Big Smallmouth Bass, Susquehanna River, Williamsport PA, October 2024

[@fishntools]

I caught many 5+ lb. SM bass this summer at Susquehanna Park ripping a 3/4oz. Johnson weedless Silver Spoon through the grass. a) sharpen that hook b) rip it thru the grass, don't reel it! Some will miss it but chase it again if you throw it back, hang on, the strikes are violent! I guess no one here has ever fished for bass before using spoons as everyone who passes by asks me about Musky? Learn to fish a spoon, it's a great tool to have in the box😉 , could provide an edge against others.

[@JonathanPhillipsFishing]

@fishntools In the past month most days I've been out I have caught around 50 bass and Couple days have caught close to 100. This year I have focused on improving my drop shot game and it hasn't disappointed. I've been mostly fishing Sunbury above the dam and williamsport since I have a glass boat

[@fishntools]

@@JonathanPhillipsFishing LOL, don't count the dinks, as they are only fish in training.

[@JonathanPhillipsFishing]

So ya up in williamsport above the dam the average fish up there is a 2 pounder. Now from Sunbury to williamsport I would say your average fish is a 3lber. I did have a 2 day stretch down there a couple weeks ago where I put about 150 fish in the boat across 2 days fishing about a total of 12 hours and I would say my smallest fish during that time was a high1 or low 2, but u could tell the feed was on hard just by how bad the fish stank haha. However that is probly the best I have ever done on the river in ten years so I probly just hit it perfectly.

[@fishntools]

Those in Harrisburg (40 miles down river) say the bite is on??? I've been hunting the W.Branch from Montgomery to Montoursville (every day) and the only action I can find is dead sticking a G.Pump Tickler on a Ned. Throw it and touch nothing ( don't raise it, drag or hop it) if it moves they will leave otherwise they'll stare at it for minutes before picking it up! I've watched this happen several times, so I ask........when does the WBranch bass put their feed bags on? My log states that last year this time fish were aggressively feeding (I fish EVERY day).

[@JonathanPhillipsFishing]

@fishntools Honestly the feed has been on for the last month or so. It did slow down a little when the Temps dropped but I'm guessing it will pick back up as the fish adjust to the water temperature drop

[@fishntools]

@@JonathanPhillipsFishing Dinks, dinks everywhere. I can't find the larger minnows (where the fun fish roam) only the 1.5" ones which I suspect is the root cause of this issue. Can't get a hit on Nikko craws, leeches or hellgramites at the foot of Loyalsock creek either. PS- Nor have I seen ANY fish rise to eat in the past two weeks. I don't feel bad about this because everyone else returning to the dock has had the same results.

[@JonathanPhillipsFishing]

@fishntools So my experience the past month has been they been out offshore on grass patches or structure. Idk if u have some form of livescope but I have had times where I'm catching five fish off of some of these. Now if I pound the bank I had alot of the same result catching alot of dinks. That being said with these cooler Temps u will see alot more bigger ones move to the bank. Just my experience, though, I would say your experience might be more accurate with the amount of time u spend on the river.

[@fishntools]

@@JonathanPhillipsFishing Appreciate the feedback and clarity in regards to insight and what you're experiencing!

[@JonathanPhillipsFishing]

@@fishntools no problem, thanks for giving me ideas too !!