March 18, 2024 – Wind and Cold are Four Letter Words but Fortunately So are Tube and Bass – The Mighty Susquehanna River

Mitches catch fishes.

I have not fished let alone hung out with my good friend Young Kenny in ages, so when he rolled up on his motorcycle last week, I was happy to see him.  When he told me he had an opening today on the main branch of the Susquehanna for an early season smallie trip with Chris Gorsuch and Reel River Adventures, I was even happier to see him.  Of course, it was 70 degrees and sunny that day.  March weather changes, and by the time Eric and I were fishing on Sunday morning, a cool breeze had returned ahead of a series of cold fronts.  We were going either way, Kenny and me.  It had been too long, and we both had the utmost confidence in Chris, whom we knew would take care of us, shelter us from the worst of the weather, and find us some fish.  The fact that we beat the worst of the first cold front and also caught 72 mostly nice bass between the two us speaks for itself.  It was a fantastic late winter trip with a few fish over 18 inches and many in the mid-teens enthusiastically eating tubes, ned rigs, and other small soft plastics.  For me, a heavier ¼ ounce lead head was the only alteration needed to account for the high water and wind, a way to have more contact and less line bow.  Fish still thumped the heavier baits too.

We caught 72 bass in the cold, wind, and high, dirty water.  Some good ones too.

I met Kenny at his house at 6 AM and we arrived early for the 9 AM departure time.  Chris’s wife reminded him the night before that the wind chill was going to be 35 or something ridiculous at 7 AM, so waiting for what little sun to warm things up a bit was probably wise.  I guess I am part of the club now because Chris greeted us both with a hearty hug.  He is not only a good captain but good company, and I know he appreciates the fish Kenny and I catch, which have to be good for the socials and business in general, but more importantly the belly laughs that Kenny and I can supply—I swear that truckers on 322 must have witnessed Kenny doing a Kid and Play leg-grab dance worthy of House Party 2, and I may have tried to twerk after a particularly good run of fish.  In addition to having fun, Kenny and I do have real talks and play catch up on the long rides there and back.  And we fish hard even in tough conditions.  The wind was not bad to start, but as the day progressed, the east side of the river was unmanageable even in a heavy 20-foot jet boat with spot lock on the trolling motor and two power poles.  We had limited success early on an east bank spot, but when we tried a creek mouth on the east side later in the afternoon, the attempt did not last long.  Instead, Chris returned to the late morning and midday game plan that was working, tucking us into some creek mouths and behind islands on the west side of the river. 

We had a chance, twice...

Dirty and high water, so I jokingly called my tube “the arborist.”  Kenny and I helped do a spring cleanup for the next jamokes to fish these spots.  I believe the classic Caddyshack line, “Right in the lumber yard” was even evoked as gusts took the baits on a flight once in a while.  Chris is always happy when the crew is catching and always patiently continues tying and serving as rod caddy, so breaks in the fishing are few.  Snags are just par for the course this time of year and under these conditions, and fortunately for us so are rather short runs out there exposed in the river.  I caught plenty of fish pretty much dead drifting a ned rig in the current under overhangs and close to cover, but the dead drift also brought up a lot of dead (drift)wood, so I settled on the heavier tube as I mentioned above.  Having control of the lift AND the fall paid dividends.  Because this river never ceases to amaze and surprise, we even had a chance at a musky, both of us, a fact confirmed on Tuesday.  Kenny and I both got bitten off in the same spot, and Chris returned to the same creek mouth the next day and not only caught a musky but also retrieved one of our tubes from its mouth.  At least one of our hook sets was solid, you know?  A good, good day.

Some bonus shots.  Tough old dudes.  A swimbait fish.  Thanks Chris!