Swatara Creek, Dauphin County, 08/10/19

[Swattie87]

Time Fished: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Weather: Mostly Sunny, a few passing Cumulus. Air Temp low 80’s.
Water: 1.80ft at the Hershey gauge. Perfect Summer fishing flow. Temp 78. Essentially clear, maybe half a shade short.

First time WW fishing in two years with all the high water. (Other than an hour or so after work attempt in conditions far too high last June.) Fished two generally productive stretches around Hummelstown. Fished varying streamers with varying techniques. Skunk. Zero fish caught, zero fish observed. The Smallmouth fishing can be hit or miss sure, but I pounded the shoreline eddies and slack water structure and didn’t turn up a single panfish. This stretch used to be loaded with them. There’d always be days where the Smallmouth fishing was off, but I could always count on picking up quite a few Sunnies in these conditions. No Fallfish either. It’s concerning. Have no idea what’s up. If flows stay down, I’m going to try to get out further upstream to a few of my spots in Lebanon County in the coming weeks and see if that’s any better.

Sporadic Whiteflies coming off all afternoon. Clearly nothing rising to them, though the birds are on them. Crayfish everywhere in the shallows and tons of nymphs (mostly midsize mayflies) in the rocks.

Constant stream of kayaks and tubes. Decent bikini hatch.

Does anyone have any good WW reports from the mid size Susky tribs? Swatara, Conodoguinet, Shermans, Conestoga, lower Penns, etc?

 

[Dave_W]

Swattie87 wrote:
Does anyone have any good WW reports from the mid size Susky tribs? Swatara, Conodoguinet, Shermans, Conestoga, lower Penns, etc?

Been a mixed bag for me on the tribs - mostly below average.

Please check your PM...

 

[Mwheaps32]

Fished lower Penn's today only caught a half dozen over some good water. I'm just as stumped as everyone as to how slow the fishing has been.

 

[afishinado]

Swattie87 wrote:


...Does anyone have any good WW reports from the mid size Susky tribs? Swatara, Conodoguinet, Shermans, Conestoga, lower Penns, etc?

I've fished the lower Susky MS & two tribs, the Pequea and Conestoga, and caught nothing or next to nothing. Plus poor SMB fishing on the Brandywine close to home.

Can't explain it now that the flow is getting down to near normal levels. The only unusual happening in the last few years is the high water. How and why high flows would cause really good smallie populations (from 2017) to decrease so sharply is a mystery to me.

No doubt the YOY population from the last two spawns took a hit, but there should be plenty of adult bass in the Susky MS and tribs.

I'm still holding out hope that the fish are still there, but that hope is fading.

 

[Mike]

I don't profess to know anything about the havitat at Swattie's fishing location on the Swatara, but with the Swatara flooding over the past two summers, especially two summers ago, I am wondering if sediment deposition has diminished or wrecked habitat quality at that fishing location. Has the water been clear enough recently to observe this or shallow enough to wade around and see the situation, because that is what it takes.

As for the Conestoga and Pequea, there is a lot of dead water when it comes to SMB populations and sometimes the good or at least better habitat is only 100 yds long before you get into another stretch of dead water. This is true in large part in the lower Conestoga below Mkllersville. There is generally better habitat between Muddy Ck and Cocalico Ck., but larger fish from at least Lancaster downstream or from the first dam above Rt 23 downstream through Lancaster. You will find SMB from Muddy Ck upstream to at least Churchtown, but numbers don't match those below Muddy Ck. I would also suggest checking lower Muddy Ck itself. SMB year class strength in 2017 was ok for the Conestoga.

As for tribs to the Conestoga, the lower Cocalico has impressive locations as does parts of lower Mill Ck from generally Rt 772 or Muddy Run downstream. I would not necessarily pass up

Pequea generally has more better SMB habitat in the lower few miles, but above the river's backwater influence. SMB naturally are present up to Rt 741, but fingerling stockings may have now successfully created a reproducing population from Rt 741 to New Holland. They apparently did around Rt 896 at Ronks/Strasburg. The very lower Pequea, however, has generally fair SMB reproduction.

