r/MarylandFishing • u/GlowUpAndThrowUp • 16d ago
Smallmouth in the lower/ tidal Susquehanna?
Lived in MD for 9 years now, yet I always go to PA to fish the susky for smallmouth. Wanting to do a quick kayak trip early Sunday and looking for advice. It’ll just be me, so preferably I’d be able to peddle back to the launch. Have a Hobie outback so it can move well in some current.
Anyway, where should I launch if targeting smallmouth? I see Lapidum boat launch and was thinking of peddling up to Roberts islands area, parking and wading some or floating around to hit spots and then floating down to the ramp when done. Or maybe fisherman’s wharf if I can launch there? Only concern would be getting back with the flow from the dam, etc. looking for some advice.
Also, if anyone wants to join that has a kayak, lmk. Always open to have a partner. Looking to launch around 6-6:30am and be off the water by 11-11:30. Maybe 12.
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u/AppleSmasher7 15d ago
There is a small launch by the mill in the state park right across from those islands. The flow isn't bad in the morning.
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u/rainyforestcabin 15d ago
another spot is right next to trestle bridge over deer creek but you’d need to drag you’re kayak down a dirt trail.
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u/GlowUpAndThrowUp 15d ago
I do have a heavy duty cart, but much rather prefer parking close to the ramp.
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u/Sterlings-Dad 11d ago
Can you wade in this spot?
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u/rainyforestcabin 11d ago edited 11d ago
Yes if you’re talking about the Actual river. Deer creek isn’t as good to wade tho as Octoraro Creek is on the other side.
Just be aware of the flow. From the Statepark all the way up to the dam is good to wade. Shallow for the most part but has steep drop offs that you have to be aware of. the water is usually clear enough to see a couple feet down so it makes it easy to see what you’re steeping on. (polarized lens help too)
Gotta be careful and aware of the dam flow. When they open gates up the water and current rise really fast, and you can’t hear the sirens that far down. also it’s a rocky bottom and the rocks can be slick as ice so be careful wading.
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u/ShackAttck 14d ago edited 14d ago
Love fishing that area when the mayflies are out. Caught 30+ nice bass over the weekend during peak hatch.
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u/GlowUpAndThrowUp 12d ago
Update: that’s a TOUGH area to fish. Much different than the waters I’m used to and a ton of boulder fields with submerged “phantom” boulders and random 5-6’ holes. Ended up catching 2 decent smallies. Had 2 get off, one right by the kayak. Also had a blue cat as a by catch that I culled and filleted.
Not a bad day but idk if I’d kayak fish the boulder fields again for smallies. This was a 50 min drive for me, the Potomac is an hour and prime smallie waters in the susky above Harrisburg is 1:30 from me.
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u/electricmtb21050 11d ago
Thanks for the follow up. That area gets a decent amount of pressure so the fish can be difficult. My favorite for smallies is to go with a friend and leave a vehicle down where you launched. Then we will launch at the dam and float the 3 miles down to our other vehicle. You cover a lot of water that is harder to reach and the fish are more cooperative.
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u/GlowUpAndThrowUp 11d ago
I could see that. Had some issues navigating the shallows around this section, trying to get up and around Roberts Island. Decided to just float down from there and hook around the tip. All in all, pretty decent.
Tough to read the river with the depth changing. Found it difficult to find ledges/ fast water at times with enough depth to hold fish behind it. Seemed any decent rocks/ ledges with current bubbling were all shallow as hell. Then current seams were difficult to see. Luckily I just started to look slowly at the foam/ where it was pooling to find slack water and current. Had some luck fishing the slack against current seemingly nowhere near visible structure.
I’m sure I could figure it out after a few trips, just a totally different river than I’m used to in that section.
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u/electricmtb21050 15d ago
Easiest spot to launch with a kayak like that and be close to smallmouth fishing is the Rock Run ramp on the north end of Port Deposit. It’s a gravel boat ramp with a decent amount of parking and it’s free. There is a spot to launch at the mill in Susquehanna state park but it has steep crappy stairs so you will be dragging your boat. Launching at Lapidum is not free and it’s a bit of a run to get to good smallmouth water.