Cooling off, early fall smallmouth patterns on the Susquehanna

‪@JakeHarshman‬ and I hit some familiar water in Harrisburg. I found three baits and matching presentations that worked well for the varied areas we fished:
‪@ZManFishingProducts‬ 7 inch Scented Jerk Shad fished quickly in a straight retrieve on the surface in the shallows near grass beds at the heads of islands.
A Z-Man Jackhammer with the Scented Jerk Shad as trailer anywhere there was turbulent water.
A ‪@billlewisfishing‬ MR-6 crankbait to dig around in the deeper ledge/trench structure.

[@johnwhite993]

Great video Jeff. You and Jake are a comedic duo. All the info you share is so good

[@TheLittleStuff]

There is a certain chemistry there. Jake’s a good friend. My filter thins a bit around good friends. 😂

[@bruce7992]

Another very enjoyable video Jeff! Thanks for bringing us along. My primary rig in the summer months, deeper water, is a KVD 5" caffeine shad, on an owner flashy swimmer rig. Similar to what you are doing. Tight lines.

[@TheLittleStuff]

I just looked up the Flashy Swimmer. Nice looking underspin of sorts.

[@jeffreyriddle4645]

"The attack occurred?" Lmao!!! Is that like the crime scene??? Love your content!!

[@mandellmangahas]

Great content, thank you. On what date was this recorded if I may ask? I also fished that stair wall recently and didn't get anything either so I'm curious.

[@TheLittleStuff]

About 10 days ago.

[@dwaynewinebarger6819]

Hey Jeff I caught a smallie this morning that has orange markings on it. I only saw it when I got back to camp and and looked at a pic. The sun was really glaring and I didn't notice it while I was on the water or I would've taken more pics. Have you ever seen anything like that? If you wanna see the pic tell me where to send it. Yesterday was AWESOME out on the river. If you were out did you see all the lantern flies floating down the river?

[@TheLittleStuff]

The pigmentation varies quite a bit from one smallmouth fishery to another. I live within the Monocacy River watershed. The smallmouth in the upper Monocacy frequently have brilliantly bright fins. I caught a largemouth last year on the Shenandoah that was very orange pigmented all over its body. The lantern fly invasion is intense. We have them at home. I observed catfish gobbling them up off the surface when fishing the upper Chesapeake week before last. Don’t let them land on you and stay there. They can bite. I had one bite me. I’ve had red pigmentation on my abdomen ever since. 😂 LanternFlyMan! Might be a good Halloween costume. But seriously, they do bite.

[@dwaynewinebarger6819]

Thanks. This was on the Susky at Halifax. Never saw that before>@@TheLittleStuff

[@chandlerfoltz9154]

I’ve noticed in the past you’ve used a spinning rod for jackhammers, I was wondering what power and action the rod is? I prefer using a spinning rod as much as possible but have never tried power fishing with one.

[@TheLittleStuff]

I like a Jackhammer on a medium heavy fast spinning rod if I am skipping it deep into overhanging branches. Usually tidal largemouth fishing. On the baitcaster, I have a 3 part series on building that specific rod. It’s in the Custom Rods playlist.

[@chandlerfoltz9154]

@@TheLittleStuff I’ll check that out, thanks for the knowledge.

[@bradleygarman3436]

Another great informative video Jeff, I've learned alot from you & Jake, You should do a video of you & Jake having a friendly competition.

[@TheLittleStuff]

We did that. He won with 95 inches. I had 94. Heavy current, BIG SMALLMOUTH kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZjdiJiFqs6NsNE

[@riverrat988]

Way to break it down. Awesome video. Unfortunately the homeless problem is really bad here in Missouri

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks for watching. The homeless tend to really like a fresh package of socks. I have some empathy for them. Tougher times are coming. There will be more.

[@Hennedup123]

I enjoy both your channel and Jakes! I’m sure with your comments in this one he will have to let that hat out couple notches! Hahahaha…..keep ‘em coming!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks for watching Tony!

[@meyouknow1226]

Good deal man. They dump sewer right on that wall it's nasty when they release it

[@TheLittleStuff]

Another reason why I would rather just fish elsewhere. I thought I smelled something 💩.

[@chazman4461]

I love fall smallmouth. Wish I could get out.

[@TheLittleStuff]

I hope you find a way to do so.

