sixfootfenwick
Well-known member
I'm kind of surprised willow mill got mentioned. The few times I've fished there it was a series of riffles with less depth.
Musky in the Conodoguinet
- Thread starter BrownTroutBen
- Start date
Only musky I ever hooked (not landed) was below the boat launch at Willow Mill. We did a float trip a couple of summers ago and the hot spot seemed to be at the water plant before Sample Bridge Rd. Ran into quite a few guys targeting them down there.
Steve
I know nothing of the Connie, but I've seen many muskies in very shallow water. Depth doesn't seem to be that important for river muskies, at least not all of the time.
Fly-Swatter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
- Messages
- 1,275
I agree. However, access to deeper water adjacent to shallow water is important.
Garshark572
New member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2020
- Messages
- 19
I have never seen a musky there but I have seen a ton of suckers and small carp while bass fishing. The only place I have ran into musky is the Susquehanna. Landed 1 while fly fishing for bass and have seen a few giants around trib inlets in the spring
wgmiller
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 3,016
They're scattered throughout the Connie, along with a few pike here and there. The best way to find them is to float and cover as much water as you can. There are a few notable places such as the "muskie cave" below Willow Mill Rd and others, but in the end ya just gotta cover as much water as you can and keep those feathers and fur in the water!
sixfootfenwick
Well-known member
Perhaps I'm speaking incorrectly and have no idea what I am saying because I don't target muskies but I'm more or less thinking here.
I do know that at the mouth of the Connie into the Susquehanna and around are some islands and grassflats. I also know that the Connie is pretty diverse in aquatic life but I'd imagine given seasonal influxes or migrations of baitfish into the Connie or out of the Connie might trigger either movement into or movement down to that lower area of the Connie to feed.
Muskies id imagine, like most fish will follow food. Perhaps track the food, then find the fish?
I'll simplify that thinking and then expand it.
Using the same thinking but to the watershed alone, what kind of fish are in the Connie muskie would eat? What are their seasonal patterns? Where they are won't the predator be also?
Now expand that thinking to the Connie and Susquehanna seasonal movements.
I do know that at the mouth of the Connie into the Susquehanna and around are some islands and grassflats. I also know that the Connie is pretty diverse in aquatic life but I'd imagine given seasonal influxes or migrations of baitfish into the Connie or out of the Connie might trigger either movement into or movement down to that lower area of the Connie to feed.
Muskies id imagine, like most fish will follow food. Perhaps track the food, then find the fish?
I'll simplify that thinking and then expand it.
Using the same thinking but to the watershed alone, what kind of fish are in the Connie muskie would eat? What are their seasonal patterns? Where they are won't the predator be also?
Now expand that thinking to the Connie and Susquehanna seasonal movements.
Last edited:
Pike.....or Chain Picks? If they are pike, I'd be very surprised. I am not doubting you; I am only looking for clarification if you really meant pike.
There aren't too many populations of pike in southern PA. I know they are found in the northern Susky, but generally now far down the flow. I have never heard of or seen pike in the Juniata, but we do have chain picks in certain tribs.
Pike are one of my favorite freshwater fish. They are SUPER COOL (and delicious!)
Bamboozle
Well-known member
BrownTroutBen:
Are you familiar with this:
Are you familiar with this:
Why is the Cave Hill spot a take-out only? If you can take a boat out there, why can't you put one in?
Bamboozle
Well-known member
From the brochure (the bold text by me explains the reason):
A2 - Cave Hill Nature Center (Take-Out Only): Cave Hill is a 20-acre nature area owned by Carlisle Borough. The park is located off K Street at 6 Cave Hill Drive, Carlisle. It offers walk-in creek access, hiking and fishing. All boaters must take-out at this site. Cave Hill is not a put-in point because it is just upstream from the Carlisle Raw Water Intake Dam. Do not attempt to navigate over the dam! For more information, contact Carlisle Borough at (717) 249-4422, or visit the borough online at www.carlislepa.org.
wgmiller
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 3,016
Pike. Dark background, light spots. It wasn't a massive pike, but more along the lines of a medium(ish) Condo musky. I didn't personally catch it, but was with a guy who did and it blew us both away. It was caught just upstream of the Sample Road bridge, near the outflow of the treatment plant. I know pike have been caught in the Susky right in front of Harrisburg, but they are indeed super rare. I wouldn't even be able to begin to speculate where that fish would have come from. I reached out the guy to see if he had a picture of the fish by chance. I'm sure most of the pike on the Relentless page are from lakes, but have no doubt a few of them may be from local waters, as their guides have learned to comb the Condo for esox.
I guess I should have kept reading!
I have heard of Pike being caught at Harrisburg, too. It just isn't a regular occurrence.
