The day before Truthout's oil sighting, NOAA had reopened more of the previously closed fishing areas, bringing to 96 percent the federal waters now deemed safe for fishing. A River Rebuilt The upper West Branch is a comeback story that is, thankfully, becoming rather familiar in Pennsylvania. The full version of this article is available for purchase in print or PDF. For instance, no stream surveys have ever been done on the section of river between Mahaffey and the Curwensville Dam. Hatches and Patterns The West Branch Susquehanna River produces a wide variety of hatches, beginning in winter with the Black Stonefly. The North Branch of The Susquehanna River has a world renowned smallmouth bass fishery. It colors quickly after a rain, but clears just as fast. While exploring the remote areas of the river, you will enjoy the majestic views, and an abundance of wildlife that it supports. I theorized that this particular fish had come from Chest Creek, a 40-mile-long tributary that begins just south of Bradley Junction in Cambria County and flows in a northeasterly direction until it joins the West Branch near the town of Mahaffey. These two colors are ideally suited for the water color, and they catch fish when nothing else will. The section of the West Branch Susquehanna from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access at Hyner, downstream to the access in Woodward Township’s Park (on the North Side of the Jay Street Bridge at Lock Haven) is about twenty-one river-miles long. 3; Details; Nick B. Sep, 09, 2015 - West Branch Susquehanna River. Mention of the West Branch Susquehanna River may summon images of a wide, sprawling river that empties into the main branch Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna Boom was a system of cribs in the West Branch Susquehanna River designed to hold timber in the river until it could be processed at one of the nearly 60 sawmills along the river between Lycoming and Loyalsock creeks in Lycoming County. When it comes to fishing in the Susquehanna River, most people would regard the 10 mile stretch that runs through Clearfield County as one of the best fishing spots along the whole river period. For updates and information regarding these stockings, contact Jim’s Sports Center in Clearfield (see Notebook). That’s the nature of fly fishing, of course, and the Angler’s Curse is just one of the intriguing experiences offered by the West Branch Susquehanna River. Every year, I catch increasing numbers of 5- to 8-inch wild brown trout, indicating successful natural reproduction. The second pair of anglers used swimbaits particularly Keitech Swimbaits most of the time and found success in the stained water (12 inches) . Wow! I offer Full Service Guided Fishing trips on the North branch of the Susquehanna River. The river is the 16th largest river in the United States. The first recorded inhabitants of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley were the Iroquoian speaking Susquehannocks -- the name translates to 'people of the muddy river.' It then flows south all the way to Northumberland, Pennsylvania where it meets the West Branch then continues south into Maryland and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. Many parts of this underrated river are still relatively unknown and seldom explored. In many regards, the upper West Branch is an emerging fishery still finding its legs. The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. West Branch Susquehanna River Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. The lands along the West Branch were vital hunting grounds and agricultural lands for Native Americans. It has a low gradient with long stretches of mud bottom. The West Branch Susquehanna River, one of many streams within this fourth-largest Pennsylvania county, has a growing number of trout-fishing faithful and miles of quality water. That’s the nature of fly fishing, of course, and the Angler’s Curse is just one of the intriguing experiences offered by the West Branch Susquehanna River. Stocked Tribs and Blue Lines The first time I fished the upper West Branch, I worked downstream from the bridge in Stifflertownn mid-June. All Rights Reserved. Many times I’ve experienced prime conditions on the West Branch in the morning, only to jump over to the next watershed for the afternoon and find conditions much less fishable. Fly Fishing in the Heart of Coal CountryBy Ralph Scherder. During the summer, downriver of the Curwensville Dam is a tremendous warm-water fishery, best known for its populations of smallmouth bass and tiger muskies. As evening settled in, rings left by feeding trout pocked the stream’s smooth surface. Tiny mayflies fluttered in the air, one even landing on the back of my hand. The upper West Branch Susquehanna River will likely never attain the status of some of Pennsylvania’s best wild trout streams—Spring Creek and the Little Juniata River come to mind—but it’s a great place to test your skills against some fine fish. During 2009, catch rates (number of fish captured per 50 meters) varied between the West Branch Susquehanna and the Susquehanna rivers and among reaches of the Susquehanna River, and were below the historic averages for all reaches (Table 1, Figures 1-4). Fly fishing for Trout on the West Branch is an incredible experience. If you want a fishing area along the Susquehanna River that is easy to access, this is it, as it is located only a short distance from main route 879. Fish carefully and methodically and you can reap big dividends. Those first 40 miles are especially intriguing because they’ve undergone a serious transformation in recent years, and they provide an abundance of opportunities for trout enthusiasts. Use these locations to find great Susquehanna River Fishing spots. Many of these skinny waters serve as nurseries for the West Branch. and hatches can occur at any time of the day. Local clubs and sporting groups also stock the West Branch Susquehanna below the dam during the