Rock Bass

[Troutmeister]

Sometimes in the summer after the trout are gone I fish the Jordan Creek for whatever will bite. Lots of little Redbreasts and Rock Bass. Couple weeks ago I landed a Smallie a little over 16". Surprised the heck out of me, probably the biggest one I've ever caught out of that creek in over 60 yrs. of fishing it.

 

[jifigz]

I appreciate the responses, and fully agree with almost all of them. So is the decrease in the Rock Bass population a water quality issue? I always loved smacking rock bass, green sunnies and redbreasts while in the quest for sticking that elusive 20” Smallie!!

I don't think the decrease in populations is a water quality issue. I doubt the water in the Juniata has degraded that much in 20 years to make them all but vanish. They used to be in an extreme abundance in the watershed.

I'm not buying that every stream and river across the Mid-Atlantic suddenly acquired much dirtier water.

 

[goose54cdd]

I used to fish the Juniata for them on days I wanted a meal of fish fillets. They were a lot of fun. I can't find them anymore in the Huntingdon-Mount Union area. Of course I quit targeting them years ago when they disappeared. Maybe they're back. I don't know.