Susquehanna River, Susquehanna County, 8/18/12

[Kabutt]

Canoed from Susquehanna Depot to Hallstead with a friend - about 8 miles. We took our good ol' time - on the water about 7am, took out about 8pm. Miles of dead water in this stretch, I wouldn't really recommend this particular float. That being said...

Had an amazing day on the river, and I was into a dozen fish within the first 2 hours. Plenty of action wherever there was moving water. The majority of bass we caught were between 8" and 12" - my largest topping out at around 15". We tried Clousers and rabbit fur streamers, etc., but olive or brown crayfish patterns were by far what they wanted most. Drift, hang, strip, strip... THUD! Between two of us we probably caught close to 50 SMBs. Also caught some of the largest fallfish I've ever seen - up to 18". Even at that size I just can't get much joy from catching one...

Crayfish everywhere; lotsa minnows and giant freshwater clams. Also saw deer crossing the river, dozens of blue and green herons, and at least two bald eagles. Whiteflies and some huge mayfly (hex?) started coming off around 7. Noted a couple larger boils but mostly fallfish and dinks feeding on them. Didn't fish the hatch. I was on the road headed for home by 9, already thinking about next time...

 

[Lonewolve]

Kabutt,
great post great pics too.I prefer the North Branch. I also prefer the Clouser Crayfish,Wooly Buggers,Bucktail streamers,and also poppers. Glad you had a great trip.

 

[afishinado]

Nice!

 

[Kabutt]

Is that what this section is commonly referred to as - the "North Branch"?

 

[afishinado]

Kabutt wrote:
Is that what this section is commonly referred to as - the "North Branch"?

Yup. There are two branches of the Susky - the west and north branch. They meet at Sunbury, and the River is called the mainstem or main branch downstream of there.

The north branch can be followed all the way up into NY State (you were pretty close to NY in Hallstead).

Glad you had some good fishin' up there.

 

[troutbert]

Kabutt wrote:
Is that what this section is commonly referred to as - the "North Branch"?

The official USGS name for it is just the "Susquehanna River", and that is how it is labeled on maps. But it is commonly called the North Branch Susquehanna River.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

Hmm, not often one of spots from up there gets burnt.

Kidding, but really, Hallstead, Susquehanna, and Great Bend were all my stomping grounds about 15 years ago. Some excellent fishing up that way for all species. Especially trout, pickerel and perch.

No trout ? No, not in the Susquehanna, lol

Remember though, that section of river is upstream from Binghamton NY. The river flows into PA for about 15 miles or so then northward back into NY before entering PA again a whole county to the west in Sayre.

I have never posted a stream report from up in that area but it's good to hear someone enjoyed a section of river I used to fish.

By the way, the dam in Susquehanna (the town) only just recently failed. Don't know if you floated from above or below it, but it was destroyed a few years back. Ivan ?

I did see the picture of the tressel so I assume you saw the dam ruins.

Thanks for posting,

Jake

 

[Kabutt]

Cool. I realized where I was geographically, just wondered if this stretch that flows out of NY then back into NY was referred to as the North Branch to distinguish it from the portion that comes back into PA at Sayre.

We put in right in Susquehanna, and had to portage the dam ruins before too long. That's part of the reason I made it a point to say I wouldn't recommend the float. We had to take everything out of the canoe and carry it over the old dam breast which was about ten feet high. 'Twas a bit of a challenge. Definitely a good thing the dam's been breached - lots of nice water above and below.

I would never spot burn a trout stream or somewhere I thought might suffer from my reporting of good fishing. I thought in this case it would be okay. Wading access would involve miles of walking, and floaters are in for miles of paddling between riffles. And, as I mentioned, the portage is a b!tch! Glad my post sparked up a little nostalgia for ya, Jake!

 

[troutbert]

Kabutt wrote:
Cool. I realized where I was geographically, just wondered if this stretch that flows out of NY then back into NY was referred to as the North Branch to distinguish it from the portion that comes back into PA at Sayre.

The informal term "North Branch Susquehanna River" refers to the entire upper Susquehanna River, from its origin to its confluence with the West Branch.

I don't know if that loop has a particular name. You could make one up!

 

[melvinp]

Ran from mahoppeny to tunkhannock a while ago and had the same dead water paddled all day.Didnt have the same luck fishing as you but still had a good day.Thinking of doing a moon cruz next full moon.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

Technically it is just the Susquehanna up there. People down in this part of the state call it the North branch which it is not, however geograghically they would be correct and it helps avoiding confusion when one says north branch as it does flow from Cooperstown NY.

I didn't see your post as a spot burn, I was joking. That entire area up there is like a complete void on the map. It has many natural lakes and nice small streams and clear water that hardly ever sees any anglers. Basically it is a poor area with not much economy and few attractions and not many people pass through the area. But from living up there I know that just about anywhere you take a rod you will find some fish from brookies to bass.

 

[Kabutt]

JakesLeakyWaders wrote:
I didn't see your post as a spot burn, I was joking. That entire area up there is like a complete void on the map. It has many natural lakes and nice small streams and clear water that hardly ever sees any anglers. Basically it is a poor area with not much economy and few attractions and not many people pass through the area.

It's cool man, I didn't take offense. You're right - typical small-town atmosphere. I've been all over PA and I just love driving through all the little towns and communities.

troutbert wrote:
I don't know if that loop has a particular name. You could make one up!

Kinda leaning toward Upper North Branch...

An interesting side note: At one point the river runs past the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration site. You can't see anything from the river... However, this is the place where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe that somewhere in the woods nearby the resurrected St. John the Baptist descended from heaven and bestowed his teachings or some crap upon Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon faith. Aliens?

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

Lol, I know the place.

It's on the north side of the river. Right in between Penn-Can Speed way and a really good ice cream joint outside of Great Bend.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

The "loop" should probably be referred to as the Great Bend, hence the name of the town and township that sits along its north shore. The large area of state game lands to the south is also referred to as the Great Bend state game lands. Typically the whole area is referred to geographically as Great Bend.

The river up there reminds me a lot like lower sections of Pine Creek below Blackwell, it's a much smaller river than the Susquehanna most people know.

 

[Berks]

Thanks for bringing back some memories. Fished that area of the Susquehanna many times about 20 years again when i lived closer (nobody called it the North Branch back then, pretty funny). We fished all day and drank beer at Lakey's at night. Those were the days. I wonder it the fishing is better without the dam slowing the flow.

 

[beeber2]

Nice report. Wow the water looks low.

 

[Kabutt]

JakesLeakyWaders wrote:
The "loop" should probably be referred to as the Great Bend

I dig it. So let it be written...

Berks wrote:
wonder it the fishing is better without the dam slowing the flow.

I think so - there's some nice water above. There's still a lot of sediment behind the dam yet though. One can clearly see how all the rocks are filled in compared to the rest of the river.

beeber2 wrote:
looks low.

I guess it was low-ish, but about normal for this time of year. The pics are taken at weird angles - and from sections where the river is braided around islands so you're not seeing the whole channel...

Bill, I'm ready to pay it forward whenever you are. If you'd be interested in making the trip up there let me know. Probably more of a hike-and-wade game than a float, though.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

There were nice trouts close to your location. I'm quite sure of it.

 

[PJHarrington]

the susky is one of my best places for smalllies down in luzerne county. i have not fished ever up that far but someday maybe i will fish it.

 

[Kabutt]

PJ - I've read your reports on the lower river. Definitely going to have to check it out. This past weekend was my first time on the Susky.