Heavy current, BIG SMALLMOUTH

With the Susquehanna River still rising to a peak of almost 8 feet at the Harrisburg Gauge, ‪@JakeHarshman‬ and I do a "reverse float trip", going from point B to point A. The key to what ended up being a wildly successful day for both of us was to find the little bit of calm water remained behind flooded grass beds, and in my case a narrow strip of slightly clearer water downstream of a creek. This is part 2 of 3 in a series that spans almost a week and encompasses three distinct parts of a major rise from a summer time major rain event, and how to effectively fish each stage of the rise. Both Jake and I used a Torqeedo powered inflatable kayak, the Innovative Sportsman Osprey 1436. This type of trip with a high rate of flow requires a motorized kayak.

[@scottfrey2710]

I learn so much from your videos, Jeff! Thank you!! I never would have guessed anything would hit in water that muddy...NICE!

[@TheLittleStuff]

They have to eat. The river gets muddy, sometimes for a while. They use lateral line, hearing, scent/taste. More flow also pushes them into predictable places.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I enjoyed the video, nicely done. Great day on the water for both of you guys. Congrats. Thanks for you both sharing your tips.

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thank you for watching Kevin!

[@riverrat988]

Class is on

[@kevinsinvegas]

Wow what a day. I need to get to fishing some rivers. Great video!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Look through the “Kayak Fishing Skills” playlist to get yourself up to speed on river fishing. The River Kayak Fishing Skills DVD video is the first video I edited ever. It has so much good info to help you become quickly effective as a river kayak angler.

[@jasonvenesky2438]

We haven’t seen any high water despite the rains this summer. At least nothing significant. Really enjoyed the recap. Great day!

[@TheLittleStuff]

We are getting all of it in central PA and north! Some area of NY got 11 inches to create this massive slug of water!

[@johnwhite993]

Like the new truck. I do the same thing with my ketchup, can’t do the little cups. Awesome fish and now a new channel to watch. Just don’t get any better. Thanks guys for bringing us along

[@TheLittleStuff]

I do so many tips and tricks. Never thought that the napkin ketchup thing would be one of them! 😂

[@johnwhite993]

@@TheLittleStuff make it so much easier 😃

[@a.j.mockaitisii8458]

Nice fish. Good info. You should get a Rogue tether for the phone. Hate to see it slip out of wet hands.😮

[@TheLittleStuff]

I have one somewhere. I also have their drag straps.

[@johndrx165]

What a day!

[@TheLittleStuff]

It was fun!

[@HookLife]

Not sure when you shot this video, but Happy Birthday Jeff

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks! Coming up this week.

[@Jason.Oliveria]

Thanks for the great videos. I like the new truck too sir!

[@TheLittleStuff]

I’m happy to have something that doesn’t have almost 300K miles! My almost 16 year old son is taking over the gray one. Good first vehicle for him. He and I have cleaned it thoroughly, and put some fender flares to hide the rust! 😂

[@DFKfishing]

Tuesday I fished the fire company to Sally's, on the rise and slammed big fish. Went back on Friday, on the fall and it got weedy as heck and had trouble putting 20 small fish in the boat. Btw I'm trying to get Sally's mailing address, me and my friends that use her launch would like to send a gift card to her.

[@TheLittleStuff]

That’s a kind gesture. By Saturday the only fishable water was tributary cleaner water. They could be caught main river by grinding in the few eddys that remained, but the bite was great in tribs. That’s the next video. Tuesday.

[@DFKfishing]

I'll be watching. Sunday we fished the Junianata but only caught 15 all under 12 inches.

[@georgetollefsen994]

Great Video! Awesome Fish Jeff! Do you loss a lot of fish on the Jackhammer? I have lost more fish on that bait than any other bait? I don’t know if it’s the Rod action or the hook being so heavy on the Jackhammer. I have lost fish after a 15or 20 seconds on, that’s a good amount of time to not be hooked well enough? Great info Jeff. I think you sharked Jake into buying dinner! Lol

[@TheLittleStuff]

I lose a few on the Jackhammer, but overall it’s a fairly good hook up to landing ratio. I throw it on a medium heavy moderate fast rod. The rod build I am doing now is to replace the old St. Croix that I have been using for bladed jigs. How is your drag set?

[@georgetollefsen994]

@@TheLittleStuff my drag is set so they can take drag if they’re good fish, I use a bait caster for the Jackhammer. I maybe need to go to a spinning rod? The bait caster seems to to stop in your hand on a strike so I lean on the fish pretty good to set the hook. It’s a medium fast action StCroix victory series. I lost what I think might have been a 20+ , I had him on for 20 seconds or so and had him next to my kayak with tension on even when he jumped, I’m pretty calm but it ruined my day! Lol 😂 great stuff Jeff! Thanks for your feedback 👍👍👍

[@georgetollefsen994]

@@TheLittleStuff Jeff do you find it slow after a rise in the River has come down? I have found it slow after the rise and fall, maybe the fish have gorged themselves during the bait buffet.

[@johnwhite993]

Spending the day fishing with your friend and then him buying dinner, just don’t get any better

[@TheLittleStuff]

It was a great day for sure. These high flow on the rise days are amazing as far as opportunities for big fish. It concentrates them and flushes out food sources for them.

[@robswoodsandcustomsawmilli9940]

Is that the Jackell spinerbait

[@TheLittleStuff]

I can’t recall the brand, but I do not own any Jackall spinnerbaits.

[@robswoodsandcustomsawmilli9940]

@@TheLittleStuff ok I know Jake was talking about a discointinued spinerbait the Jackell super eruption on some podcast I watched.

[@hectorrios1266]

What crankbait is that????

[@TheLittleStuff]

LiveTarget Craw Crankbait. No longer made.

[@Davidfca1]

Would you take the Torquido 403 to do this river run? Thank you.

[@TheLittleStuff]

There were places that the 403 could not get up through on this particular day. It was a lot of flow!

[@Davidfca1]

@@TheLittleStuff Thank you, sir. I think I heard in a video that your birthday might be soon. Happy birthday Jeff =) I thank you for your Amazing service to the fishing community. I am a new kayak angler and have been learning quite a lot from you.

[@davidredding7694]

Jeff what put in is that ?

[@TheLittleStuff]

It’s not a secret, and I might misspell Sweigarts Island, but if the launch point is your #1 question about that video, you are missing some important pattern lessons. Pattern>Location

[@davidredding7694]

@@TheLittleStuff thanks for the info. I’ve been binge watching your videos and have learned a lot.