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I fished the Susky near Harrisburg, Oct. 15&16, 2013, excellent conditions too. The river had finally dropped to fishing levels from the big rain we got a few days ago. The river was still a little high but definitely fishable. On the 15th I caught 10 smbass: 20.5” (personal best), a matching pair of 19”ers five minutes apart, and the rest in the fun size ranging from 12”-16”… and of course a few dinks <12”. On the 16th I caught 7: one 19”er and the rest in the low teens.
Both days the 4”paddletail rigged weightless caught the majority of the fish with the silver Rapala coming in a close second. I’m now using the silver Rapala shad rap, shallow runner, SSR-5 (from WalMart). I think I now prefer the shad rap shallow runner over the “Originate” floating Rapala mainly because it cast 10’-15’ farther. In some areas there was just enough eel grass floating downriver to give the Rapala a fit. That’s when I would switch over to the single-hooked paddletail. The paddletail twitching and buzzing across the surface sure did attract more attention and more hits than did the Shad Rap. However, the hookup rate for the single-hooked paddletail was well less than that for the Shad Rap. I guess there is nothing like a pair of treble hooks to improve the hook-up rate.
On both days, a couple of my dependable goto spots that consistently produce big bass the past few months yielded only small fish <12”. I’m guessing the higher water opened up more areas where the big boys can spread-out and hunt for food. And there are vast areas for them to spread out. That makes finding them very time consuming.
I may have a trip or two left in me before the Susky smbass season winds down for the year. However, cooling water temps in the side rivers and creeks of C-Bay are prompting the stripers to go on a feeding binge. Decisions, decisions, decisions. The Patapsco stripers are calling my name, but so are the Susky’s smallmouth.
20.5" personal best, Shad Rap. I just couldn't reposition the canoe to avoid having my shadow fall across the fish without causing undo stress to the fish.
susky, 10-15-13 A.jpg
Matching pair of 19"ers caught minutes apart, both on weightless paddletail fished on the surface.
susky, 10-15-13 B.jpgsusky, 10-15-13 C.jpg
Caught many of these fun-sized smallies
susky, 10-15-13 D.jpg
19"er caught the next day, paddletail
susky, 10-16-13 - A.jpg
Even had breakers with birds overhead... but upon closer scrutiny it turned out to be bread with birds overhead... locals were throwing out stale bread. The resulting mayhem sounded & behaved exactly like breakers with birds on the Chesapeake.
susky birds with breakers.jpg
Both days the 4”paddletail rigged weightless caught the majority of the fish with the silver Rapala coming in a close second. I’m now using the silver Rapala shad rap, shallow runner, SSR-5 (from WalMart). I think I now prefer the shad rap shallow runner over the “Originate” floating Rapala mainly because it cast 10’-15’ farther. In some areas there was just enough eel grass floating downriver to give the Rapala a fit. That’s when I would switch over to the single-hooked paddletail. The paddletail twitching and buzzing across the surface sure did attract more attention and more hits than did the Shad Rap. However, the hookup rate for the single-hooked paddletail was well less than that for the Shad Rap. I guess there is nothing like a pair of treble hooks to improve the hook-up rate.
On both days, a couple of my dependable goto spots that consistently produce big bass the past few months yielded only small fish <12”. I’m guessing the higher water opened up more areas where the big boys can spread-out and hunt for food. And there are vast areas for them to spread out. That makes finding them very time consuming.
I may have a trip or two left in me before the Susky smbass season winds down for the year. However, cooling water temps in the side rivers and creeks of C-Bay are prompting the stripers to go on a feeding binge. Decisions, decisions, decisions. The Patapsco stripers are calling my name, but so are the Susky’s smallmouth.
20.5" personal best, Shad Rap. I just couldn't reposition the canoe to avoid having my shadow fall across the fish without causing undo stress to the fish.
susky, 10-15-13 A.jpg
Matching pair of 19"ers caught minutes apart, both on weightless paddletail fished on the surface.
susky, 10-15-13 B.jpgsusky, 10-15-13 C.jpg
Caught many of these fun-sized smallies
susky, 10-15-13 D.jpg
19"er caught the next day, paddletail
susky, 10-16-13 - A.jpg
Even had breakers with birds overhead... but upon closer scrutiny it turned out to be bread with birds overhead... locals were throwing out stale bread. The resulting mayhem sounded & behaved exactly like breakers with birds on the Chesapeake.
susky birds with breakers.jpg
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