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Susky & Harrisburg, Oct. 15&16, 2013

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  • Susky & Harrisburg, Oct. 15&16, 2013

    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
    Howard

    16' Oldtown Camper Canoe with a side-mount 40# thrust trolling motor.

  • #2
    beautiful fish and "bird show"
    Ryan
    Blue 2016 Hobie Outback
    Chesapeake Bay Kayak Anglers, Inc

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    • #3
      Nice Job! Congrats on PB!!
      2013 Wilderness Systems Ride 115

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      • #4
        Congrats on the PB! That is just a beast of a brown bass.
        Dave

        Wilderness Systems Ride 115

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        • #5
          Nice fish and nice scenery.
          Mark
          Pasadena, MD


          Slate Hobie Revolution 13
          Hidden Oak Native Ultimate 12
          Lizard Lick Native Ultimate FX Pro

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          • #6
            Congratulations on getting a personal best. I'm glad to hear that the water cleared up.
            John Veil
            Annapolis
            Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

            Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

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            • #7
              Great to see your report. I've never caught a fish on a shad rap

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              • #8
                wow great fish! i love catching smallmouth

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