With recent weather in the Northeast and everything that has come with it, the reports have fallen behind, I appreciate your patience while I try and get caught up. Anthracite Outfitters attention has been directed towards those that were affected by Irene and then by the massive floods that recently happened from the remnants of TS Lee here in Northeastern PA.
Family friends and acquaintances have lost much from the flooding even with some friends having completely lost their homes, nowhere to be seen and washed away clean to the ground.
This report is from an overnight trip on the Susquehanna River on August 22 & 23. The second day of the trip was actually the day that the earthquake hit in Virginia. Just before lunch on that Tuesday we were slammed with phone calls from friends and family asking of we had felt the tremors while on the river, we didn’t and our trip finished up nicely.
Our trip started out with a mid-day start in order to get the most out of the weather and the river between our launch and campsite.
We stopped for lunch at the mouth of a feeder stream and the guys worked the structure while I prepared lunch so that we could fuel up for the afternoon bite.
The timing was going to place in the area called the “Boulder Garden” towards the late afternoon when the cloud cover was slated to move into the area. I wanted to be under the cloud cover as we drifted into and through the boulder strewn area of the river, hoping that the change would turn on the bite, it did just that.
The hits started out fast and furious for Tony, Carl and I with close to 40 smallmouth coming within an hour time frame and almost a fish on every cast. The average size was around 13” and we had some fish pushing 16”+, not huge, but an absolutely solid bite and hot action. The clouds, structure and fish all came together at the right time.
We finally made it to our island campsite and I set camp for the night and we settled in around the fire and then into our tents for a deserved nights rest on the river.
The next day started with pancake breakfast and then on the river we went. The day was clear, warm and the bite was a bit slower than the day before, but we managed to land fish and enjoy the day.
Right before we stooped for our hot chicken wrap lunch, Tony landed another nice smallmouth. Coincidentally the timing of this fish was right about the same time the earthquake hit Virginia and was felt all the way up here in Northeatsern PA. When we stopped for lunch right after the fish was released is exactly the time that all of our collective cell phones had begun to ring non-stop with the news about the quake.
This pic was taken in the wrong settings and was completely blown out, so this is the best I could get it.
The guys truly enjoyed their trip and will be making this an annual event for these fishing partners. The Susquehanna River never failed to provide a great angling experience accompanied by great vistas and good company.
The Hobie Quest’s shined again and as great river kayakfishing platforms, while the Ocean Trident 15 performed like the workhorse that it is, carrying all the gear that we needed to enjoy ourselves and then some.
This has been one of the toughest seasons that I have had on the Susquehanna River, muddy water, high water, record breaking floods and what has seemed like endless ran showers and thunder storms all season long.....
This trip was a great time, spent with great guys on an awesome river and really that is all that we could have asked for. Tight Lines!
Capt. Daniel Hubbard
Anthracite Outfitters
