Susquehanna Fishing Magazine

Magazine
Susquehanna Fishing
July 2011
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ESCAPE
THE
GRASP
OF
LAND
GET OFF THE BEACH AND OUT TO THE FISH.
Whether you’ve spotted fish crashing bait beyond the breakers, or want to reach a promising tidal flat
boiling with activity, the spots begging for your cast always seem to be out of reach. Until now. Pioneers
of the sit-on-top, Ocean Kayak tailored it for fishing situations just like these—when it’s time to close the
distance between you and the pescados in a hurry. We know the bite won’t last long, so every fishing kayak
we build is swift, stable and outfitted to get you into the fish, wherever they decide to show up.
Contents
July 2011
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine, LLC
13 York Road
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Monthly Sections
Phone:
570-441-4606
4
Special Interest...........................L. Morris
Do Those Hawgs Know Something...
On the web:
http://susquehannafishing.com/
6
Kayak Fishing................................J. Oast
Kayak Fishing is a Drag!
Email:
[email protected]
7
Profiles
Rod Bates
Publisher: John King Oast, Jr.
11
Reports....................................L. Dunham
This Month...
18
Hints & Tips..............................B. Wilhelm
Selecting a Fishing Hat
Initial Issue Release: February, 2010
Coverage: Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania
(Susquehanna River Regions)
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine is a free
publication funded by participating advertisers.
It covers the entire Susquehanna River regions
of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and
helps to inform anglers about the most
productive angling techniques, while promoting
safety and responsible stewardship of the river.
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine, LLC and its
contributors always recommend using caution
whenever around the water. Always wear a
personal floatation device, and practice
responsible behavior when on the water.
Feature Articles
14
Feature Article.........................W. Milheim
Live Bait
16
Feature Article..........................B. Wilhelm
What Structure, When
Cover: The often overlooked rock bass.
Photo by John Oast
SFM content and submissions do not reflect
the opinion of Susquehanna Fishing Magazine,
LLC.
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
3
Special Interest...
Do Those Hawgs Know Something You’ve Forgotten?
By Lynda Morris
You’ve tuned up and detailed the boat, you’ve filled your tackle box with every possible shape,
size, color, and presentation of bait and tackle, you’ve relined all your rods, you’ve even pulled up all
the notes from previous years to determine patterns – you’re ready to hit the water, right? Well not
necessarily!
Knowledge and experience definitely play a key role in landing those big bronzebacks,
however anglers should always be mindful of the many changes that take place in the environment
from year to year, and this includes changing patterns. This year the Susquehanna has experienced
very high water levels, which should tell the avid angler that structure has moved and likely so have
the fish. Bass are “structure oriented” and “ambush” fish. They are going to seek out the best
vantage points to lay in wait for their next meal – so when their structure moves, so will they. Other
factors to keep in mind are things like water quality. Some banks experienced changes in PH levels,
due to iron-ore flowing out from creeks when the water levels went up, while other areas normally
known to hold bass have remained abandoned, because even though the structure hasn’t moved,
that “ambush vantage point” won’t work, because of those higher water levels.
Don’t abandon “known patterns” and years of experience, but at the same time, don’t forget to
keep in mind environmental changes around you and be prepared to possibly alter your known
pattern just enough to match those changes. For example, you’re fishing a lake where bass normally
would pull into the 8 to 10 foot depths to feed… and they’re not! Your graph is showing them at what
appears to be suspended in the 12 to 16 foot depth. You wait for them to pull in, but they don’t. Now
the question begs, did you do your homework before leaving on your fishing trip? Did you make a
mental note that the water level in that lake is up 4 feet? The fish moved in, but due the higher water
levels, they moved in from the 16 to 20 foot areas, up “to” the 12 to 16 foot areas, and it can be those
silly little things that can make or break a good day or night on the water.
