Is The Susquehanna one of the more scenic rivers that holds large numbers of quality smallmouth?

[Ohioguy25]

What is the likelihood of catching a 19-20” fish in there?

[TnRiver46]

Very likely 

[MediumMouthBass]

The Susquehanna is 5 minutes from my house, its an amazing river no matter what branch you are fishing. (but most of it near me is extremely polluted so i have to travel a few miles down the road to fish a better area of it).

In my experience with it there are alot of good size smallies in it, but you might catch 30 to 40 1-2lb ones before catching a bigger one. Or the opposite.

[VolFan]

That is very true except when it’s not.

[Susky River Rat]

If power plants, highways, railroads and cities are scenic sure lol.  
 

It is very day dependent on what you catch. It’s either big or small you do not really get mixed bags.  Any given day you have the potential to catch those size fish. Fall, winter spring seem to be the bigger ones. Summer tends to be higher quantity but, less size.

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

Summer tends to be higher quantity but, less size.

As it is everywhere 

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

As it is everywhere 

Summer time is big river smallie time ‘round here 

[heavyduty]

I fish the Susky every Spring (mid April)and Fall (late Oct) and catch a lot of 19-20" smallies from Harrisburg up to Sunbury. Very scenic in my opinion with small towns along the river and river is loaded with islands, rocks, ripples.

[Susky River Rat]

45 minutes ago, heavyduty said:

I fish the Susky every Spring (mid April)and Fall (late Oct) and catch a lot of 19-20" smallies from Harrisbury up to Sunbury. Very scenic in my opinion with small towns along the river and river is loaded with islands, rocks, ripples.

Almost everyone piles into Sherman’s creek area in March/April/May. That video earlier this year of Ike being there made it look like opening day of trout. 
 

I haven’t been above Duncannon much. From there down to  long level is pretty industrialized for the most part. The homeless encampments along the river in Harrisburg are a nice touch as well.

[heavyduty]

1 hour ago, Darnold335 said:

Almost everyone piles into Sherman’s creek area in March/April/May. That video earlier this year of Ike being there made it look like opening day of trout. 

Agree. I steer clear of Sherman's and the Point where the Juanita enters the Susky. Too many boats for my liking. No doubt the fish are there, but there are countless other areas where the smallies are stacked. Typical Spring and Fall on that river produces consistent 70-100 fish days, and good fish. Not a brag on my ability to fish but a brag on the quality of that fishery.

[Ohioguy25]

14 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Summer time is big river smallie time ‘round here 

Really? That’s interesting, you would think the southernmost portion of their range would be tougher in the dead of summer.

[TnRiver46]

22 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Really? That’s interesting, you would think the southernmost portion of their range would be tougher in the dead of summer.

They love top waters midday in extra shallow water in the hottest weather . I’ve got two buddies that make a living guiding fly fishing trips for them 

[Bird]

My youngest brother and a friend did a guided trip on the Susq this past April " birthday present from wife ".

He claims they never caught anything under 2lbs and many 4's.

 

[padon]

i ifish the susky alot in summer. you have to pick and choose your spots . i mean you can fish right by three mile island, not exactly scenic. but you can fish from sunbury down to the statue and i think its pretty scenic. i catch 20 to 30 most evenings fromall sizes 10 inches to about 18. 18 to 20s are there but a litttle more rare.i catch 1 or 2 every couple trips though. it may not be the best river in the world but i tell you what compared to fishing lakes around here in summerits a god send.

[casts_by_fly]

I can't speak to the size there now, but if you want scenic and beautiful head towards the west branch of the susky up towards Sproul state forest.  We have a cabin about 90 minutes from there and used to fish all of the streams that lead down to the west branch for smallies in the summer.  You'd catch more than a few fish.  I don't recall 4 lb fish, but 50 fish to 15-16" in a day was no problem.  And you wouldn't see a single person or building the entire way.

[flyfisher]

Scenery sucks and so does the fishing so just go somewhere else.....?

[pdxfisher]

The Susky is pretty (I grew up in PA and have been there a few times) but I would have to say that my present home waters, the Columbia river in the Columbia gorge has more majestic views. Also kicks out a lot of good sized fish. Not Great Lakes big but 20"ers are reasonably common.

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

The Susky is pretty (I grew up in PA and have been there a few times) but I would have to say that my present home waters, the Columbia river in the Columbia gorge has more majestic views. Also kicks out a lot of good sized fish. Not Great Lakes big but 20"ers are reasonably common.

You got smallies in the PNW?

[pdxfisher]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

You got smallies in the PNW?

 

Check out my latest report in the fishing reports forum. My best 5 smallmouth on my last trip totaled 98.5" and 18lbs 9oz - and I lost my biggest of the day right at the kayak. 

[Susky River Rat]

@casts_by_fly I would have to agree with  the west and parts of the north branch being very rural. Duncannon area to long level is where a majority of the industrial areas/cities are. 

[Will Ketchum]

I live near the North Branch, and once you go north from the Wilkes-Barre area it gets more rural and scenic. Generally it's easier to get the bigger ones in the fall, and more smaller ones in the summer.

[Susky River Rat]

@Will Ketchum I do enjoy that area it’s just a decent drive for me.

[Ohioguy25]

On 7/16/2023 at 12:56 PM, padon said:

i ifish the susky alot in summer. you have to pick and choose your spots . i mean you can fish right by three mile island, not exactly scenic. but you can fish from sunbury down to the statue and i think its pretty scenic. i catch 20 to 30 most evenings fromall sizes 10 inches to about 18. 18 to 20s are there but a litttle more rare.i catch 1 or 2 every couple trips though. it may not be the best river in the world but i tell you what compared to fishing lakes around here in summerits a god send.

 

 

On 7/15/2023 at 6:13 PM, heavyduty said:

I fish the Susky every Spring (mid April)and Fall (late Oct) and catch a lot of 19-20" smallies from Harrisburg up to Sunbury. Very scenic in my opinion with small towns along the river and river is loaded with islands, rocks, ripples.

 

On 7/15/2023 at 7:07 PM, Darnold335 said:

Almost everyone piles into Sherman’s creek area in March/April/May. That video earlier this year of Ike being there made it look like opening day of trout. 
 

I haven’t been above Duncannon much. From there down to  long level is pretty industrialized for the most part. The homeless encampments along the river in Harrisburg are a nice touch as well.

So south of Ducannon isn’t very scenic/mountainous? My buddy and I are heading down there and looking for a good 2 day float, plan to island camp. Looking for the prettiest stretch.

[Susky River Rat]

@Ohioguy25

if you google earth and go south of duncannon you’ll see what I mean. Fort hunter is where you really start to get into the city stretch. If you do plan on going fort hunter south there will be three dams to contend with. Dock street and depending which way you go red hill or yorkhaven. North of there would be better I just do not have much experience fishing it. I would also watch out on islands some of them are privately owned. Watch out for low head dams on your float plan. I think once you get below Selinsgrove  you are clear of all of them till dock street just double check. 

[Ohioguy25]

6 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

@Ohioguy25

if you google earth and go south of duncannon you’ll see what I mean. Fort hunter is where you really start to get into the city stretch. If you do plan on going fort hunter south there will be three dams to contend with. Dock street and depending which way you go red hill or yorkhaven. North of there would be better I just do not have much experience fishing it. I would also watch out on islands some of them are privately owned. Watch out for low head dams on your float plan. I think once you get below Selinsgrove  you are clear of all of them till dock street just double check. 

Yeah we were looking at ducannon down to the statue.  Is that not very scenic/mountainous?