03 Apr 2009 08:34 am
Ok, after a really, really long winter I’m back. Web blog kinks have been worked out , the farm house I am fixing might actually pass inspection, and the boat is in the water ready for fishing. From here on out it is full focus fishing.
The winter was actually quite productive , though I didn’t get in as much fishng as I typically do. Any free time I had I tried to get out and fish. I discovered some great Walleye fishing onthe Susquehanna in mid-February. The fishing was good on the river near Conowingo during low to moderate flows and weather warm enough that you could still feel your fingers. They liked to take small 1/16 ounce jigs.

The fishing on the Gunpowder was difficult through most of the winter, though each trip we would at least manage a few fish. The Prettyboy Reservoir is at capacity and we have had a spillover of water for the past few months. This causes the water temps to remain a bit colder then we are used to seeing through Februauy and March, and it took a while for things to warm up and get some bugs stirring.

Andrew and Dan Altman came fishing last week and Dan caught the brown trout above while fishing with a zebra midge on the upper river. We saw very few bugs for the day but managed a couple of fish on small nymphs. Steve Elkins is pictured below with a brown he caught on a samll pheasant tail a week prior while also fishing small nymphs upstream of Falls Rd.

In recent days, ther warm weather has really kick started the bug hatches on the river and hatches of stoneflies, blackflies and blue winged olive mayflies have been present on the stream. Bugs mean feeding fish and this means some good fishing is at hand. Hatches and fishing will continue to improve on the stream as Spring sets in and warmer weather arrives.
And yes, we have already begun our Spring Striper season on the Susquehanna Flats. I put the boat in the water last week, and was catching fish soon after. A good push of 6-8 pound fish has been present and we landed several up to 15 lbs. Water conditions have been incredibly good for this early and it seems the early season fishing will be great. I still have some open dates, but catch up with me soon if you want to fish or just to talk fishing.
I’ll be back with a flats update and pics. Thanks for continuing to check into my site. Hope to see you all out fishing. Jeff