Three of the best tools you can have in your fishing arsenal are; 1) a good contour map of
the water you’re fishing, 2) keeping a regular eye on hydrological changes through websites such as
NOAA, and 3) one of your most invaluable tools, the right mind-set! Which brings us to yet another
important dynamic to remember when re-introducing and re-educating yourself to a new season of
angling…
When anglers move into the tournament circuits (and we see this quite often), there’s an
almost immediate change in mindset from fishing-for-fun to catching-for-dollars. Fishing (and by
default catching) is an almost academic process; a process of elimination. In order to be able to
successfully eliminate those areas that don’t hold the fish, you have to know (through practice and
research) which areas “do” hold fish. Once you’ve changed your mindset towards focusing on
productive areas, you’ll find those frustrating “fishing days” will become “productive catching days”.
Remember, about 80% of the fish are going to be in about 20% of the water, and these few simple
tips can help you narrow down areas the fish are more likely to be. Remember, measuring your
ability as an angler by your catches does nothing more than feed and encourage frustration. If you
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
4
absolutely must place yourself on your own “dink board”, then measure yourself by your willingness
to be flexible enough to change right alongside of those ever-changing patterns, your willingness to
educate yourself on the waterways you are fishing, and especially, your own mindset.
So before you get so frustrated that you find yourself selling your boat and putting all your gear
and tackle on eBay or Craigslist, remember, fish “school” all the time… so do your homework, and
stay at the head of the class!
Tight Lines!
Interested in learning more about the Suskie Bassmasters? Visit our website at:
http://www.suskiebassmasters.org.
Help ‘Reel in the Cure’ for breast cancer, by supporting “Pink Fishing” at:
http://www.pinkfishing.com
Looking for a wonderfully balanced rod that provides exceptional performance and sensitivity?
Denali Rods has them reasonably priced at: http://www.denalirods.com
And for quality custom made baits: Backwater Custom Baits at: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzey34im/
backwatercustombaits2/index.html
Or, you can contact me at: [email protected]
Fish for fun, fish for the challenge, fish for health… common denominator, fish!
Kayak Fishing...
Kayak Fishing is a Drag!
By John “Toast” Oast
A kayak is a great tool for any angler. Not only is it an easy, affordable, healthy, and
environmentally friendly way to get to the fish, it may also aid in landing a fish. I often use lighter
weight rods and line when fishing from a kayak than I do from a larger powerboat or from shore. The
reason is that the kayak itself acts as a drag system when fighting a fish.
Many kayak anglers refer to the towing action when being pulled by a sizable fish as a “sleigh
ride”. In addition to the thrill of being towed by a fish, the mobility of the kayak allows the angler the
ability to stay in close proximity to a fish during a more lengthy fight. In contrast, heavier gear may be
needed to land a similar sized fish from a larger vessel or shore, due to the static nature of the angler.
In other words, the angler must remain relatively stationary while fighting the fish. Since the angler
may not be able to move with the fish, such heavier gear may be necessary to avoid line breakage or
spooling.
The only downside is that a kayak angler
may be towed into a less desirable location
during the fight. This may be into a channel with
oncoming boat traffic, into swift current or even
whitewater conditions, or into structure that may
cause a fish to break off more easily or be hazardous to the paddler. So, always know your
surroundings when fishing from a kayak, and
always carry a knife, just in case you need to cut
your line in an emergency situation.
The author with a recent kayak smallie.
So, you’re thinking, “I don’t catch fish big
enough to tow me!” Well, honestly it doesn’t take
a massive fish to be able to reposition a kayak.
I have been towed by plenty of largemouth and
smallmouth bass. And if you hook into a decent
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
6
catfish, carp, or musky on the Susquehanna, hold on and enjoy the ride!
Paddle safe, and always wear your PFD!!!
John “Toast” Oast is the publisher of Susquehanna Fishing Magazine and a member of the Johnson
Outdoors Pro Staff and Ocean Kayak Fishing Team. His kayak rigging videos have received
thousands of views, and been linked to websites around the world. For more information, visit
http://fishyaker.com/ and his Youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/fishyaker.
Profiles...
Profile with Rod Bates of Koinonia Guide Services
How long have you been fishing in the region?
I have fished this region all my life. My parents have pictures of me fishing in diapers. I really started
fishing the river by myself when I got my driver’s license. My dog and I would spend countless hours
in my 14 foot flat bottom boat with my Johnson 9.9 horsepower outboard.
