Susky River Rat

I do this to keep people away from me if I am in a busy area. I will play the raunchiest, most cussed filled music to keep people away when they are “closing in “ on me. Now if I roll up to a spot and people are nearby I won’t.

I let the professionals handle it. I just metal things together for a living.

I am a 1. I’m terrible. I have a terrible amount of fun doing it though.

Other boats. The siren of the dam releasing water at 3am scares the life out of you. Crackheads on the bank. That sound of hitting the trolling motor or boat on rocks.

@gimruis we have to many anglers and not enough water.

@IndianaOutdoors oh I know they have to start somewhere. The Mississippi is completely different than the susky. The susky is completely different from the new river. @gimruis oh, I know you weren’t referring to here. I am just slightly jealous we do not have untouched water here.

@gimruis there are no fish in PA that aren’t pressured. Creeks,river, ponds or lakes. The fishing doesn’t even have to be “ good” it just has to hold fish and people will be there. Kayaks ruined a lot of this. @Turtle Angler it’s Always interesting to me on here how people talk about rivers. Then once described it’s a “creek” around here. I guess the deciding factor of what makes a river vs a creek is flow rates. So, I know you guys are just calling them rivers. There is a lot of portion of creeks here you cannot cast from bank to bank.

The sound of a jet boat getting on plane.

@IndianaOutdoors I would think a jet causes more under water disturbance then a long tail prop. With the amount of water it’s sucking in then puking out the back. A boat will always have wake. I do not worry to much about spooking fish. i will try to putt into an area I am going to fish. Sometimes though I just have to go full throttle in to clear a shallow area before the pool. I am sure certain times it hurts other times it makes no difference with the fishing. People catch tons of fish at busy boat ramps all the time. Fish sit down stream at he raging water of dams.

I wish I could fish that many times a month! People do not realize it but, mechanics are a big part of fishing. You need to keep the leverage on your side not the fish’s

Pigs! You’ve been on those big fish all year!

I will probably be the only one that says this. Ned rigs. Do you get snagged? 100% will you get snagged often? Yes. It will produce and produce well. There is just something about getting down in those rocks. Now like most others will say spinners, tubes, jerks and cranks. They work good too.

Yes. They are still there. Check grass beds covers and the slightly deeper areas. Faster presentations work best. That way it’s eat or not. They won’t have the chance to look at it. Top water, spinner cranks just keep it moving. Cover water and you will find them. It is by no means trophy time conditions but, doesn’t mean you can’t get quality fish.

@ol'crickety ironically I think river fishing can be more predictable than lake fishing. The fish are moving more which is the down fall but, also means they eat more. You’ll generally find schools stacked up in an area. The reason I stress the fun factor is because to many years I chased musky and it wasn’t fun. A thrill but not fun. I also compared myself to this or that and my image mattered. I wanted to be “known” now I just want to fish.

@ol'crickety one of my biggest issues is I only get to fish 2-4 times a month. Fishing a river with fluctuating levels adds to my equation. River level trumps all for me. Then time of year. Weather does not seem to be near as important unless it is effecting the river level. I do have an idea what I will throw at the start of the day. Smallies can move so much that the next day the spot that was on fire is done. My Achilles heel is lakes. I have learned there are certain things on do on lakes that work and on the river they are not as productive. This also works the other way. I also do not frequent lakes much. I feel so confined. Most are small and electric only or have a HP restriction I am over. Truth be told I don’t have to be “good” I just have to have fun. Fun could be two fish perfect weather and out with my dog. It could be man I really struggled but, last minute I pulled some out. It’s not about the biggest or the most. It’s about how much fun I am having doing it.

@TnRiver46 well if I’d ever make a trip down there with my boat I’d gladly invite you on it.

Great read! I do not ever do anything note worthy to write about. I fly by the seat of my pants and hope it works. I really admire @ol'crickety basic and simple way of fishing. Canoe, tent camping. In a day where people stay in hotels and have 20k worth of electronics on their boat 80k boat. You are the sleeper that if I could pick a fishing partner in a tournament, you would be towards the top of my list. You seem to dissect water like a surgeon. That is intuition that can’t be taught.

@ironbjorn it was very rough. I had tears in my eyes every time he made those terrible noises. When I finally saw him stand again without pain I finally felt like I could breathe. Trust me I 100% understand your post. It was not selfish at all. We have pets and care deeply for them. If you don’t you shouldn’t have them. My dog isn’t here to exist. He is here to be part of the family and involved in everything we can possibly involve him in. My wife and I both agreed no matter what it costs we are going to do what is the best for his quality of life. Not what is best for our bank account.

@TnRiver46 the only thing I have you beat on is draft at plane, speed and storage. You have me beat on maneuverability, price and the cost to any damage will be low. I do not know if your motor could handle the flow of the river into our on at certain times. I know anything below 15hp will struggle in certain areas running 6-7ft and I will go up to 10ft. i was talking to a guy who had a big mud motor. He can get on plane with it. He told me the issue where we fish is that the second hit bounced up when it hits a rock or bottom and knocks him off plane. He can’t run in the 3-6” of water the jets can. He can however run through the grass beds which a jets can’t. It’s all a trade off. If it was a soft bottom is for sure have a mud motor.

@TnRiver46 yeah the best case is I just hit and bounce off things. Jets are awesome for running shallow but man when it goes wrong it goes wrong. I am sure you posted your boat before. You have one of those like “mud motors” right? Where they are air cooled.

@TnRiver46 if I hit something it’s going 25-30mph and I hope I can make it back to the ramp to check the damage.

@TnRiver46 reading water for me isn’t just about finding fish. It’s about making navigation as safe as possible

@12poundbass that’s my term too. I am looking for big foot! Or wel some other things are to colorful to say here.

I have no area I fish like this. Mostly because I do not have the skill set to catch.

Congratulations! Hopefully you have a new fishing partner for years and years to come