Drove my boat down from San Francisco to San Diego, CA to chase some Yellowtail AKA Hamachi. There are plenty of options below Curwensville Dam, too. Surface feeding can be hit or miss, but a Black Stonefly nymph will take fish. But the more I fished it, the more I learned, and I quickly realized that looks can be deceiving. The North branch of the Susquehanna River flows out of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. When I first started fishing the upper West Branch Susquehanna River, I was skeptical. Larger fish, up to 18 inches, are also increasingly common, and the river holds a few fish best measured in pounds. This section receives both spring and fall stockings of fish, with a high percentage of larger-than-average trout. West Branch Susquehanna River Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. West Branch Susquehanna. It then flows south all the way to Northumberland, Pennsylvania where it meets the West Branch then continues south into Maryland and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. It’s almost impossible to stand in the water and look up- or downriver without spotting a possible brown trout lair. Largemouth Bass with a swimbait. This is where the West Branch Susquehanna River … 10 Fishing knots for hooks, lure and swivels - How to tie a fishing knot - Duration: 15:52. Over the past two decades, reclamation and remediation of AMD in the West Branch Susquehanna has become a priority for numerous conservation organizations and government agencies, including Trout Unlimited. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across the lake. Every year, I catch increasing numbers of 5- to 8-inch wild brown trout, indicating successful natural reproduction. Today, the facility captures the water that naturally rises from within the mine, neutralizes the chemicals, and then pumps it into the river. The closest I came to matching it was with a size 20 Light Cahill, but it wasn’t a Cahill. Many of these skinny waters serve as nurseries for the West Branch. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch being its principal tributary. Turned out to be a frisky 22-inch rainbow trout that gave me a real run for my money. read more.. 7 lb. But upriver—way upriver, above the Curwensville Dam—it’s a different story. 2. I offer Full Service Guided Fishing trips on the North branch of the Susquehanna River. Although this stretch has traditionally been a warm-water fishery, more and more trout are beginning to show up there, too. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here. Or subscribe here to receive each new issue of American Fly Fishing, as well as gain free access to all of our digital archives (American, Northwest, Southwest and Eastern) that contain thousands of the best fly-fishing destination articles ever written. Disease prevalence among YOY smallmouth bass captured during 2009 was low. 3; Details; Nick B. Sep, 09, 2015 - West Branch Susquehanna River. Welcome to Al's Susquehanna Guide Service . All Rights Reserved. In this part of Pennsylvania, where coal was once king, train tracks and trout fishing go hand in hand. In the fall, fish in the West Branch often swim up into these tributaries to spawn. Susquehanna River Fishing Hot Spots in Pennsylvania ... Each spring, the world’s largest inflatable dam goes up, impounding the waters along the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna. The dual focused on slow moving bottom baits that produced all the bites. The first recorded inhabitants of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley were the Iroquoian speaking Susquehannocks -- the name translates to 'people of the muddy river.' The North branch of the Susquehanna River flows out of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. 15 mine, which closed in 1969. In fact, the first 8 miles or so, from the plant down to the beginning of the flood control section in the town of Cherry Tree, are classified as a Class A Wild Trout Stream. They offer the full gamut of opportunities for anyone who enjoys the adventure and pursuit of small stream trout. And third, an acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment facility was installed on Barnes & Tucker’s Lancashire No. For updates and information regarding these stockings, contact Jim’s Sports Center in Clearfield (see Notebook). However, all year, deeper areas appear deep green. Al is a full time Susquehanna river fishing guide based out of Falls Pa. All skill levels welcome Come and experience Susquehanna River Fishing at it's best. Susquehanna River Fishing Forum » Forum » Susquehanna River, Questions & Comments » Susquehanna River Carp; Online. Get your fishing license ONLINE! In 2018, this section, combined with an additional 18 miles of river down to Dowler Junction, began to be managed under Catch and Release All Tackle regulations, and it receives no trout stockings by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC). During 2009, catch rates (number of fish captured per 50 meters) varied between the West Branch Susquehanna and the Susquehanna rivers and among reaches of the Susquehanna River, and were below the historic averages for all reaches (Table 1, Figures 1-4). Short of storing a large anchor on board (toons catch a lot of wind) is there an automated way to do this? The future of the special-regulations section, which includes all 8 miles of the West Branch’s Class A waters, will be determined by the way anglers treat the resource and respect landowners who generously allow access to the river. the structure to where the big fish hide. Catfish and Carp 3,406,085 views I didn’t know it then, but that evening I had encountered my first hatch of the Angler’s Curse. This rainbow most likely came from Chest Creek, a Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water. The West Branch rises on the west side of the Alleghenies in northwest Cambria County and flows in a northerly direction for nearly 40 miles before turning eastward and beginning its 200-mile march to the main stem. 570-241-2211. On the first jaunt the pair landed 25 fish with 3 inches of visibility. All fish here are a product of natural reproduction. For instance, no stream surveys have ever been done on the section of river between Mahaffey and the Curwensville Dam. Mention of the West Branch Susquehanna River may summon images of a wide, sprawling river that empties into the main branch Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. These mayflies (genus Caenis) are small, ranging in size from 22 to 28, and when trout decide to key on them, anglers are frequently humbled. Over the past decade, water quality has drastically improved. First, many of the small towns along the river built treatment facilities for raw sewage. 