Who was the greatest influence upon your getting interested in angling?
My parents were my greatest influence to getting me started in angling as well as hunting.
FISH
CALVERT COUNTY
Our knowledgeable captains offer an experience you will not forget
as you sh for striped bass, blueesh, black drum, ounder, perch and more.
www.ecalvert.com 800.331.8771
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
7
Who is your favorite person to fish with?
My wife is my favorite person to fish with,
although she does not join me as often as I like.
What is your preferred style of fishing, fly or
conventional?
I prefer to fish with conventional tackle in lieu
of fly rods. Part of the reason would be I have
never learned how to fish properly with a fly rod.
The other reason is most of the time we can be
much more productive on the river with
conventional tackle.
What is your favorite species to target?
Wow, I have been so blessed to be able to take groups fishing to Venezuela, Costa Rica and Alaska.
I have caught Rooster Fish, Sharks, Halibut, Salmon, Peacock Bass and many other species, but I
would have to say my favorite is the smallmouth bass, probably because that is what I most fish for
and love there tenacity.
Where is the most memorable place you have ever fished?
The most memorable place I have ever fished is Alaska. I am blessed that we have a great group of
clientele at Koinonia Guide Service that enables me to take a group to Alaska every year. The
fishing is great with a large variety of delicious eating fish with large numbers of fish and some
really big ones as well. The largest King Salmon our group has ever caught is 74 pound and our
largest Halibut is 245 pounds. You can’t help but be in awe of God’s wonderful creation when you are
in Alaska.
What is your favorite place to fish? (Without burning your favorite spot)
My favorite place to fish would be out of the Ft. Hunter Access in the Susquehanna River. This
location provides rapids, ledges, flats, grass and islands all from one location.
What is your favorite time of year to fish?
We fish year-round, as long as the river is not frozen, but my favorite month would probably be April.
This is when the weather first starts to break and the fish are aggressive. The problem is that the
river can be very fluid this time of year, with lots of fluctuation in depth and flow.
What places would you like to someday fish?
I would like to someday fish the Amazon River.
What was a highlight in your fishing over the past year?
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
8
Our guide business allows us to help families create memories that will last a lifetime. I had several
trips this past year with father/son and Grandfather/Grandson and they all had special highlights.
What was the best battle you have ever had with a fish?
I caught a 60 pound King Salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska out of a drift boat.
What was your best day ever on the water?
I have 4 special days that come to mind. Two separate trips with my daughters, Kristen and
Britney. A day on Lake Guri in Venezuela, when I set 4 fresh water line class world records and the
4th is a day several years ago when a grandfather and his grandson boated over 100 smallies on the
Susquehanna River.
How do you prepare for a day on the water?
I check my rods, reels and line, and repair or replace as necessary. I restock my PLANO Tackle
Systems, and I call and get a river and weather report. I also pre-fish prior to any guide trip to make
sure I have fish located for the client.
How do you adapt to a slow day on the water?
I thank God every time I get on the water for giving me the time, the ability, and the opportunity to
enjoy his wonderful creation, no matter how good or how bad the fishing. Should the fishing be bad,
then I change locations, lures, colors, retrieves, and how I present the lure. Most times something will
work, but if it does not, then I try to learn something anyway.
What are some of your must-have items when you go fishing?
Items I must have are YUM Craw Papi’s, Booyah Spinnerbaits, YUM Tubes and XCALIBUR Twitch
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
9
Baits.
Do you have any fishing superstitions?
I do not have any fishing superstitions, and I enjoy every opportunity that God gives me to go fishing.
What recommendations would you give anglers in the Susquehanna River region?
Learn how to fish spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and jigs. Always be prepared to change lures, tactics and
locations. Do not spend more than 20 minutes in a spot, unless you are catching fish.
What do you think about the future of fishing in the Susquehanna River region?
The fishing is currently good for quality fish south of Sunbury, but the numbers are down. The new
catch and release regulations should allow more anglers a shot at a 6 pound Smallmouth. We need
to get DEP and the EPA to improve our water quality, and get the federal government to do something
about all the cormorants. I am very concerned about the Marcellus shale industry and possible contamination of our water ways.
