Susquehanna at Columbia, 9/28/2007

[Woolybugger]

I fished the Susky today from 5pm till 7pm, just before the rain. The river had a lot of weeds and was clear, but it had a stink to it!
Not one hit, no signs of fish....... except I spooked a carp! LOL No cormorants, no fish hawks, no signs of life at all.
Returning to the shore, I looked for the millions of crayfish but couldn't see one! No fry and no minnows.
Something is wrong with the lower Susquehanna. Upstream of Harrisburg there is bait in the water and some fish, but downstream around Wrightsville, it seems to be dead. They used to stock some small channel cats in the river around Wrightsville, but no cats tonight! I guess it's too polluted for even the stinkin' catfish.
So sad. A few years ago that was a great spot for bass on buggers at twilight. Now just a memory. Looks like I have to go way upstream of Harrisburg to catch any bass on a long rod.
Can't wait for the trout next week.
PS - Maurice, let's do some smallmouth fishing around Wrightsville. Just bring a cloths pin to put on your nose to keep the smell from the polluted water from making you sick........ and maybe rubber gloves might be a good thing!
I've got to take another shower with strong soap....... I think I may have touched the polluted water.

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[martinlf]

Yeah, had a similar experience near Bainbridge this summer. Bob Clouser thinks it's partly all the fertilizer accumulating in the downstream end of the river. Others have mentioned the many aging and outdated sewage treatment plants upriver. It's a sin that something isn't being done.