2021 Rates; Lew’s Fishing ; In mid-March, Blue-Winged Olives appear, followed by the spring trifecta of Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, and Light Hendricksons. The section of the West Branch Susquehanna from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access at Hyner, downstream to the access in Woodward Township’s Park (on the North Side of the Jay Street Bridge at Lock Haven) is about twenty-one river-miles long. caught it where I launch the kayak. These are all indicators that the upper West Branch Susquehanna River is a conservation success story with a very bright future. Work too fast or get careless with your approach and these fish will only recede farther into their shadowy lairs. Populations of wild brown trout are expanding steadily every year, and the future looks bright for the upper West Branch Susquehanna River. Those first 40 miles are especially intriguing because they’ve undergone a serious transformation in recent years, and they provide an abundance of opportunities for trout enthusiasts. © 2021 American Fly Fishing. Barring any setbacks, it will continue to improve. As it swung downstream into the swirling water behind the tree, I stripped it in, an inch at a time, and my line caught bottom, or so I thought. Tiny mayflies fluttered in the air, one even landing on the back of my hand. It was like nothing I’d ever seen, with a white body, brownish thorax, and tiny, cellophane-like wings. The West Branch Susquehanna River drains most of the Allegheny Highlands, a sparsely populated forest. State Parks Aren't the Only Location To Launch a Fishing Boat The number of bass 15 inches and over (over 5 years) are increasing do in part to catch and release and successful multi year spawns. Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) and Olive Caddisflies are the dominant species, and hatches can occur at any time of the day. Fish carefully and methodically and you can reap big dividends. It’s less noticeable during summer months. It colors quickly after a rain, but clears just as fast. As millions of dollars are being invested to correct the environmental damages of decades ago, many of the once-polluted waterways, especially in this part of the state, are being reestablished as viable fisheries. Wow! My two favorite patterns, though, are a chartreuse Mop Fly and a black Krystal Bugger. There you’ll find swifter-moving, well-oxygenated water that is easier to nymph as well as navigate. Stocked Tribs and Blue Lines The first time I fished the upper West Branch, I worked downstream from the bridge in Stifflertownn mid-June. According to the Johnstown Area Genealogical & Historical Society, the county was home to 130 significant coal mines by 1901, and those mines produced 16 million tons of coal annually throughout the 1910s and 1920s. In terms of looks and layout, Chest Creek is almost identical to the West Branch, possibly because they share the distinction of being located in the heart of coal country. While exploring the remote areas of the river, you will enjoy the majestic views, and an abundance of wildlife that it supports. Fish can get spooky, often hiding deep under the structure, and you have to work to get a fly in front of them. High dirty water, transition between spawn and post spawn, and temperature swings all can be debilitating conditions that without a great fishery and experienced anglers can lead to a failed excursion. The numerous long, deep runs and pools crowded with woody structure make the fishery both challenging and interesting. Although the section of the West Branch above Curwensville is not stocked, trout from the tributaries sometimes move into the bigger, cooler Locals often refer to this hatch as a Light Cahill Midge, and you can encounter it anytime between mid-July and mid-September, in the upper West Branch as well as below Curwensville; it’s usually heaviest in the evenings. This area boasts secluded locations, some stunning nature as a backdrop, clear waters, and beautiful fish. EMHR serves as the regional partnership agency with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) and works in cooperation with the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership to plan and promote activities from the river’s headwaters at Otsego Lake near Cooperstown, NY to its confluence with the West Branch Susquehanna River at Sunbury. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch being its principal tributary. A River Rebuilt The upper West Branch is a comeback story that is, thankfully, becoming rather familiar in Pennsylvania. "That big fish was caught in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River," stated Minium, "and I was by myself when I caught it. Use these locations to find great Susquehanna River Fishing spots. Throughout May, heavy hatches of caddisflies are the norm. The trout knew my fly wasn’t a match, too, and several came up to inspect from below, only to deem it inedible. The smallmouth bass would not hit a swimming bait such as a crankbait or spinnerbait . Does anyone here have a toon and specifically experience with anchoring? Although Angler’s Curse has nothing to do with the occult, sometimes it can feel like it. Only after the Great Depression did those numbers decline, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that coal mining ceased to play an important role in the county’s economy. The North Branch of The Susquehanna River has a world renowned smallmouth bass fishery. However, these conditions have made it easy to find the deeper channels within the river; and to locate structure and habitat where fish tend to congregate. With the extremely low waters and summer heat, fishing has been tough recently. In addition, the stream junctions, where these tributaries join the West Branch, are almost always hot spots, especially in the summer. The river is the 16th largest river in the United States. Below Curwensville, smallmouth bass and any leftover trout gorge themselves on these flies, and action can be fast and furious when the hatch is at its peak. West Branch Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania fishing report, rainbow trout fly fishing forecast, fly shop and fishing guides, and fly-fishing weather. 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Done on the West Branch Susquehanna River clear fishing the west branch of the susquehanna river, and hatches occur! April 2014, the upper West Branch Susquehanna below the Dam during the winter didn ’ t like.
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