As for the lower Susquehanna, it is a bit early to declare the season a dud and then to speculate why. Even in the distant past (1980's) July was not always a good month there. Traditionally, fall was the best. In some years we would have what locals considered to be large kills of post-spawning adults followed by poor summer fishing only to have the fishing turn on in late summer and fall. Everyone quickly forgot about the spring die-offs.

 

[Swattie87]

Mike - I fished from Main St. up to the Beaver Creek confluence, and around the Duke St. bridge. Neither had significant sediment deposition. The Main St. stretch was essentially unchanged. The Duke St. section had an improvement in habitat IMO.

 

[afishinado]

Mike wrote:
I don't profess to know anything about the havitat at Swattie's fishing location on the Swatara, but with the Swatara flooding over the past two summers, especially two summers ago, I am wondering if sediment deposition has diminished or wrecked habitat quality at that fishing location. Has the water been clear enough recently to observe this or shallow enough to wade around and see the situation, because that is what it takes.

As for the Conestoga and Pequea, there is a lot of dead water when it comes to SMB populations and sometimes the good or at least better habitat is only 100 yds long before you get into another stretch of dead water. This is true in large part in the lower Conestoga below Mkllersville. There is generally better habitat between Muddy Ck and Cocalico Ck., but larger fish from at least Lancaster downstream or from the first dam above Rt 23 downstream through Lancaster. You will find SMB from Muddy Ck upstream to at least Churchtown, but numbers don't match those below Muddy Ck. I would also suggest checking lower Muddy Ck itself. SMB year class strength in 2017 was ok for the Conestoga.

As for tribs to the Conestoga, the lower Cocalico has impressive locations as does parts of lower Mill Ck from generally Rt 772 or Muddy Run downstream. I would not necessarily pass up

Pequea generally has more better SMB habitat in the lower few miles, but above the river's backwater influence. SMB naturally are present up to Rt 741, but fingerling stockings may have now successfully created a reproducing population from Rt 741 to New Holland. They apparently did around Rt 896 at Ronks/Strasburg. The very lower Pequea, however, has generally fair SMB reproduction.

As for the lower Susquehanna, it is a bit early to declare the season a dud and then to speculate why. Even in the distant past (1980's) July was not always a good month there. Traditionally, fall was the best. In some years we would have what locals considered to be large kills of post-spawning adults followed by poor summer fishing only to have the fishing turn on in late summer and fall. Everyone quickly forgot about the spring die-offs.

I fished in the good habitat areas that have yielded good SMB fishing in the past on the tribs I fished.

Fishing on MS of the Susky has been slow by all accounts. As I have written earlier the Susky, the J, the Delaware and their bigger tribs have not fished well this summer. No doubt the high and murky water conditions on all rivers and streams have had an effect on fishing success so far.

I agree that it's too early to declare populations are off this year and fishing is dismal. 2017 was one of the best river smallie years I can recall in a long time on the Susky. I hold hope that as the rivers clear up a bit and hits lower, normal flow and the rivers will begin to fish well.

 

[SteveG]

The Conodoguinet has been terrible for me, same with the Breeches at the mouth of the river. I have observed very few adult bass and fallfish, and nearly no yoy.

On the upside, I was having brunch at Rock Bass Grill this afternoon, and observed a number of large bass, and plenty of yoy, while shoveling eggs benedict in my face. I think the extremely high flows may have had a detrimental impact on the spawn on the smaller creeks. While a bummer, things will bounce back.

 

[jdh2550]

Fished the Swatty stretch from Keller Field to N. Duke St bridge today. Caught 5 small mouth in 3 hours. Much less productive than in years past. All fish were under 9 inches. Less structure than I remember from 2017, but that is due to the heavy flood stage flows we had last year.

Clouser Foxee Red is a fantastic pattern for the Swatty between Leb. Co. and the river. Get them deep and keep them there for best results.

 

[Prospector]

Lots of comments in many different threads regarding smallmouth bass fishing being terrible. I have a coworker with a camp close to the Clarion River and he has only caught 3 SMB in 3 trips (8” range). In addition, one of my closest friends is a former charter Capt on Lake Erie (so tons of experience). He now directs most of his personal time on Lake Erie toward SMB. He caught only 1 SMB in Lake Erie in July (18”) and only caught a handful in June. Did well on very large sheepshead while searching for bass. Biggest sheepshead he’s ever seen and they’ve been plentiful. Walleyes are also very strong up there in bass depths.

