Fishing in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River

The Susquehanna River is a nationally renowned smallmouth bass fishery. Walleye, muskies, catfish, and panfish are also fairly abundant in some areas. Before dams were built and water quality declined, large numbers of American shad, eels, herring, and other anadromous fish migrated into the river from the Chesapeake Bay. The restoration of shad runs was one main reason for the establishment of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission (now the Fish and Boat Commission) in 1866. The same act that established the commission directed dam owners to provide fish passage facilities, but it was not until the last three decades of the twentieth century before any real progress was made in this regard.

The Susquehanna River forms in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, flowing northward into New York. It re-enters Pennsylvania in Bradford County, near Sayre, flowing southward. Its largest tributary, the West Branch, enters at North­umberland, where an inflatable dam creates Lake Augusta. The Juniata River joins at Clarks Ferry. At Harrisburg, the Susquehanna is a mile wide. Its watershed is the second largest in the eastern United States and includes more than half of Pennsylvania. Four hydroelectric dams between Harrisburg and Maryland create large lakes.

Except for the dams, the Susquehanna is all floatable. Typical low-water conditions in summer, however, make floating difficult in many areas, particularly above Laceyville and from Halifax to Harrisburg. Below Harrisburg, a low-head dam and three larger dams make long floats burdensome. The more rugged rapids of the river are in this area.

The Susquehanna is ideal smallmouth habitat all through Pennsylvania; it is rocky and, except above the hydroelectric dams, shallow. Through Bradford and Wyoming Counties, the bottom is a mix of gravel and rubble. Smallmouth anglers here often drift hellgrammites in the current. This is a delightful stretch for float fishing. Pools are short but can also produce walleye and muskies.

Farther downstream, the Susquehanna flows through the Appalachian Mountains. The river offers long pools, lengthy stretches where it flows swiftly over exposed bedrock, and numerous islands. Smallmouth fishing is spectacular. For a change of pace, channel catfish are also quite abundant.

Lake Clark, Lake Aldred, and the Conowingo Pool, created by three large hydroelectric dams, offer excellent fishing for smallmouth bass and channel catfish, along with some walleye, muskellunge, crappie, and yellow perch. Largemouth bass are common in the Conowingo Pool. Striped bass have been stocked as well. All three lakes are deep enough for powerboats. There are many rocks just beneath the surface, however, primarily toward the heads of the lakes.

The West Branch Susquehanna River drains most of the Allegheny Highlands, a sparsely populated forest. Despite its beautiful scenery and clear water, the West Branch is virtually without fish until it reaches Lock Haven, primarily due to acidic coal mine runoff, and does not become a good fishery until the Williamsport area. From that point, fishing for smallmouths, walleye, muskies, and panfish gets progressively better.

The Juniata River is smallmouth bass heaven. Along its headwaters, smallmouths are incredibly abundant, if somewhat on the small side. Farther downstream, larger smallmouths become more common, as do walleye and muskellunge. Stonecats (madtoms) are the favorite live baits here, and natural-colored jigs work during summer when the water is low and clear.

Walleye and muskellunge are fairly plentiful in the Juniata, although not nearly as widespread as smallmouths. Look for muskies in the calmer pools, especially in the lower half of the river. Walleye fishing is usually best during winter in the deeper pools up to Huntingdon. Rock bass, locally called redeyes, are the most popular panfish.

The Little Juniata River and the Frankstown Branch, which meet to form the Juniata River, are both loaded with smallmouth bass and trout. The smallmouths tend to be quite small. The trout, mostly browns, tend to be larger, however.