Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania [Archive]

Brett2

04-13-2006, 10:51 PM

Hey Tan! i just saw this post.
I was out tonight fishing for 2 hours with minnows, no flatheads, but a 22 inch channel. I fished at the base of a railroad trestle (bridge), but maybe the dam would have been better. The water was 62 degrees. Just glad to see any catfish hit, also a lot of fish were jumpin.

Blacky

04-25-2006, 10:16 PM

Brett,

When the river goes down by next week, the flatheads should be ON!!!!! Keep me posted with your reports.

tan

Catsfurducks

04-26-2006, 11:51 PM

Blacky, I noticed you posted a comment on another thread about the new state record coming from the Skyukill River. I agree in time it very well may be possible. Don't know if you've ever fished any of the western rivers but it is a whole nother ball game. Those fish are sharks, I mean people catch 20 and 30 pounders with regularity. That hasn't happened yet on the Skuykill. Given enough time we will see that. For now I'm trying to break 20 pounds on the Skuk. Has anyone done that yet? I'm not talking about word of mouth I want an official weight, from a person who witnessed it. None of this "my buddy caught a 25 pounder, but I wasn't there" or "I caught a 20 pounder but I didn't weigh it" I've heard alot of that. No offical eyewitness accounts though.

Has anyone taken a temp of the river? I don't live as close as I once did so I can't take water temperatures regularly, it shouldn't be too long until the water is right and the big boys put the feed bags on.

The biggest problem I'm having right now is catching bait, I prefer rock bass and they haven't started feeding yet either. Guess I'll have to hit some farm ponds, water will be warmer and the gills will be biting. I can settle for my second best bait.

Let me know how the conditions are on the river. As soon as bait is in the bucket I'll be trying to rip the lips of some pre spawn flatties.

Blacky

04-27-2006, 08:47 PM

cats,

my friend got a 23lb last summer.

Brett2

04-27-2006, 09:54 PM

My biggest is 16-17 lb and have caught a few that size, but plan on breaking at least 20 lb this year. Lost one over a dam that i would estimate to be 20 lbs. I can't wait until they get huge, though I bet there are some 30 lbs or more in there. The water temperature is now 59-60 degrees.

Blacky

04-27-2006, 11:18 PM

Brett,

Prespawn should be SOON!!!!!

Blacky

05-23-2006, 12:04 AM

Got my PA personal best Flathead on sunday night. It was a 28lb 30z. Caught on a nose hooked bluegill. Quick but bulldog fight.

Brett2

05-23-2006, 10:33 PM

That is awesome! Good job... I can't wait to start catching them, and am DEFINITELY going for flatheads over this memorial day weekend possibly out in the boat too.

Blacky

05-24-2006, 12:23 AM

Brett,

Today, guided Louis from fishguys to his first flatty.

Brett2

05-25-2006, 09:54 PM

That's good to hear! We took a class trip to Maggiano's and the Reading Terminal and we went over a bridge or too over the river and I wanted to fish so bad haha.

Blacky

05-28-2006, 01:40 PM

Philly Flatasaurus caught in the city limits of Philadelphia

Blacky

05-28-2006, 01:51 PM

Place: Schuylkill River

Time: (;24 PM

Bait: sucker

Weight: 28lbs 3 os

My buddy caught one 37 lbs, so Brett and the rest of you SKUKEHEADS, they in there!!!!! And they a BIG!!!!! Go get em' guys!!!!!!!!!

Brett2

05-31-2006, 04:15 PM

GGGGGGGGreat fish!

delawareriver

05-31-2006, 05:01 PM

wow now i wanna get down there and try my luck

Blacky

05-31-2006, 11:18 PM

delawareriver,

down here, it's not luck, in my spot---it's a guarantee.
Been skunked once out of 20 trips.

dbowers

06-01-2006, 08:48 PM

Wow ..after reading this thread, i think i wanna get a PA license and head over to the Skuke. Heck I live 15 20 minutes from there over the bridge:big_smile:

Blacky

06-02-2006, 11:17 PM

Thursday night 5 flatties before and during a big thunderstorm

Friday SKUNKED!!!!!!!

My excuse--the river was high, raging, and chocolate.

Blacky

07-02-2006, 01:35 AM

With the river muddy, i decided to fish the mouth of the Wissahickon Creek. I was determined not to get skunked. I caught a flathead taht was about 6 inches long. I was very happy. That little fella will now live in my fishtank.

Blacky

07-14-2006, 12:17 AM

Got 3 flatheads tonigh 3, 5, and 7lbs. Nice to see them biting again.

anglerwantab

07-15-2006, 07:58 PM

ever try salmon steaks for bait? i tried no luck........... o know blue gill cut or live....... but whats the best way to catch blue gills with out wasting half my fishing time?

