Susquehanna river guides

[TxHawgs]

I'm lookin to go on a smallie trip on the sus. They say the northern part of pa is the best fishin, so looking to fish that area. Thanks 

[Susky River Rat]

You should be looking Harrisburg and north.  I have heard great things about Jason and Mike from here http://www.susquehannasmallmouthsolutions.com/guides-test.html

When Ike goes with a guide he generally goes with those guys https://www.gratefulguides.com/about-us.php

personally I would probably go with Joe from here. http://www.susquehannasmallmouthguides.com

 

I have never been with a guide. I do see them out quite often. I have no affiliation to them or even talk to them. This is all just word of mouth from around here. I am sure there are other quality guides. One of my biggest suggestions is whoever you choose make sure they have an inboard tunnel hull jet(rock proof, alumaryder, river raptor etc) This will be the safest, comfortable and best experience to fish out of. 
 

water level is going to be the biggest factor of where, when and how they will get you on fish.

 

If you have any other general questions about the susky please ask. 

 

 

[Kevin Shoot]

https://ldguideservice.com/

 

Bradford County Pa.

[MediumMouthBass]

Im in the Northeast part of the state, and if it werent for how bad the potholes were id want to stay here forever and fish. Theres alot of quantity and also quality bass, walleyes, and catfish up here in the river.

 

My only experience with the river is from bank, kayak, and pontoon boat from Tunkhannock-Sunbury, and various spots inbetween. This river is more loaded than the baked potato i had with my steak last month.

 

Theres several guides in that whole stretch, dont know there names but a quick google search should tell you all you need to know, ive heard from alot of guys tho they get some days where they catch 30-75 bass, (give or take a few dozen) very regularly, some guides up near Tunkhannock get their clients musky too for bycatches every so often too.

 

Up in the Northeastern part of the state the rivers are barely ever packed or busy, you might see a few kayaks and maybe 4 boats on a good day in a few mile stretch, lots of nice tackle shops along the river as well. Just dont wait too long in the year to do it, in the summer it usually gets extremely low.

 

But anywhere you go in the state the river should be amazing fishing, some areas are known for being deeper, some shallower, it can change so much in just a short stretch....

Biggest smallie i caught so far was about 3.5lbs from the bank, caught several other nice ones that night when there was heavy insect activity.

A friend of my dad tho caught some huge bass and monster walleye tho.

 

And any walleye or catfish you catch throw back, most of the river (atleast where im at) is heavily polluted.

[Munkin]

On 5/6/2024 at 4:28 AM, Susky River Rat said:

personally I would probably go with Joe from here. http://www.susquehannasmallmouthguides.com

 

 

 

He is good, if you want to fish the Potomac then go with Rocky Droneburg.

 

Allen

[flyfisher]

This guy is top notch too.

 

https://susquehannafishingguide.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Kt23L3BXmPlEBkY3G2hkVbfl_cCztIq7IEAK3ygLHY1QX1zv84wbqej4_aem_AcMO90m85HfiLEmIaR23Tf2fiVn3TnzRPHjXblSI3YS22JlSJlTy6VFo9YEAgzsxlQp3jxZ-qya1beY0BKF0sTY4

[T.J.]

I was just out last week with this guide from Tunkhannock on the north branch. 
https://redeyesmallieguide.com
He is new to guiding but provided a great trip. 
 

I have been out with this guide group a couple of times from Lacyville on the north branch. They also guide in the Harrisburg area on the main stem. Excellent guides. 

https://reelriveradventure.com

Both post a lot of photos of their trips on Facebook. 

[Susky River Rat]

These guides need to get out of my honey holes 😂😂

[BucksBasser]

On 5/5/2024 at 11:10 PM, TxHawgs said:

I'm lookin to go on a smallie trip on the sus. They say the northern part of pa is the best fishin, so looking to fish that area. Thanks 

 

Some people call anything north of Harrisburg the northern Susquehanna and others call the North branch the northern part of the river.  Still others call either of the branches above Sunbury the northern part of the river.  For my money (arguably) the best stretch for smallies is Harrisburg to Duncannon.

[T.J.]

On 5/8/2024 at 10:34 PM, Susky River Rat said:

These guides need to get out of my honey holes 😂😂

Not owning a jet, a guide is my only option. Not 100% true but close. I keep pondering getting a jet just for the Susquehanna but in reality I’d probably only make 3 trips a year. The ROI would take a long time compared to the 2 guide trips I try to make each year. Plus as easy as it appears to get on fish like the guide does, only being the river once a season I’d probably would struggle finding them. If/when it comes time to replace my prop boat I will definitely have to think hard on a jet. My “home” lake is super shallow and a jet would be far better there as well. 

[Susky River Rat]

@T.J. unless you are going to run a jet like a jet I highly advise against one. Don’t get me wrong I love my boat and having a jet for what I do. Plain and simple jets suck. They suck to steer they suck gas they suck for speed they suck for comfort  they suck grass and leafs making you dead in the water. Again I would still not change back to a prop I love my jet it’s just the stuff people never tell you about them. 
 

I think the reason the guides survive as well as they do on the susky is most people who use them do not have the equipment to run it themselves. Just like I do not have the equipment to run a big lake.

[RAM3139]

Last year my father and I booked a a day with George DeFrehn and had a great day (https://www.susquehannasmallmouthguides.com/george-defrehn/).  We launched near harrisburg and had a great day.  Would highly recommend.