troutbert wrote:
A buddy and I are going to try some smallmouth fishing on the Susque tommorow evening and are planning to fish somewhere around Berwick or Bloomsburg because that's about halfway between where we live.
We will be wade fishing. Any tips on good access with some good wade fishing habitat and suggestions on what flies are working these days?
Help trout addicts catch smallmouth bass. :-o
You know the weather is bad when a trout afishinado such as yourself starts casting for smallies......:lol:
I never fished that section of the Susky, but I just checked the FBC map and there's a boat launch area both in Berwick and Bloomsburg, so that may be a good place to start. Also I see railroad tracks paralleling the river in that section, which usually means some walk in access. Dang someone should publish a guide book!...
As far as where to fish in general, SMB usually prefer areas with some current, depth and plenty of rocks/boulders. Work these areas well, and concentrate your casts in and around the rocks and current breaks. Try all types of presentations: dead drifting, swinging, fast stripping and everything in between until you find what the fish are looking for at the time.
I usually move and search. When you find where they're hanging and the right presentation (a pattern), stick with it and hammer them! The pattern may change during the day so remain flexible and don't be afraid to experiment with different water types, presentations and flies to get back on them.
You don't need a whole lot of different patterns and flies to catch smallies. A couple of different flies in a couple of light and dark colors should do the job. You can't go wrong with a wooly bugger. Bass sometimes key in on colors or just even light or dark flies. Try some olive/black buggers (my & the fishes favorite) chartreuse, white, and maybe brown. Clousers work well at times with the classic color being chartreuse over white. A few medium sized poppers and maybe some sliders in light and dark colors should round out the selection.
If things are really tough, it would be a good idea to have some large nymphs in your box, stonefly patterns work well. Try dead drifting and swinging them if the smallies aren't chasing.
Good luck, and be sure to post a report.