So it’s not only the main SMB streams but Lake Erie is trending the same way this year. Doesn’t make much sense though.

 

[moon1284]

First I've heard of bad SMB fishing on Erie. The eastern end of the lake has been business as usual from those I know who fish it.

 

[sarce]

My dad has been reporting great action on the brandywine this summer...wonder if the high flows just means they're farther upstream in some of these creeks than usual? I haven't personally chased smallmouths yet this year.

 

[Prospector]

moon1284 wrote:
First I've heard of bad SMB fishing on Erie. The eastern end of the lake has been business as usual from those I know who fish it.

This was out near the PA NY line. I haven’t gone with him much over the last 5 years but he’s not had any good days during that time. Between 6 & 10 years ago we would go 5-6 times a summer. We’d get there at 2pm on a Saturday, be fishing by 3 and quit at dark. The norm was 40-50 SMB combined with a total catch between 65 and 85 counting walleye, sheepshead, rock bass, perch and silver bass.

 

[afishinado]

sarce wrote:
My dad has been reporting great action on the brandywine this summer...wonder if the high flows just means they're farther upstream in some of these creeks than usual? I haven't personally chased smallmouths yet this year.

I fish the Brandywine quite a bit for smallies, it's my "home" stream. I fish both the east and west branches as well as the upper mainstem. I really haven't had a lot of success on the B-Wine with smallies, numbers or size so far this summer.

I haven't fished the B-wine in a couple of weeks, since I've been checking out the Susky tribs and the main river. When the Susky gets down to a good level, I find it worth a little extra drive to fish the big river. I generally hit the B-Wine when fishing time is short and I need to stay close to home.

Hopefully the smallie fishing will improve everywhere late summer into fall.

 

[sarce]

Afish, my dad fishes the west branch - like you, just quick trips when he doesn't have much time. He has told me it's the best he's experienced in years. We both gave up on east branch smallies about 5 years ago. They became few and far between, at least at our usual spots. Never fished the main branch much.

 

[afishinado]

sarce wrote:
Afish, my dad fishes the west branch - like you, just quick trips when he doesn't have much time. He has told me it's the best he's experienced in years. We both gave up on east branch smallies about 5 years ago. They became few and far between, at least at our usual spots. Never fished the main branch much.

Thanks for the info.

You know how fishing is....good days and bad ones for no apparent reason.

It may very well be right place wrong time, or wrong place right time.....I'll just keep trying.

Having fun anyway trying to figure things out, but we all know we never really do.

Most times we just blunder into things, and believe we solved the puzzle, only to get skunked on the next trip out and end up back to square one....lol.

Thanks again.

 

[Mike]

A refresher on the East Br vs the WBr, plus some other ww streams for comparison re SMB catch per hour of electrofishing (wading)...

https://pfbc.pa.gov/images/fisheries/afm/2009/6x10_16ww.htm

And then check out the Conestoga and Cocalico...

https://pfbc.pa.gov/images/reports/2013bio/6x12_19wwstreams.pdf

 

[lprudente]

Afish/Sarce,

I too have been fishing the West Branch lately and have been doing well (by my standards). Agree that the East Branch has not been fishing well, curious to hear how you have been doing on the upper main stem. Finally have caught fish on poppers this year, mainly at dusk. Thanks for your input.

 

[afishinado]

lprudente wrote:
Afish/Sarce,

I too have been fishing the West Branch lately and have been doing well (by my standards). Agree that the East Branch has not been fishing well, curious to hear how you have been doing on the upper main stem. Finally have caught fish on poppers this year, mainly at dusk. Thanks for your input.

I've only fished the upper MS once this season just below the junction of the WB & EB at Shaw's Bridge Park. I didn't do well at all, but that was in July when the water was up a bit. The stream seems to getting worse each year with sediment on the bottom. Last season I didn't fish it hardly at all with all the high water. In 2017 the B-Wine was decent, but nothing to write home about. The Susky fished so well two years ago, I found it worth to just drive there instead to get my smallie fix.

 

[lprudente]

Afish,

I hear you, it's never been much to write home about but it's close so there is that. Hoping to do the Susky in September from a canoe.