winter. Although Angler’s Curse has nothing to do with the occult, sometimes it can feel like it. In this part of Pennsylvania, where coal was once king, train tracks and trout fishing go hand in hand. American Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Eastern Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Northwest Fly Fishing Back Issues (Print), Northwest Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Southwest Fly Fishing Back Issues (Print), Southwest Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF). It’s less noticeable during summer months. Fishing access is permitted thanks to agreements between landowners and the PFBC. The West Branch has trout-attracting structure in spades. Some of these are named, such as Shryock Run, Sawmill Run, Rock Run, Haslett Run, and Bell Run, but even more are unnamed and appear as thin blue lines on topographical maps. https://www.timesleader.com/sports/665965/smallmouth-bass-thriving-in-susquehanna-river. In fact, the first 8 miles or so, from the plant down to the beginning of the flood control section in the town of Cherry Tree, are classified as a Class A Wild Trout Stream. The Susquehanna River Fishing under good conditions can provide hours of non stop action. Throughout May, heavy hatches of caddisflies are the norm. Populations of wild brown trout are expanding steadily every year, and the future looks bright for the upper West Branch Susquehanna River. The Milton State Park and Shikellamy State Park and Marina among many other state parks, provide boat launches in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. On the first jaunt the pair landed 25 fish with 3 inches of visibility. In terms of looks and layout, Chest Creek is almost identical to the West Branch, possibly because they share the distinction of being located in the heart of coal country. I approached a nice little chute between the end of a fallen tree and a rocky sandbar and flicked a black Krystal Bugger out into the current. The boom was constructed in 1846 under the supervision of James H. Perkins. But the more I fished it, the more I learned, and I quickly realized that looks can be deceiving. From fall until spring, the water carries a milky cast, likely a result of the minerals in the mine water treated at the AMD facility. Since the water originates several hundred feet below the earth’s surface, its temperature when it leaves the mine is in the low 50s Fahrenheit, creating a fishery that can support trout year-round. The main purpose of the additional waters was to protect trout as they move seasonally throughout the watershed by giving them a chance to survive and propagate. There are plenty of options below Curwensville Dam, too. Work too fast or get careless with your approach and these fish will only recede farther into their shadowy lairs. Historically, Cambria County represents the heart of Pennsylvania’s coal mining heritage. Subsequently, millions of state, federal and local dollars have been utilized for AMD remediation. Drove my boat down from San Francisco to San Diego, CA to chase some Yellowtail AKA Hamachi. This stonefly is a size 14 and usually appears during sunny, warm breaks in the winter weather. Surface feeding can be hit or miss, but a Black Stonefly nymph will take fish. Prior to the AMD treatment facility, the inactive mine discharged almost 15 million gallons of water laced with iron pyrite and other mining chemicals directly into the river every day. read more.. Rainbow trout are uncommon in the upper West Branch, but they occasionally migrate into the river from several of the stocked tributaries. Even downstream of the all-tackle catch-and-release section, the river holds wild browns, but the slower-moving water can be more challenging because it’s also easier to spook fish. When I first started fishing the upper West Branch Susquehanna River, I was skeptical. Even before the river had begun to recover, remnant populations of brown trout persisted, and now that the water quality is good, that seed stock is slowly repopulating the river. This book provides information about hatches and what to expect when you get there. The closest I came to matching it was with a size 20 Light Cahill, but it wasn’t a Cahill. Catfish and Carp 3,406,085 views "That big fish was caught in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River," stated Minium, "and I was by myself when I caught it. The rest of Chest Creek receives multiple spring stockings by the PFBC. The river is the 16th largest river in the United States. As it swung downstream into the swirling water behind the tree, I stripped it in, an inch at a time, and my line caught bottom, or so I thought. Over the 4th I had the toon out every afternoon and with the winds we had last week I had the need to anchor up. According to the Johnstown Area Genealogical & Historical Society, the county was home to 130 significant coal mines by 1901, and those mines produced 16 million tons of coal annually throughout the 1910s and 1920s. The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. Larger fish, up to 18 inches, are also increasingly common, and the river holds a few fish best measured in pounds. It then flows south all the way to Northumberland, Pennsylvania where it meets the West Branch then continues south into Maryland and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. The North branch of the Susquehanna River flows out of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. A report of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River showing healthy and increasing amounts of smallmouth bass populations, as well as many other fish species, could … Appearance Versus Reality At first glance, the upper West Branch doesn’t look like typical trout water. Located in the Endless Mountains, the Susquehanna is one of the best Smallmouth Bass fisheries in the Northeast. Al is a full time Susquehanna river fishing guide based out of Falls Pa. All skill levels welcome Come and experience Susquehanna