Glenn Brown

Ever thought of injecting an "air bubble" into a live worm to enhance its wiggling as well as causing the worm to float off the bottom? It will dramatically increase your catch rate: https://www.amazon.com/Lindy-AC370-Worm-Blower-1-Pack/dp/B002X4AH7M Hope this helps. Glenn

If clear water, 4” (or 6”) Berkley Powerbait lizard in cotton candy color with a chartreuse tail, rigged texas style on a 1/0 Trokar worm hook and a 1/8 oz. bullet sinker. Drag it very slowly, or let it tumble on a current edge near a flat. Hope this helps. Glenn

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SmallieKing 7: Major League Fishing bass pro Edwin Evers has put together two outstanding videos on “Finding Fish on Google Earth” and “Google Earth Part 2” that is probably the best overview I have ever seen on using Google Earth Pro to improve your river fishing, as well as lake fishing, overview of different bodies of water. It says a lot for him that he is willing to share such knowledge, especially since his competitors will use these pre-fishing research guidelines against him. Although I think the EPA has too much power to intrude in our everyday lives, epa.gov does provide very specific and valuable information on watersheds and rivers. Also, I’m not too sure if you are aware that the lower Susquehanna has a ‘river keeper’. Out of respect for the former river keeper’s privacy, I will not provide his name, however, he spent twelve years paddling a kayak in that river and it’s tributaries (I’d recommend an appointment with him to discuss some of the cleanest/most productive smallmouth tributaries in the area — if you succeed, buy him lunch as a thank you (lowersusquehannariverkeeper.org). In Ohio, I learned a huge amount of smallmouth info from former river keeper Steven Flint, God rest his soul. Also, keep your eyes open for electroshocking studies performed on local rivers and tributaries (knowing the weight and number of smallmouth bass in a specific area can be invaluable). As for lures and techniques, a 7” Berkley Powerbait Worm will usually outperform a Chompers tube bait in stained water (if the river is muddy, just stay home and relax in the recliner since river smallies are predominately sight feeders). As for a river fishing technique, I’ve got one I call the ‘tumble’ if your interested. I hope you find this to also be helpful. Glenn Brown

Use Google Earth Pro to find small rivers or creeks that have a lot of bends in a stretch that is as far away from people as possible; use chest waders and fish upstream for two to four miles, concentrating on outside bends that will be deeper and current breaks. Wade very quietly and use the bank when possible to literally sneak upon deep bends and make quality casts; cast as far upstream as possible. Huge smallmouth love wood in rivers, contrary to what many fishing articles state. Get on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site and find the cleanest water available in creeks in your area. Avoid mucky creeks; you want as much natural rock, wood lay downs and extremely clear water as possible, along with a good flow. Buy Chompers 4” tubes in green pumpkin color, 1/8 ounce bullet weights, 12 lb. Seaguar fluorocarbon line, use 2/0 HP Shaw Grigsby hooks rigged tex-posed. Drag the tubes with a high rod with a slight loop in your line. I guarantee a 19” smallmouth your first year (true 20” smallmouth are hard to find - I mark my rod to measure the smallmouth on the go). Personally, I recommend a bait caster (Lews) and a 6’ foot medium heavy rod (G Loomis); you get a true 20” smallmouth on and you’ll be glad you have reasonably heavy rig! I’m 65 years old, so wading is infrequent for me now. Always wade with a friend and have an exceptional cell phone with you for potential emergencies like a broken leg and dislocated ankle (LOL). I waded creeks once or twice a week for about 31 years; probably covered about eight to nine hundred miles of creeks and small rivers in Ohio. When you find the ‘motherload’, dont’t tell anyone the location, especially over the Internet (they’ll fish it out; also, I hope you gently release the fish). Keep a good seasonal fishing journal recording locations, dates, times, fish size etc. for future referral; this in itself will teach you the predictable seasonal patterns for catching large smallmouth in your area. I hope this helps! Glenn