So, what are your plans for the future?
Watch our fishing videos, see all the
options, and find your Susquehanna
region dealer at www.nucanoe.com.
Or give us a call at 888.226.6310
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
10
I plan to continue guiding, doing seminars, and
promoting fishing to our youth. I also want to promote
the outdoors in general to the public and encourage
families to enjoy God’s wonderful creation together.
Any parting thoughts for the readers?
I want to encourage everyone to take a kid fishing. It is
a wonderful, wholesome activity that families can enjoy
together, no matter what their skill set is. I also want to
encourage everyone, no matter what their political
affiliation, to support our troops. These men and
women make a tremendous sacrifice to protect the
freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. Please take
every opportunity that you get to enjoy God’s wonderful
creation and remember to thank him for it.
Visit Rod Bates and the Koinonia Guide Services at:
http://www.koinoniafishingguides.com/
Special Interest...
This Month With A Susquehanna Fishing Guide
By Lance Dunham
This month has been super busy with fishing, at last! I’m starting to get caught up with double
charters each day, because of all the high water earlier in the year that made me reschedule charters.
I got behind in posting customer photos and updating my “Daily Newsletter” on my web site… Sorry
about that folks, I’m working at it now. I’m up at 4:30am and don’t get home until 9:00pm. It sure
makes the month go fast, and I’m very happy to be able to do it! My wife hasn’t had to cook super for
me in quite a while… Hope she doesn’t forget how. Okay, just kidding Dear!
While it’s fresh in my mind, I want to tell you about a new experience TV host Alan Probst and I
had this month. I may as well start at the beginning. Alan approached me at his outdoor expo in
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
11
Jauary about doing a fishing tournament. I was never a big fan of tournaments, but I had never done
one and wanted to have the new experience. Alan had never been in one before either, so neither
one of us knew what to expect. Alan graciously invited me to stay at his log home and office during
the tournament, because the tourney was only an hour away from there. His home is a huge
building, to say the least, and I got a tour while I was there. His editing room was impressive, with
four computers running all at once, doing separate things to make a TV show happen. There is a
product room with samples from his sponsors used to make commercials and another being rebuilt
for a studio. His home is an outdoorsman’s dream, with wildlife mounts all over the place, (It could
use a few fish reproduction mounts Alan). Honey, can I have one? However, his schedule and
responsibilities to his sponsors is one that I could never keep up with.
I picked up Alan at his home early on Friday to prefish the immediate area of the tourney, and
to find the river channels where I could get through without crashing my boat, which I needed to guide
with on Monday. We drove another hour and found the access where we would be fishing the next
day. The smiling tournament director met us there by some barricades closing off the Public Access.
“Sorry, but we closed the access today because we didn’t want boats here to interfere with our setting
up.” With the public access closed, we couldn’t prefish. That’s strike one in my mind, and we knew
we were doomed from the start. Not wanting to cause any trouble, we just smiled and said okay, but
it would have been nice to have the chance to prefish. I mentioned, “Maybe you could have let us
know.” He responded, “Well we put it in the paper.” And they did, the local paper there, which neither
one of us has in our area. An e-mail is the way to go these days.
So we went back to Alan’s place, and at
the required time of 3:30am we were back to
get checked in. After check-in Alan backed me
and the boat into the river in the total
darkness and Alan went off to park the truck.
In the dark, Alan parks in the wrong place (who
could see!), and a staff guy tells me to move
it. Okay, no problem, so I hop in and proceed
down the road and come up to a bunch of
trucks with boat trailers and I park with them.
The same guy comes down in the dark and
tells me again we’re in the wrong parking
spot! Now my patience is being tested. I tell
the staffer that I parked with all the other boat
trailers. “Well this is for staff members only”
he says. “We’ve been here since 2:00AM.”
“Hmmm, are you guys also fishing in the
tourney?” I asked. He responds, “Yes, some
of us are.” Again, I ask, “Are you all here?” He
says, “Yes we are, with his voice
becoming louder.” My next response was,
“Then it’s okay for us to park here, since there
is room and we’re not taking anyone’s place.”