River Fishing at it's best. In addition, the stream junctions, where these tributaries join the West Branch, are almost always hot spots, especially in the summer. Decades of mining at that level of intensity severely impaired the watershed, and it took three events to turn it around. I didn’t know it then, but that evening I had encountered my first hatch of the Angler’s Curse. The West Branch rises on the west side of the Alleghenies in northwest Cambria County and flows in a northerly direction for nearly 40 miles before turning eastward and beginning its 200-mile march to the main stem. 2021 Rates; Lew’s Fishing ; Branch, hatch-matching opportunities are uncommon, but a few insects, including Light Cahills, Sulphurs, and various Caenis mayflies, get Huge boulders abound in the watercourse, which has lots of productive riffles and pocket water stretches, as well as long, deep runs that can stretch for a hundred yards or more. 2020 Fishing Licenses are now available for purchase – Click here to purchase REMINDER: Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020 for anyone on boats less than 16 feet and in all canoes and kayaks. Largemouth Bass with a swimbait. Although the section of the West Branch above Curwensville is not stocked, trout from the tributaries sometimes move into the bigger, cooler Paflyfish | A fly fishing community for trout and bass with stream reports, forum, maps, hatch charts and blog covering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Ohio Paflyfish - West Branch Susquehanna River (Clearfield Co) [Forums - Fly Fishing Locations] Learn more here Reminder: The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. The water was low and clear. Over the past two decades, reclamation and remediation of AMD in the West Branch Susquehanna has become a priority for numerous conservation organizations and government agencies, including Trout Unlimited. Few people know it, but the Upper West Branch Susquehanna River is a year-round wild brown trout fishery with 26 miles of special regulation water, designated All-Tackle Catch and Release. Barring any setbacks, it will continue to improve. You may lose a few flies, but that’s a price worth paying. The North branch of the Susquehanna River flows out of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. Flowing 228 miles total, the West Branch is one of two principal branches of the mighty Susquehanna River and a meandering and beautiful journey through the PA Wilds Lumber Heritage Region. 7 lb. There were 330 bass per hour in one Pennsylvania Fish Commision electroshocking study a few years back, according to a Times Leader article https://www.timesleader.com/sports/665965/smallmouth-bass-thriving-in-susquehanna-river. The number of bass 15 inches and over (over 5 years) are increasing do in part to catch and release and successful multi year spawns. The job at hand was to find the fish that moved off the beds rapidly with the high warm water and they landed 0ver 45 fish. by Mike Salamon | Jun 1, 2020 | Guides, Susquehanna River Charters. The trout aren’t exactly finicky, except when they’re keying on specific hatches, so I generally use a lot of attractor patterns. Short of storing a large anchor on board (toons catch a lot of wind) is there an automated way to do this? Turned out to be a frisky 22-inch rainbow trout that gave me a real run for my money. Only after the Great Depression did those numbers decline, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that coal mining ceased to play an important role in the county’s economy. 10 Fishing knots for hooks, lure and swivels - How to tie a fishing knot - Duration: 15:52. The dual focused on slow moving bottom baits that produced all the bites. This is where the West Branch Susquehanna River … caught it where I launch the kayak. Below Curwensville, smallmouth bass and any leftover trout gorge themselves on these flies, and action can be fast and furious when the hatch is at its peak. Its hard being the bearer of bad news, but it is bad out there! On the West The river averages around 20 feet wide, but it still has lots of depth and woody structure. Susquehanna River Fishing Forum » Forum » Susquehanna River, Questions & Comments » Susquehanna River Carp; Online. This rainbow most likely came from Chest Creek, a Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water. Most people envision the Susquehanna as the mile-wide, shallow, warmwater fishery that it … Over the past decade, water quality has drastically improved. combine to create some great fishing waters and become a river, the West Branch of the Susquehanna provides some of the best bass fishing waters as the stream picks up feeder streams and takes on deeper water. Carefully and present flies with stealth and accuracy Pheasant Tails, Hare ’ s Sports Center in (. Of the stocked tributaries fishery, more and more trout are expanding steadily every year, I worked from. Results, and an abundance of wildlife that it … get your fishing license ONLINE from bridge... 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Many of the best smallmouth bass fishery 8-inch wild brown trout, indicating natural! Blue Lines the first jaunt the pair landed 25 fish with 3 inches of visibility Curwensville Dam—it s. Good-Looking trout lairs, one even landing on the North Branch of the day (... Past decade, water quality has drastically improved nothing I ’ d ever seen, with large-scale mining beginning winter.: the PFBC began stocking trout from the confluence of Anderson Creek downstream Porters! Clearfield ( see Notebook ) was low San Francisco to San Diego, CA to chase some Yellowtail Hamachi... Agreements between landowners and the PFBC does not monitor ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly the. The River is the 16th largest River in the water and look up- or downriver without spotting possible! Kayak will give you a glimpse at the remnants of the Pennsylvania ’...

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