North Branch Susquehanna (Catawissa area) Columbia County 3/10/18

[Mwheaps32]

Air temp 37
Water temp 38
Gauge was little over 6ft at Bloomsburg

Water was stained green and was a little high but not unfishable. I started with the slack water areas and Eddie's. I used a 20lb untapered leader 9ft long and tied a size 1/0 white over grey clouser minnow on. I landed 4 total for the afternoon including a very heavy 17" fish. The action should only get better in the coming weeks.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Very cool. Easy to locate them now in high water, but not as easy to make them chew...

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Excellent!

 

[Mwheaps32]

The two largest fish took the fly on a fairly steady 4-5" retrieve with 2-3 second pause (not summer speed) I've also heard and read you need to go as slow as possible I've found that's not the case where I fish. The other fish were not quite as obvious they were hooked more of the typical mushy not sure if it's grass or fish feeling I always set the hook to be sure. Also all fish were caught in pairs in the same holes.

 

[Mwheaps32]

https://flic.kr/p/GWTXsL
Here is a picture of the 17" fish always love how pretty some of the bass can look in the winter

 

[fritz]

Very nice!

 

[Dave_W]

Good report.

Pre-spawn bass season is kicking off. I note your water temp at 38. That's still pretty cold. I'm usually more confident once temps get up around 41 or 42. However, your experience with fairly aggressive bass reveals that can and do eat with temps in the 30s (as every ice-fisherman knows).

Thanks for this report and the reminder that good bassin is game on.

 

[afishinado]

I check in on some spin fishing and warmwater forums, and there have been quite a few impressive SMB reports and pics from the Susky posted in the past couple of weeks. I find the OP's FFing report even more encouraging.

While I'm an avid SMB FFer, especially fishing the Susky, I find myself fishing for smallies mostly in the summer and fall. My focus in the spring always seems to be FFing for trout. I will make it my business to get out in this spring (before the May spawn) to give it a go.

Good stuff.

 

[Mwheaps32]

Here is a healthy 19" fish from the same water today https://flic.kr/p/22kpdgS

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Good lord!

Well time to write my dear John letter to pa trout fishing for most the year. :lol: i was going to wait a few more weeks, but might as well give it a go.

 

[Wild_Trouter]

This post was a real eye opener for me. I don't really get into bass until post spawn, but I'm seeing now where that might be a mistake. Me thinks I'm going to give this a shot real soon.

 

[Dave_W]

Wild_Trouter wrote:
I don't really get into bass until post spawn, but I'm seeing now where that might be a mistake. Me thinks I'm going to give this a shot real soon.

Pre-spawn is WAY better fishing than post spawn.
Most of the biggest bass you will see in a year will come in early spring (late autumn is pretty good too, but I have traditionally caught more trophy bass, like the one linked above, in pre-spawn).

I usually fish river SMBs pretty hard usually from about Mid-March until late April when I first start to see males cutting redds (this is usually late April when conditions are normal). Then it's back to trout fishing until summer.

 

[Mwheaps32]

You need to know your river and the best time is in the summer when the water is low because in early spring there is going to be several feet of extra water flowing over what was barren ground in summer.

Locate areas where a piece of land juts out into the river bed and forms an Eddy on the downstream side. The upstream side might also hold some fish but most seem to be on the downstream side.

Once you find fish there don't leave them to look for more. I spent 45 minutes flogging the same 10ft section and kept telling myself their here just be patient. Then I caught 3 in 15 minutes and then it was over for another half hour. Another added bonus as Dave_w pointed out is their big fish and they seem to group up with fish of similar size. There's a warm up coming this weekend another opportunity to get some early season bass.

 

[Wild_Trouter]

Thanks guys for the tips. It sounds like I have really been missing out. I guess I will keep an eye out for water levels and see if there is an opportunity there.

 

[Dave_W]

Wild_Trouter wrote:
Thanks guys for the tips. It sounds like I have really been missing out. I guess I will keep an eye out for water levels and see if there is an opportunity there.

Watch for a few days of warming weather and water temps to creep up above about 41 degrees (I doubt we're there yet on the big rivers in PA, but close). Most of my fishing this time of year is done from shore but I do tend to get in the water more by April depending on conditions.

Don't forget to bring your trout box and some winterstone patterns. It's not uncommon when prospecting for SMBs in March/April to see a stonefly hatch, some of which are really intense. In my experience, SMBs are not interested in these bugs... but don't be surprised if you see a big brown trout snout sipping these guys.