flipped a coin between putting this in NE and SE...cross-posting would be ideal.....

 

I'm looking for a regional holy grail:

-good smallmouth fishing

-yak accessible

-very preferably NOT a float trip; I'd like to find water I can paddle up and float back alone (or with wife) without depending on two or more vehicles

-within a couple hours of DC area

 

We've float-tripped South Fork Shenandoah; everything between Low Water Bridge and Front Royal and love it.  I've never been on upper Potomac, upper Rapahannock nor James, nor Susquehanna. 

I've looked into upper Rapahannock and think it'd be awesome, but doesn't seem to be too many in/out options. 

     I'd love to find the holy grail where I can put in, paddle up comfortably and and catch lots of huge smallies

  If you know of such a place, please let me know....pm, if preferred.

7 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

flipped a coin between putting this in NE and SE...cross-posting would be ideal.....

 

I'm looking for a regional holy grail:

-good smallmouth fishing

-yak accessible

-very preferably NOT a float trip; I'd like to find water I can paddle up and float back alone (or with wife) without depending on two or more vehicles

-within a couple hours of DC area

 

We've float-tripped South Fork Shenandoah; everything between Low Water Bridge and Front Royal and love it.  I've never been on upper Potomac, upper Rapahannock nor James, nor Susquehanna. 

I've looked into upper Rapahannock and think it'd be awesome, but doesn't seem to be too many in/out options. 

     I'd love to find the holy grail where I can put in, paddle up comfortably and and catch lots of huge smallies

  If you know of such a place, please let me know....pm, if preferred.

I don't know if it's the "holy grail" for smallies,

but I've talked to a number of folk down my way

that absolutely love the James River up Richmond

way. One even takes kayak trips several times a

year to float down and smallie fish.

 

Is on my "eventually gonna do it" bucket list, the

James River, that is. Richmond way.

The Susquehanna River up above Harrisburg, PA. While spring time flows can make paddling up current a little more challenging during the summer it is much more manageable and you have a river a mile wide to traverse. If you decide to head to the Susky I can PM you some launch sites.

 

 

 

Wow.  Awesome fish, @Turtle135.  I will definitely hit you up.  In fact, I think my office needs me to take some business trips Harrisburg way in coming months....maybe a few times

I noticed your post said you don't want a float trip. There is Lake Augusta above Harrisburg at the confluence of the north and western branch of the Susquehanna. They inflate the dam around Memorial day. Its got easy access in the way of 2 boat launches at the Shikellamy State Park. Plenty of free parking, bathroom facilities, picnic tables and a nearby town with restaurants and a grocery store. Fishing is great in the spring and early summer as well as the fall. 

The Susky without a doubt, but there's always Rocky Gorge Reservoir. You can get a day pass there, they have all around great fishing there. Nice smallies, LM and if your lucky enough they also have stripers in there. It's a beautiful place. Liberty and Pretty Boy Reservoirs also have great smallie fisheries, but you need a yearly pass to go there. Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

presque Isle in May lots of kayakers catch big smallies then