Blacky

07-16-2006, 12:49 AM

Part of flathead fishing is getting the bait. You're usual 5 hr trip must be 7 or 8 hrs now because you are getting the livelys. In the Schuylkill, I don't actually like to use bluegils. I like red-breasted sunfish, green sunfisn, pumpkinseed, and suckers. Di that below Fairmount Dam West River side and you'll run into one. I don't like fishing there because it's tidal.

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

07-16-2006, 07:32 AM

anglerwantab - Welcome to the B.O.C.!:0a25:

Blacky - Great job on catching those Flatties!

eastPAchris

07-17-2006, 03:57 PM

hey guys, Im new here, I just started fishing the schuylkill for flatheads this year. Last night we got into some better fish, 5 fish, 3 were mid teens, 14lbs, 16lbs and 17lbs. The flatheads must be off the spawn now, and they are starting to eat.

chugger

07-17-2006, 07:33 PM

im around norristown, how is the fishing around the river there

Blacky

07-20-2006, 03:37 PM

chugger,

try the norristown dam during high-water conditions. I heard from other PA catmen that flatheads hold up there after a good rain. During lower and stable water conditions, try fishing a couple hundred yards below the dam (find and fish the deepest hole). Schuylkill flatheads use rocks and rip-rap as their main source of cover. Fallen trees and logjams are far and near here.

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

07-21-2006, 01:31 AM

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

07-21-2006, 01:32 AM

chugger - Welcome to the B.O.C.!

serb

07-24-2006, 03:45 PM

I got this 6lb channel on a liver yesterday, basically they were all around 4-6 lbs from this one hole my buddy and me fished... but today I am going out and catching live bait and going for the big ones tonight since I have off. Hopefully something bites

6lb cat
http://sabbra.com/images/6lbcat.jpg

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

07-25-2006, 01:29 AM

serb - Welcome to the B.O.C.!:0a25:

ibohunter

07-26-2006, 07:17 PM

Could Anyone Please Give Me Directions To Flat Rock Boat Lauch From Reading, Pa, Thanks

Blacky

08-03-2006, 01:46 AM

Caught a 20lber last night and a 24lb 10oz flathead tonight. Would love to post the pics but it always say i exceed my limit. Could someone post the pic for me if I e-mail the pics to them??? Mark??? PM me and i'll send it to you. Thanks for the help.

ibohunter

08-03-2006, 09:23 AM

email picture to and i will do it for you

could you please give me directions to the flat rock boat ramp

thanks

jim

Blacky

08-03-2006, 10:06 AM

Jim,

I have no idea where it's at. I fish from the bank.
I'll send you the pics later when i get home.

cooo2

08-07-2006, 09:13 AM

Delawareriver,

Yes, there are plenty of flatheads in the schuykill river!!! fish any dam a night with bluegills. What's great is that not many fish for them or even know how to fish for them. I can show you a few things:)

Tan im new on the site, but I would mind if you could tell me the best wat to fish for cats? I just put bait on and cast out. What kind of rigging is best?

cooo2

08-07-2006, 10:51 AM

Tan what kind of rigging do you use when catfishing with bluegills?

Blacky

08-07-2006, 10:56 AM

cooo2,

Go to the flathead catfish section of the BOC, read the post and threads, and apply what you have read to area you are fishing. The guys on this site know way more than I do.

Better off, post a new thread or questions you need to ask, others members will gladly help you on questions you have.

For catfishing, I use a slip sinker rig or a 3-way swivel rig.

Gone fishin 4 kittys

08-07-2006, 01:41 PM

Carolina rig

Sinker
Bead
Swivel
leader
hook

When the fish hit it the weight will shoot up the line and the fish won't be able to feel it!

Josh

Blacky

08-27-2006, 09:27 PM

i won the local VFW Catfish tournament in Philly with a 27lb 4oz flathead. That fish was my 2nd PA personal best.

serb

08-28-2006, 12:21 AM

That's awesome... I wanted to enter in it but was at the shore visiting with family. I did get to fish tonight for about an hour and with the recent rain and current rain while fishing, I hooked into a nice 15lb flathead and missed a really nice one, then I left since I told my fiance I would be home and had to be good since I know I will be out a ton this week. Just pumped that the river got some rain.

You make some decent money from the tournament?

Blacky

08-31-2006, 02:19 AM

another 25lber tonight.

this makes 4 fish over 25lbs this year!!!!

kaleigh

09-04-2006, 02:26 PM

hey Tan

where are you catchin those nice fish at? I am only about 1 hr away from you near Allentown.

