Shenango River, Mercer County, 7-14-11

[streamerguy]

Decided to try my luck at the Shenango River in Sharpsville today. It was at a good level, but a little muddy. Between my brother and I we managed 14 smallmouth bass and 1 monster bluegill. My brother was spin fishin and I was fly fishing with a black wooly bugger and zonker. The biggest bass was about 11in and the smallest was like 4. I like seeing the smaller fish, their the future, but its seems like the average size this year and last year were like 8-9 inches and smaller and only caught 2 12in but while fishing below the dam for walleye earlier in the spring(not fly fishing), not farther downstream were we usually fish for bass. 2 years ago the average was like 10-12inches, so I'm not really sure whats up. It was still a great day on the water!

 

[pcray1231]

like any wild population, smallmouth bass populations fluctuate. Strong and weak year classes, which turns into your abundance at different size ranges years down the road.

Nice report!

 

[PennKev]

Find a nice steep rocky bank and pound the heck out of it.

I've caught some really nice bass out of the Shenago river. One day last year I got three in a row about 2lbs+ a piece and people who fish it regularly don't seem to think that is anything special. It's actually a pretty good warm water fishery and is lightly fished aside from near the damn.

Kev