North Branch Susquehanna, Luzerne Co, 7/9/10

afishinado

afishinado

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Tried fishing the NB of the Susky again for SMB. (see Fishidiot's "North Branch Susquehanna, Luzerne Co, 6/25/10 report).

The River level was down to near ideal flow, the water clarity was just right, and it was a mostly overcast day with air temps in the mid 80's, perfect! Fredrick and I drove two vehicles and we parked his downstream to avoid a long walk at the end of the day.

We fished top to bottom and drifted and swung and stripped and popped and gurgled and dove and twitched..... in the end, a few smallies came to hand, but not many at all.

The word is (from my buddies and relatives up there) is the smallies haven't really been on yet this season.

Past history when fishing with Fred has been that he either breaks something, loses or forgets his keys, or goes for a swim. Hat-trick today! I turned and saw Fred swimming across the River towards me. He stood and showed me the broken tip on his new switch rod. He really look bummed about it, and I told him I'm sure the manufacturer will replace the tip, also your car is right here and you can get your spare rod. With his head hung low he fessed up and told me he left his keys in my truck, and now we have walk the 2+/- miles all the way back to my vehicle.....:roll:
 
Sounds like a sunday cartoon strip titled "the born loser" Hehehehe

My Susky total for two trips, (2.25 hrs of fishing) is 5 bass and one rocky. I thought it was better up there?
 
lmfao@Fred :lol:
 
Hey Fredrick:
Buck up dude - you rock. Literally swimming with the fishes - now that's hard core!
At least you didn't catch an alien in your leg. :-D
Wish I coulda joined you guys.

Yeah, smallies seem to be a bit off so far this year which seems odd considering the ideal conditions. I was able to get out late in the afternoon on the Potomac on the same day (9th) and the fishing was okay but certainly not great. I got one decent fish on a nymph and several dinks - until the frontal system came in about 6:30pm and things clouded up and cooled off. The popper bite turned on and it was steady action but all small fish. I didn't stay till dusk but they were hitting pretty good by evening, just no fish of any size.
Hhmmm.....
 
I was on the Susquehanna at Columbia last thursday with my grandfather. We were trolling and casting crankbaits and in two and a half hours caught 16 or 17 smb between the two of us. By far the best day we've had in five years or so. Except for one 16 incher that I caught, all of the bass were 8-12". Typically in that area we catch a few 12-14" fish. So perhaps this year will be better for more but generally smaller bass.
 
First I would like to say is Mo I know where you live and no more Buffalo Chicken Dip for you . 😛

Earlier in the day Tweed was complaining about the stench on his gear from when we went brown-lining on the Skuke and he said that he doesn't want to go Brownlining anymore 😳
Than I see this grin on his face from ear to ear when he caught a Channel Cat that he had to put on his reel because how big it was. Now you guys take a look at this pic and see if Tweed didn't enjoy catching that cattie you be that judge .

Randompics034.jpg
 
I can only imagine that the trip to my house that winter day must have been like arriving at the bat cave blindfolded....unless you were the driver Fred. If so, I am in big trouble.

as for the Buffalo Chicken dip. I cannot speak for that since it was mysteriously thrown away upon your departure. I was bummed to see when cleaning up the entire crock of BCD blanketing the top of the trash can. What a waste.

I will allow you to redeem yourself this year again when the snow if high....and the temps are low.
 
How about when the temps are high and the streams are low ?
 
I don't care if American Rivers took the river off the endangered list, it is still a river with serious problems.
 
Suskie is fishing great!!! You guys just don't come north enough. 100 fish days the norm! No joke guys....

Where you want to fish is Lacyville to Tunkhannock. Period.
 
Im with you jjsjigs but i have been fishing the tunkhannock creek on a regular bases.
 
Jigs,

I would say overall, the fishing this summer has been slow, most likely due to the high temps this summer. Yeah, if you hit it right, you can have a good day, but overall the smallies have been in neutral. Most fish I have caught have to be coaxed from the bottom and they really haven't been chasing underneath and surface flies aren't really bringing them up. Any surface action would be mostly in the early morning or late evening. Actually the best lure right now would be a jj jig!

Here is the August 18th report from the FBC:

"Wyoming County

Fishing has been slow throughout the county over the summer likely due to high water temperatures. Fish in the mornings and evenings and try fishing deeper waters."

Also here is some good advice from the FBC site:

"Most anglers on the Susquehanna River have had success where tributaries enter the river. These areas supply well aerated and slightly cooler waters, a blessing for weary late summer fish. Areas immediately below long stretches of riffles are also being targeted for the same reason.

Anglers are reminded that the warm waters and low levels of dissolved oxygen are a stress that needs to be taken into account when you are practicing catch and release. Handle the fish as little as possible upon landing and try to release them without removing from the water. A good first step is to make sure you are pinching down all of your barbs. Not only does it make it easier to remove the hook upon landing but it can greatly improve your hook-up rate as well."

Now that the weather has moderated, the River is up! I had planned a trip with Fishidiot to the NB yesterday but chose to fish for skinny little trout instead (see LL report by FI). Hopefully it will get back down to a good wading level for some good late summer/early fall fishing.
 
Jeez. The river is indeed back up here in Towanda is up again. My normal gravel bars I fished all summer are covered over.

For most anglers, this is welcome! Amazingly enough not a single other angler was on the water with me yesterday.

I broke out the new Albright 8 weight and caught 5 SMB in 75 minutes and one lone fallfish. (they need love, too!)

I'm glad to see the fall bite is picking up. Now I have Steelhead on the brain. But if you want to catch a few SMB try the NB Suskie now. It's full of water now and the fishing can only get better as September approaches.
 
melvinp, I too like the Tunkhannock. I usually can catch a few where that old jack dam used to be just upstream from the power station by the Dunkin' Donuts. Have you gone up into the Shadowbrook area this year? I wondered how their stretch was fishing. Rumor has it they might re-institute their private trout stocking along the golf course again.
 
JJsjig they stocked shadowbrooke last year i think,But im afraid down that far there muski bait.I fish up stream toward nicholson alot about 10 trips this year some good some bad.Landed a really nice brown and a porker of a rainbow this year.If you go to wetnets lacky cleen up you will meet me amd i will show you the pictures,I cant find time to learn how to post um yet. well boss is screaming goto go and o yea everyone has had green,black and brown buggers sometime in their life.Pick um.seeya folks.
 
sorry yea i did from above nicholson to river 2 day trip most fun i had in a long time.
 
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