Swattie87]

I know that stretch of water. One of my favorites.

A few years ago, one evening in August I fished there and the fish were in the heaviest current runs over boulders exploding up on to damselflies. I didn’t have any damselflies, but it didn’t matter. A bigger swung down and across high in the water column would trigger multiple blasts from below on each cast. Probably caught close to 150 that night. Mostly small (7-9”) as you noted, but a handful went 12-15”. Most fun you can have with a fly rod.

 

[Dave_W]

Good report - thanks. Forty to fifty bass between two fellas in half a day is a good trip.

I hope to get back up there soon.

 

[KGStine]

Fished at the Mifflintown access area today from 8:30 to 1:30. Used all top water only landed 6, 2 about 14" 1 about 12". The other ones were 6 to 8". Missed quite a few. I think they were just little ones. Lots of Damsel flies around, but didn't see many fish after them.