[@timothythompson6549]

It's surprising where I see homeless people camping. There are places where I used to access the water that I won't use now because of it.

[@TheLittleStuff]

We need more low income housing.

[@timothythompson6549]

​@@TheLittleStuffabsolutely. That being said, most of the cases we have locally are addicts. A handful of mental illness cases too. A lot are a combination of both. People who can't really function in regular society and hold down jobs. It's really sad.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

That's a great pattern. I discovered basically a similar one using a 4" ringworm on the Potomac and in creeks with just a tiny bit of weight. I call it buzzworming, because you cast it out and fish the worm like a buzzbait. It's a topwater pattern for sure, and, you can always drop it down and fish it subsurface, or cast and do that without changing lures. I figured it out because I would be jigging the worm and not getting hits on a "slow" day, only to reel up to make another cast and a smallie would chase it and hit it as I was taking it our of the water or close to me with no line out. And, they smashed it, not just hit it. So, I started doing it on purpose and lo and behold, it became a reliable pattern. I've done well with it mostly in the summer, but I haven't tried it in the fall. I like using the bigger profile bait to do it in the Susky, thanks for the heads up on that. I'll have to give it a try.

[@colinkelly279]

I was JUST getting ready to ask why I never see anyone fishing on the steps before that mystery was solved. I can see why, and relate to, why you don't like fishing in the urban areas. All you needed to add to it was gunshots and a police chase. Great video and I continue to appreciate the insights into what and where to catch em.

[@TheLittleStuff]

Jake and I had an interaction with an obviously drug impaired and aggressive homeless guy a while back in this area. He was in our personal space, blocking our access and just being threatening. Jake ended up calling the authorities after he shoved the man away in retaliation and self protection from the guy making contact with him. We didn’t have this level of homelessness here in central PA five years ago. They have spread out as far north as Duncannon. They poop wherever. I have compassion, but this is a problem that needs to be addressed, probably with initiatives for much more low income housing. It is sad. There are layers of dysfunction.

[@Davis-x2s]

Skipping a bait caster is easy. Double your breaks and the better your roll the smother the skip.

[@Mdkayakangler]

Awesome video Jeff I’m excited to try the jerk shad on my he upper Potomac this weekend thanks for sharing

[@TheFishingMommy]

Truly appreciate your breakdowns. I’m learning so much! Can’t wait to get to the Susky in a few days!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Right on. Might see you there later this week.

[@TheFishingMommy]

@@TheLittleStuff I’ll be up further north practicing within tournament waters, so if you come up there and I see ya I will definitely say hi!

[@brendanlee8287]

I have gotten into the habit of pulling the magnet off the throttle when I hook one. To many times I hit that and anything can go wrong. I have fished a little north of that spot you and Jake were fishing using your illustrations on where the fish tend to be behind islands. Worked well. Thanks Jeff

[@TheLittleStuff]

Pulling the magnet should be an instinct when things get complicated. Glad the illustrations are helping!

[@jasonvenesky2438]

Glad you got your rehabbed crank bait back from that flathead! I love how everyone says to downsize in the fall and you go big!

[@TheLittleStuff]

It was probably 15 minutes of pulling and not seeing it before the hook pulled through. I made more of that crank and some MR-12s too. Good price point crank. They make a green one that looks good for craw initiation.

[@YourNextCast]

Very cool kayak and camera set up. Liking that chatterbait too.

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks!

[@georgetollefsen994]

Great Job Jeff!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks George. I’ll be on the water tomorrow with Kristine Fischer and later this week with Drew Gregory.

[@georgetollefsen994]

@@TheLittleStuff good luck 👍 have fun. I will see the video when you upload 👍

[@svengalt9546]

I love skating the jerk shad and I thank you for introducing me to that technique. I can't fish with trebles in most of my favorite fisheries for most of the year and even my flashy swim underspins collect too much veg/algae for me to deal with, but I can always rely on darting and dragging that very weedless presentation across the top. It's also really nice to be able to slide that elztech over a belly weight.

[@svengalt9546]

I keep forgetting to ask: when you retrieve the jackhammer, do you prefer to keep your rod more parallel or perpendicular to the line as you reel?

[@TheLittleStuff]

I’m glad to hear that you are using it!

[@TheLittleStuff]

I’m not sure. There is a ton of Jackhammer retrieval in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn-oZ2atndBjfdEsi=GJP2hGH4nwb60N2h