[J. Lewis]

Annnnd so begins another wonderful PA flathead season on the beautiful Susquehanna River, I'll be using this thread to document my adventures this year, but I'd love to see some other people chime in!!

A buddy of mine started last weekend and was sending me pics of the fish he caught last Saturday (he got an 18 , a 30 and a 38, had a great morning, congrats smitty!) Got me FIRED UP about this weekend .....and then Wednesday I was walking with my wife and looked at the weather forecast...calling for rain all day Friday and Sat.

I immediately called work and said I would not be in Thursday, went and grabbed my boat and headed to the river.

Got to the launch at 130 am , crashed for a couple hours in the truck, was back up and launching the boat by 6 am.

I don't know if they are working on the dam or what but the lake was WAY lower than I'd ever seen it and I guess it's been like that for a while now.

At any rate, I had baits out by 630 and was hooked up to a TOAD by 640. That fish ended up being a new PB at 47# 10oz. Absolute TANK of a flathead that fought like a freight train!!!

By the time I fought that fish , weighed it, took pics and let her go, then rebaited , baits weren't out 10 more minutes and I had another strong takedown. Another absolute tank of a fish was dragging me around, looked over at one of the other rods and watched it bend clear to the handle, the next 20 minutes were MAHEM. A solo double with a 38# and change and a 33# and change.

After that I moved to a new spot and within 15 min was hooked up to fish number 4 for the morning , this one was a BRUTE of a flathead, turned out to be 39# and change, one of the prettiest flatheads I've ever seen. Super dark brown , mottled with big black spots.

By the time I landed that fish, the sun was high over head and my arms were pretty stiff lol. I fished a bit longer before calling it a day.

All in all it was a GREAT morning, 4 fish all over 30# with a new PB to start the season!!

I feel really blessed to have this river near me, while fighting that double, I watched an eagle 30 yards away , dive bomb a carp, fight it for a while on the surface of the water, the fish was so bug that the eagle couldn't fly away, so it used its wings like paddles and drug the carp over to a rock, then drug it up onto the rock and ate it...all while I fought 2 giant flatheads. Life it pretty good!!

Looking forward to seeing what the river gives me this year!!

For my records, the day was overcast until 11, temp was 55 rising to 71. Water temp was 55 and rising. Beautiful day right before a huge storm. It's been raining for 2 days now, I believe that's why the big girls were feeding. Water was murky, first 3 fish were in 6fow, last tank was in 10 fow. All fish ate cut white sucker.

LETTTTTTS GOOOOOO 2022!!! I AM GOING TO CATCH A 50# FLATHEAD THIS YEAR!

 

[J. Lewis]

Those are some tremendous fish. It's amazing how many big fish are coming out of that river considering they've only been in there around 20 years or so. I normally fish that river in Maryland but reports like yours keep making me want to venture up into PA.

I have a feeling the next couple years are going to be insane, 40# fish are common now. I don't know many places where you can have a morning like that. With them being a long lifespan fish and on the invasive curve in such a big , resource rich river, there is no telling what the next couple of years are going to bring.

We are certainly at or near the peak of the invasive curve, I would think some time in the next 10- 20 years , they will start to balance out at least to some degree. But for the time being we can go catch insanely big flatheads in unreal numbers lol. I LOVE IT.

 

[J. Lewis]

There are big flatheads in the lower Susquehanna, but I haven't caught any yet. The blues vastly outnumber the flatheads. Last year my son hooked a big flathead on a live bluegill that gave a real lethargic fight up to his kayak then finally realized it was hooked, shook its head, and broke a 40lbs leader. It was a few minutes for the adrenaline to wear off and my teenage son to speak in full sentences again. I didn't see the fish, but I saw the giant splash. He said it had a head that would've gotten stuck in a 5-gallon bucket.

I don't doubt that a bit. I usually fish Aldred, that lake is absolutely Infested with flatheads, I've fished long level a couple times and had crazy trips there also. 2 years ago I fished Goldsboro some and had some good nights there as well.

I have a couple buddy's that fish that lower stretch below conowingo and do real good with the blues, I haven't made it down there yet. I've also seen some videos of people catching good numbers of big stripers down there. We are definitely lucky to have such an amazing fishery.

Do you fish just kayaks? I'm kinda new to that game, I'm a bit intimidated to get out on aldred in my yak. If ya ever wanna come up that way, I'd love to have someone to partner up with for a trip out on the yaks.

 

[J. Lewis]

I will definitely hit ya up man. Yeah I always use the York launch and if you were standing at the mouth of the Conestoga, you were definitely looking into some real fishy water, land of giants right there.

I'll keep in touch!