He spit and sputtered and finally said, “Then at
least turn it around and point your truck in the
same direction as ours’”. Not knowing
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
12
why, I did as commanded. Strike two against this tourney thing in my mind. Noticing that I had kept
calm and took the guy’s harassment, while laughing, Alan said “we can leave at any time, if we
wanted to.” Nope, this was a new experience, and I was going to see it through.
The fog was thick, but the guys that knew the channels went off out of sight at the start,
leaving us and the guys with propellers in the slow waters. We ended up catching only nine fish, with
me catching a nice big smallie. That fish, come to find out, would have made the cut and placed us to
fish the finals the next day. Yes, the fishing was that poor. We knew that it would be about the same
scenario the next day, we were bored, a little aggravated, and we both had things we could be doing
tomorrow. I knew that Alan was swamped with work to do and so was I. The rules stated that the first
flight of twenty five boats had to be in for weigh in no later than 1:30pm. The second flight, which we
were in, had to be in no later than 1:40pm. We decided to call it quits at 1:00pm and go home.
We go in, only to find that they won’t weigh anyone in before 1:30pm. So we wait until 1:30pm,
and I get in the back of the line for one of only ten official weigh in bags they had. “What’s your boat
number?” the staffer asked. And I responded. “Sorry you can’t get weighed in before 1:40pm, and
you can’t get your boat out of the water until after every fish has been weighed.” There were empty
bags to be had, and all the first flight had been weighed in. “Strike three and you’re out of there,” I
thought. But it was their tourney and I had to abide by their rules, even though they were not written
down as such. These are the unwritten things that maybe a seasoned tourney angler might already
have known. And if we had known there wouldn’t be any prefishing allowed from that access the
day before, or the hassle of parking, or any of the rest, I doubt if we would have signed up in the first
place.
There were many boats that didn’t catch any qualifying bass at all, so you only had to catch
one qualifying bass to go on the next day, and we had one. While sitting in our boat, waiting with all
the rest of the contestants, we got to talking with them and they were all great guys. To me that was
the best part of the tourney, except for joking with Alan all day. Since we were not planning to come
back the next day, I told the guys that I might as well release my bass and not bother with the stress
of weigh-in for it, and possibly give another boat that wants to come back the opportunity to do so.
They all said “Don’t do it, you may do better tomorrow.” I looked at Alan, and he agreed to release
it. I took it out of the live well, held it up for my new friends to see and released it back into the river
to their amazement. Catch-and-Release guys, that’s my game. Some guys love the fast pace of
tourney competition fishing, but it was obvious that it just wasn’t our game. We prefer the peace and
solitude while fishing the river and enjoying nature’s beauty around it…
Such as the quiet of the morning, watching the deer coming to the river to drink, the sweet
smell of the wild flowers on the bank, or just the smell of the water alone, without the exhaust fumes
of fifty boats mixed with it.
Last week I saw my first albino grey squirrel, pink eyes and all, and as I took some photos of it
I wondered how it got to adulthood, when predators could see it so well. I also saw my first swans on
the river this month. As I was taking photos of the pair, one of them fluffed up its plumage, as if to say
“that’s quite close enough”. I guess I was meant to be a fishing guide, because tourney fishing just
isn’t my style, and I’m okay with that.
Well that’s all for this month. For further reports, photos, and charter information, please visit
me at my web site at www.ldguideservice.com. Good fishing in any form you choose and I’ll see you
on the river.
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
13
Feature Article...
Live Bait
By William Milheim
We’ve come a long way, if you have been following along with the elements of fishing article
series, from weather to selecting artificial bait. This month we’ll look into live bait and how to collect it
along the river.
“Natural” or “live” bait comes in many forms, and most will attract the fish you are after. Our
target fish will be the smallmouth bass. Most live bait will attract a smallmouth. In regards to worms,
most of the garden variety will work just fine. Minnows, leeches, crawfish, stone fly nymphs, mad
toms grass hoppers, and crickets all work well also.
When I was a kid I laughed at a man who was buying night crawlers at a bait shop. I thought it
was odd that he would purchase something so abundant, as well as easy and fun to catch. Often my
farther and I would go down to the river with no bait. We would spend some time gathering what we
could find along the banks and in the water, then go fishing. Times have changed, but the use of live
bait remains relatively unchanged.
