Susqy River Raid April 28th ???

[mattbowers01]

April 14 or 24 would work better for me, but I may be able to make the 28th. I am just concerned that it will be a packed weekend as it will be the last weekend before it the season closes. PM if you want some ideas for a float, just be aware that river levels can go up and down quite a bit that time of year. Even though there are alot of variables this time of year, it may be the best fishing of the year! Matt PS. I am planning a raid on the weekend of Sat Aug 4 in the Liverpool area on the Susky.

[PA-Smallies]

I'm guiding most other weekends but the 28th would actually work. I have that weekend off because I'm leaving for the Texas that next week.. Devil's River Tip!!!

[BlueDaksi]

I might be in for the 28th.

[mcca78]

I dont see a reason not to make it so count me in

[wyd]

A raid this time of year in PA is probably not a good idea. A lot of the water up there is closed to fishing for smallmouth during this time due to the spawn.

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/v ... 4/966.html

Good point Aaron. But if I remember Juan correctly, the main river will close the first of May. I've got a trip set up with Juan on the 14th, & he wanted to get the trip in during April. I believe its main Susky, first 35 miles of Juaniata, & 1/2 mile up all other small tribs closed from first of May till middle of June. Need Jeff or Juan to chime in.

Something tells me you PA guys that live close to Potomac will be fishing it more during that time

Good thing we have lots of lakes around to fish in.

[Jocko]

The regulation doesn't sound too prohibitive. You just have to release them without taking them out of the water. I've done this trout fishing out west before. You just take your needle nose and remove the hook while the fish is in the water.

So you're not going to get cited for targeting bass or catching bass during the closed period? Only if you lift it out of the water and snap a photo? Strange rule. Is this really going to deter smallie chasers during the spawn?

I think the fish naturally get tight lipped during the spawn anyway - until the males guard fry.

Sounds like a fun outing - I'd like to attend pending my work schedule. How do these work? Is it just one day? Do people camp?

[oubassman]

Might be missing something with the new regs, but I took it at specifically targeting smallies, whether you release them in the water or not. If one of the reasons for this is to protect the spawn & you could release them in the water, then why have the closed season?

Need some clarification on this.

[SimonSays]

Might be missing something with the new regs, but I took it at specifically targeting smallies, whether you release them in the water or not. If one of the reasons for this is to protect the spawn & you could release them in the water, then why have the closed season?

Need some clarification on this.

Looks that way to me...includes largemouth too

...it is unlawful to target or attempt to catch a bass.

[ldsudduth]

Might be missing something with the new regs, but I took it at specifically targeting smallies, whether you release them in the water or not. If one of the reasons for this is to protect the spawn & you could release them in the water, then why have the closed season?

Need some clarification on this.

It's partially to protect the spawn, but mostly it's a political 'bone' thrown to the anglers who have been asking for years for the PFBC to look at why the Smallmouth population is declining in the Susquehanna. It's placated a few and really irritated the tournament anglers (non-kayak) because they don't want to run C-P-R tournaments. This isn't the forum spot here to talk about that, though.

However, for clarification, on Page 5 of the reg manual, it says 'Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass--Catch and Release' above the box where the regulations are printed. So, it's both species. Granted, I think Smallmouth are more prevalent in the river system than Largemouth--but both populations are unhealthy.

[mcca78]

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Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, York
Susquehanna River (98.0 miles) from the inflatable dam near Sunbury downstream to Holtwood Dam, including all tributaries to a point ½ mile upstream from the confluence
Bass (smallmouth and largemouth) – [No harvest year-round – catch and immediate release only;] From [12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11] May 1 to 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11 – Closed season; [N]no tournaments[;]. During the closed season, it is unlawful to target or attempt to catch a bass. A bass that is accidentally caught during the closed season must be immediately released unharmed without being removed from the water. It is unlawful to possess bass in, on or along these waters.
Remainder of the year – No harvest – catch and immediate release only; [C]catch-measure-immediate release tournaments only.
Dauphin, Juniata, Perry
Juniata River (31.7 miles) from SR0075 bridge at Port Royal downstream to the mouth, including all tributaries to a point ½ mile upstream from the confluence
Bass (smallmouth and largemouth) – [No harvest year-round – catch and immediate release only;] From [12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11] May 1 to 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11 – Closed season; [N]no tournaments[;]. During the closed season, it is unlawful to target or attempt to catch a bass. A bass that is accidentally caught during the closed season must be immediately released unharmed without being removed from the water. It is unlawful to possess bass in, on or along these waters.
Remainder of the year – No harvest – catch and immediate release only; [C]catch-measure-immediate release tournaments only.
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It was originally going to start on April 15th, it got pushed back till May 1, basically reads that there is NO fishing for ANY bass on the waters stated above during this time frame. It is what it is but there are MANY ALTERNATIVE waters to fish. There are some regs for what are considered BIG BASS waters in PA that also have a closed season, but not ALL rivers and lakes are listed in it.