How to Catch Summer Susquehanna River Smallmouth with Chris Gorsuch

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, I have on Susquehanna River fishing guide Chris Gorsuch returns to Fishing the DMV for a detailed look at summer smallmouth bass fishing across one of Pennsylvania’s most recognizable river systems. From the main stem near Harrisburg and North Liverpool to the North Branch around Laceyville and the Endless Mountains, Chris explains what he is seeing from the fishery and how anglers can adjust when quality smallmouth are not holding in their usual places.Chris believes the Susquehanna River is still fishing well, especially for anglers looking to catch numbers of smallmouth bass. However, he has seen fewer fish in the 19- to 20-plus-inch range than during the previous several springs. Bigger bass are still available—including two 23-inch smallmouth caught from his boat—but finding them has required more movement, more fuel and a willingness to fish away from the same heavily pressured areas. We discuss how year classes, winter ice, delayed grass growth, floods, low water, high summer temperatures, pollution, predators and changing forage can all influence the Susquehanna River smallmouth population.The conversation also turns toward summer smallmouth fishing techniques and the best baits for different sections of the river. Chris considers a chatterbait essential on the lower Susquehanna and main stem, while crankbaits are a major part of his North Branch fishing from spring through late fall. On the nearby Delaware River, he leans heavily on spinnerbaits, especially white skirts paired with silver, gold or copper blades that resemble young American shad and other baitfish.Chris also breaks down several developments from FITT Lures, including the Flea Flicker swimbait, VIG and Javelin. The Flea Flicker features a keeled body that allows anglers to shorten the bait while maintaining its profile and action. The VIG is a compact, thick-walled tube-style bait that can be fished on a Ned head, screw-lock jig, Carolina rig or other presentations. Chris explains how these baits can be used around grass, deeper holes, current breaks and other productive river smallmouth habitat.Fish care is another important part of this episode. Chris shares why he nets every bass, keeps his camera ready before lifting a fish from the water and releases weak post-spawn fish without taking a picture. He also discusses shortening fight times during warm-water periods and why proper handling matters when catching large Susquehanna River smallmouth.In this episode, we cover:The current state of Susquehanna River smallmouth fishingWhy anglers are seeing fewer 20-inch bass than in recent springsHow to locate bigger smallmouth by covering water and changing areasChatterbait, crankbait and spinnerbait fishing for river smallmouthGrass, current, deeper holes and summertime bass positioningFITT Lures Flea Flicker, VIG and Javelin rigging optionsChoosing lure colors based on depth, water clarity and forageProper summertime smallmouth bass handling and fish carePlease support Fishing the DMV on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at [email protected]  FITT Lures: https://bit.ly/4w5lgHtLMD Enterprises: http://lmdoil.com/ Jake’s bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/  Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/  Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech  Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: [email protected] Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168    Max4 Fishing: https://bit.ly/4unuiOs Flint Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/43t8h5N #FishingtheDMV #SmallmouthFishing #FishingReport Support the show