A lot of lessons were taught by my father on those evenings along the river collecting bait.
While holding an insect, I’d ask “Have you ever
caught a bass on this?” He would always
answer, “Hook it up and see.” I‘ve caught bass
on slugs, beetles, tent caterpillars, whatever I
could find, either on the shore or in the water.
Care must be taken while hunting bait,
either in the water or on land. Some insects are
sticky, like slugs, and others may bite. Turning
over rocks to find bait can be a frightening
experience, from huge fishing spiders to
coiled-up snakes.
As I said, you can’t go wrong with worms
for bait. Any fish in the river will eat a worm.
One way to harvest worms is with a shovel.
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
14
Turn over the soil and pick the worms out. On a rainy night, head out
with a flashlight and look for night crawlers. I prefer night crawlers (night
walkers). They are a longer and beefier worm. Rainy nights are the
best, as the rain fills up their holes and they come to the surface. They
are very quick to go back in their hole if they feel your footsteps or if you
shine your light on them for too long. After a dozen or so you will get in
the grove and be a night crawler picker. Make sure that you put them in
good soil and keep the soil moist. A damp rag overtop the soil will keep
them for a long time.
Minnows are a good choice to entice almost every fish in the river.
I use a minnow trap, which you can purchase at any sporting goods store.
I bait the trap with a rolled up ball of bread. Throw the trap in water
where you see good sized minnows, wait an hour or so and pull it up.
Keeping minnows alive until you fish or while you are fishing is a bit more
complicated. They take some effort on your part. Captured minnows will
not live long without oxygen. Either keep them in a minnow bucket in the
water at all times, or purchase a portable aerator to give them that much needed oxygen.
Leeches are great bait for smallmouth… I admit, I do purchase leeches. I’ve never found a
spot where I could harvest them where they are as big and long as store bought ones. Leeches do
well in the container they are sold in, provided the water is on the cool side. Try to keep the container
out of the sun. They will not live if they are subjected to water temperature changes. They do well in
a refrigerator.
I use a stream net to collect stone fly nymphs, mad toms, and hellgrammites. The net is three
feet wide and three feet high. Place the net in moving water. Have a buddy move upstream from the
net and start turning over rocks. Every now and then pull up the net to collect your harvest.
Mad Toms (stone cats) are a small catfish that I catch using a stream net in fast water, turning
over rocks in the front of the net. Mad toms are excellent smallmouth bait. They can be kept like
minnows. Be aware that they have pointed barbs on their pectoral and dorsal fins that will give a
painful puncture wound.
Stone fly nymphs and hellgrammites can be kept like minnows as well, and caught using a
stream net. Hellgrammites are excellent bait. I have yet to see a smallmouth pass up a mite. Stone
flies are great bait also. They can be kept with minnows, and like the minnows, they need oxygen to
stay alive. Keeping your hellgrammites in a minnow bucket with an aerator will work, but they love
to fight each other. If you keep them in water, use a clean piece of balled up burlap, and put it in the
water, this provides them cover. Hellgrammites can be kept out of water as well, just wet and wring
out a piece of burlap and place them in. Be very careful with a hellgrammite, they love to pinch.
Crayfish you can either collect by walking along the shore or with a net. Either way it’s best to
turn over rocks in the water. Remember, they also pinch. Crawfish will keep in a minnow bucket with
an aerator.
I spend a lot of time collecting and keeping bait. I still find it fun. I don’t have the large
quantities of bait on hand as I did when I was a kid. I do find myself re-living those nights along the
river collecting bait and learning about the world around us.
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
15
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different live baits. You would
be surprised at what a fish will eat. Remember, fish are opportunistic
feeders, they can’t wait for their meal to arrive in a white Styrofoam
container.
Next month we will be looking into the most important element of
fishing, bait presentation.
Bill Milheim has been fishing and guiding the North Brach of the
Susquehanna River for over 25 years.
The author and his buddy, Scott Baker, collecting a day’s bait.
Feature Article...