Blacky

09-06-2006, 11:49 PM

I fish all the dams including blackrock, norristown, and flatrock dam.

kaleigh,

Isn't vincent dam up your way????? The introduction of flatheads to the Schuylkill has made fishing more exciting.

truckin4x4

09-07-2006, 12:08 AM

never have man but i hope you do and catch something to post

Airbone

09-07-2006, 09:18 AM

Any of ya'll fished the Auburn dam up near Hamburg and the new Cabela's? Just was looking at a topo map and looks like it could be a nice spot.

Blacky

09-07-2006, 11:14 AM

Flathead catfish can be caught in the Scuylkill River between Philadelphia and Reading.

ibohunter

09-07-2006, 03:41 PM

hi airborn:
fished the dam a lot, but it is now choked with weeds, tough to fish and also to motor with boat

Airbone

09-07-2006, 08:59 PM

Thanks ibo, when I go scoutin for deer at SGL 110 thinkin about popping down there just to see what it looks like.

Blacky

09-09-2006, 04:37 PM

got this bad boy last night

thepresident

09-09-2006, 06:36 PM

fishing for channels below fairmount dam is pretty solid

if youre into flathead fishing - try flatrock dam - ive seen some monsters come out of there

Blacky

09-11-2006, 10:41 PM

Philly area bros,

Get to the Schuylkill NOW!!!! The bite was on tonight when my friend and I showed up at a local spot in the middle of the city with 12 bluegills. We set our rods out at 6:30 hoping to get a fish. It looked dim for the first 45 minutes, but as the sun went down the came out to eat. Got my first fish at 7:30 and 5 fish later it was 8:15PM. We ran out of bait. 6 flatheads in 45 minutes!!!!

justme

09-12-2006, 01:45 AM

Hey , If you dont mind one day can i drop down and go fishing with you or can you point me to a spot ... i went to where the flat rock dam is i think .... i guess it is where the falls (fish ladder) is and i got the run around ... people sent me form one side to the other .... telling me the dam was on the other side every time ... i was going crazy any advice would be great all i catch in allentown is small fish. Where i went is to the gladwine exit went down to the one lane bridge parked on the side and went to the lower part of the fish ladder was i in the right spot ... thanks

Blacky

09-12-2006, 10:29 AM

Pitch a bluegill into the boils under the dam. You WILL lose some tackle but that's where the fish are at.

thepresident

09-12-2006, 08:54 PM

the schuylkill below flat rock dam is solid flathead territory

tbartek

09-12-2006, 09:38 PM

airborne and thepresident welcome to the BOC:0a25:

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

09-13-2006, 06:19 AM

airborne and thepresident welcome to the BOC:0a25:

Welcome on board guys!:0a25:

Blacky

09-13-2006, 10:10 AM

fishing for channels below fairmount dam is pretty solid

if youre into flathead fishing - try flatrock dam - ive seen some monsters come out of there

Flatrock is OK, but most of my monsters have come above Flatrock.

Hit my spot again last night from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. Managed 3 small ones with numerous lost runs. Gonna fish every night!!!

ibohunter

09-13-2006, 11:10 AM

You said above flatroc, do you fish on boat or shore

Blacky

09-13-2006, 11:31 AM

Jim,

I don't own a boat and 100% of all my fish have been caught on the bank.

In fact, the spot i have been to the last 2 nights is 30 yards away from a bar on the river. It's nice to have some free music while you're waiting for a bite.

kaleigh

09-16-2006, 12:09 PM

Where do you fish at? I live in the Allentown-Bethlehem area. Would love to hook up with you to fish.I need some new places to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blacky

09-16-2006, 08:22 PM

Kaleigh,

I fish the Schuylkil from Philadelphia to Phoenixville.

Here's one from last night,

Blacky

09-18-2006, 11:17 PM

New Personal Best Flathead Tonight, 32lb 8oz!!!!!!

Pics Later.....

thepresident

09-18-2006, 11:19 PM

thanks guys, im going camping in the susquehanna state park tomorrow - im going to try to catch some catties - ill let you know how it goes

Blacky

09-19-2006, 11:17 PM

My new PA personal best

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

09-20-2006, 02:45 AM

My new PA personal best

Blacky - Congrats on the new personal best Flathead! That is a real hog! Way to go!:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

Blacky

10-05-2006, 02:34 PM

help me out fellas,

I know fall is a great time to get flatheads, but my buddies and I have not been able to locate them. We fish our usually spots which produced for us all throughout the summer. Then fall comes and we have 1 16lber to show for. Are we doing something wrong??? Are we fishing wrong places???? HELP!!!!