Anyone care to predict? What the Susky Flats are going to look like Opening Day?

[DonV]

Is the snow melt from the NE going to still be an issue?

I know a rainy spring can make it a real mess yet I can have some hope we don't get a lot. Hope to hear from some with more knowledge of the river than me.

I want to plan a camping trip and had set on Susquehanna State Park for the weekend of the 18th. I'm guessing the M&G is still on and sure would like to fish the flats, see everybody and try one more time for a nice fish. Yet I am starting to wonder if I may not be better planning something else especially if the snow melt will still be affecting the river?

[sparky1423]

Hey Don...it's so hard to predict the water condition with the change of the seasons. Last year was a bust until the last few weeks of the C&R season. The dam was under spill conditions because of maintenance and repairs of the spill gates. The dam was releasing water for two weeks straight. Turbidity was close to triple digits for the majority of the season...considering anything above the number 20 proves to be very tough fishing. Currently as of today the dam is once again in spill conditions due to ice finally breaking up in the Northern branches of the Susky. The duration of the spill condition will determine how successful the C&R season will be. If the turbidity remains to be high, sunlight will not be able to penetrate through the water and allow the grasses on the flats to grow. Unfortunately the Susquehanna NOAA buoy is still offline...for now the best bet is to keep calling the spill condition hotline for updates. (887) 457-2525.

[jhoss]

Thanks for all the details Jeremy. It's all making sense now...

[DonV]

Hey Don...it's so hard to predict the water condition with the change of the seasons. Last year was a bust until the last few weeks of the C&R season. The dam was under spill conditions because of maintenance and repairs of the spill gates. The dam was releasing water for two weeks straight. Turbidity was close to triple digits for the majority of the season...considering anything above the number 20 proves to be very tough fishing. Currently as of today the dam is once again in spill conditions due to ice finally breaking up in the Northern branches of the Susky. The duration of the spill condition will determine how successful the C&R season will be. If the turbidity remains to be high, sunlight will not be able to penetrate through the water and allow the grasses on the flats to grow. Unfortunately the Susquehanna NOAA buoy is still offline...for now the best bet is to keep calling the spill condition hotline for updates. (887) 457-2525.

Damn It. I thought somebody was going to come on here and tell me the river was going to be clear, low wind, not a chance of rain and 50" fish in abundance for my weekend. Just no certainty in this life for my best laid plans.

[Salty Dog]

About the only accurate prediction that can be made this time of year is that it will not be iced over for the start of the season.

[plastic boat]

Which season ?
Right now it's very MUDDY. I am hoping it clears soon. Last year it cleared in the middle of April

Flats C and R season is open 12/16/2014 to 5/3/2015
Flats closed from 5/4 to 5/15 to targeting stripers
Flats Catch and keep season opens 5/16 to 5/31 and 6/1 to 12/15

http://www.eregulations.com/maryland.../striped-bass/

[Yak Fish]

Like the guys said, last year was actually a bust until the very last week of the season. Literally, just 1 fishable week. The rest was a muddy mess. Hopefully it's not the same this year, but it is historically an unreliable place. You could have a great set of conditions and have it rain 50 miles north and ruin it.

[DonV]

Like the guys said, last year was actually a bust until the very last week of the season. Literally, just 1 fishable week. The rest was a muddy mess. Hopefully it's not the same this year, but it is historically an unreliable place. You could have a great set of conditions and have it rain 50 miles north and ruin it.

I originally was wondering more about ice melt coming down from the Susky drainage basin, which I'm not to sure of the size of. Is there so much up there in the NE that it could still be a factor that late in the year? I'd think not, that late into spring but have very little knowledge of that part of the country and could be way off base one way or the other.

[plastic boat]

I still have some snow in my yard Del and PA line I am sure there is plenty of snow left in PA and New York states. If we get higher temp and a hard rain at the same time the damn at conowingo will be flowing over the emergency spill gates just like the last few years. resulting in the susky flats looking like chocolate milk.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...agJPMsz0giqsCA

https://www.google.com/search?q=susq...tm%3B756%3B576

[BassMoore]

i held a tournament in the northeast river this past weekend.

had a few guys run out to the flats

2 inch visibility is an accurate statement.

[Salty Dog]

The only season I like to fish is the catch an keep season. If the river slows and clears, I may be there sooner. I will probably be fishing the salt sooner though.