Smallmouth Pandemonium

Finishing the month of August off right, the smallmouth bite has been unreal. We have got them on everything from poppers to crayfish, and everything in between. As some of you may know, last year we started doing camp/float trips for smallmouth in the summer months. This year we have done three and all have been great successes, nothing more relaxing and fun that fishing all day and eating steaks by the fire. Back to the smallmouth fishing, these fisheries have bounced back with great results and the fish are hungry. If you haven't smallmouth fished before, I would recommend getting off the couch and throwing an 8wt.

Smallmouth Season

Smallmouth bass season is upon us, and they are hungry and full of energy. Unfortunately we have been battling low, clear water for most of the July. Fish are definitely on point and if you don't make a perfect presentation all you will see is a wake going away from your fly. We have had to change our techniques a bit, but we are putting good numbers of fish in the boat. Both the Susquehanna and the Juniata are coming back strong, and some say its as good as it was in the heyday. We are praying for some rain to get the water temps down and the flows up, once that happens the bass will be a little more laid back. We hope!

With the new shop being so close to the Susquehanna we are now offering half, full, and overnight trips with one of the best fly guides on the river Brian Shumaker. The Juniata is still my favorite and we are booking trips as far in advanced as October. 

Jam Packed into One

It has been very hard to keep up with the blog this year. With the new shop, an hour and twenty minute commute, and being newly married, it is hard to find time to sit and type to give everyone some updates on the fishing around the area. I have however, managed to find time to do some tying and fishing over the past few weeks. It seems as if we are under way with all fishing on the east, the bass are starting to migrate to spawn, the muskies are adding a few pounds after the winter, the mayflies are coming off, and the stripers are moving up to the flats. I will be doing a write up of a very skilled guide down on the Susquehanna flats, He's one of my good friends and a fellow Maryland native that has spent countless days searching the Chesapeake Bay for stripers of all sizes.

On the trout side, Hendricksons are still coming off in the south east, grannoms are done but just firing up in central pa. We have plenty of tan caddis on just about every stream, so get out your pupa and cdc caddis. Its go time! Over the past week or so, any caddis pupa pattern has been working as well as some larger caddis larva. Of course when the fish start rising, we put all that stuff away and pull out the High Fly and dust up those dry flies.

Client fish from a spring creek

Client fish from the Yellow Breeches 

Rob with a nice fish, me with a bad picture.

On the bass and musky front, well they don't like me this year it seems. Every time I head out for them it is blowing, raining, and freezing cold. Some of my friends however are doing very well and have been finding some nice fish in the big rivers along with some of the tribs. Here are all the flies I have been tying for this coming smallmouth season.

Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

The Roamer in many different colors 

Feathered Game Changer flies 

Flies I tied at the PA Fly Fishing Museum Open House. 

Stripers, well I will get into that on the next post.

Thank you all for your continued support.