What Structure, When
By Bryan Wilhelm
Fishing is a great sport. For each season there are many things that you can count on.
This article reviews those aquatic features which we call “structures” and will help the reader to
understand when one should look for fish holding on each of them.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are different, but they have several things in common.
•
They follow their prey (food)
•
They move about in regular, predictable ways (seasonal movements)
•
They hide from predators
•
Although they feed little each day, they can be made to bite almost anytime
Susquehanna Fishing Magazine - July 2011
16
The characteristics they share help fisherman
know where to look and what presentation or
methods to use. What follows are a few of those
locations and methods.
Winter is a time of rest. Much of the bass
population will be collected in what is known as a
“winter-over place” (a winter hole). Because the
females have to feed to nurture their eggs, this is a
time to catch big fish. Find their winter holes and
you have an opportunity to catch the biggest fish
of the season. Look for main river depths that
provide a break from the current. It can be as
simple as upstream from a big rock, to
downstream from a ledge. Manmade structures,
like bridge pillars and abutments, are prime spots.
The author, Bryan Wilhelm.
Use tube lures and hair jigs. Remember, these fish carry next year’s spawn. Enjoy the sport, but
catch and release on the spot.
Spring is a time for renewal. Both basses move to the shallows. They migrate along structure
as the movement progresses. Think big picture… They may follow a long ledge across the main river
to an esker (a rock strewn point). Smallmouth bass will show up first, but can be allusive, as they
move in and out depending on wind, weather and water levels. If you find a shallow point with sand
and gravel with deep water close by, mark that spot. If fish are not there, check back on your spots
later and often while fishing. Largemouth can use these same points, but will likely be on wood or
rock features in shallow water. Both like sand and gravel. Smallmouth bass prefer big chunk rock,
broken rock, and well graded gravel (stones of differing sizes). They can hold on a one foot rock like
a trout, but three foot boulders are bronzeback magnets. Largemouth bass like to be out of the
current and have limited access to their nest. Stumps, shoreline, boulders, discarded tires, and other
features hold largemouth.
Summer follows the spawn all the way into fall. Both of the basses like edges. Shorelines,
the surface, and confluence areas (where two rivers or currents meet) are some of these edges. The
predominate cover is grass. Grass holds food. Aquatic insects use these grasses to transition into
adults and carry out their propagation rituals. Minnows follow the bugs, and the bass follow the
minnows. Crayfish are also present in the grass. Learn to fish the grass. When the grass is below
the surface, try a spinner bait. It allows you to cover ground quickly. When emergent (the grass is up
to the surface), try the edges and holes with a floating or sinking worm.
Fall can be challenging. It’s like summer, yet different. There
is grass, but now not all grass holds fish. There is plenty of food
and it’s everywhere. The young of the year fry will school and move
about on the surface in open water… and the bass will
follow. Search open water to find these fish. Look for what many
call “nervous water”. Any surface disturbance that doesn’t fit in is a
sign of schooling minnows. Birds may be working the school too.
Both basses will loosely school, working together to cash in on the
food bounty. A wise fisherman once said “they are either deep,
shallow, or they are somewhere in between.” Bass seem to spend
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a considerable amount of time in 10 feet of water this time of year. Start there. Find the rock ledges,
isolated boulders, logs, and grass beds that are alive and green. Floating and suspending stick baits
like X-Raps and plastic minnows, like the fin-s-fish or fluke, are the best search baits. Rig two flukes
using a dropper on the end of your line. Retrieve with a series of crank and jerks. It is a fun way to
fish, because you can start a feeding frenzy.
Tight lines.
Bryan Wilhelm is a multi-species light tackle angler with many years experience both as a
professional and a sportsman on the lower Susquehanna River. His zeal for fishing grows each
passing year. We look forward to him sharing his experiences.
Hints & Tips...
Selecting a Fishing Hat
By Bryan Wilhelm
When buying a hat for fishing, pick one with a brim that is dark on the underside. This feature
reduces reflected glare. When combined with polarized sun glasses, this system ensures the best
visibility of what is in the water.
If your hat does not have a dark under-bill, then color your hat with a permanent marker.
Practice catch and release!
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