Can you still catch bass like this on the Susquehanna River and N.E. River??

[andypat]

http://http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/smallmouthbass.jpg I really miss it. I live in Venice FL. now.http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/smallmouthbass.jpghttp://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/smallmouth-largestcaughtinMDthatyea.jpg

[Don Hershfeld]

Those are (were) some very impressive smallmouth bass. What a great memory! How 'bout some details on those catches? Always up for a good story.

[andypat]

Those are (were) some very impressive smallmouth bass. What a great memory! How 'bout some details on those catches? Always up for a good story. Hi Don, Thanks for the reply. I use to bass fish all over back in the 70's-80's. Mostly the Susquehanna from Port Deposit down to Perryville, and Susquehanna Flats, also the North East River. I did a little guiding when laid off from sparrows Point Ship Yard. Them small mouth were caught under the 40 bridge on the east side in April on 3/8th black, or yellow Doll Flies. Also could catch bass trolling deep diving brown bombers. I lived on the Eastern Shore of MD. for 20 years and Hook&line commericial fished. I moved to Venice FL. about 11 years ago, so my wife could be close to her Mom and Dad. I'm still fishing and catching after all these years. I have some great old bass pictures if you would like to seem them.

[Don Hershfeld]

Doll flies and brown Bombers... now we're talking my bass fishing vintage. This was before all that sort of tackle began to have horror story names like Venom, Assassin, Mega-Death (made that last one up, but its probably a specialty brand of Japanese hook!), etc. We didn't have "fish porn" either, just pictures of fish in our wallets. Or, you could have a t-shirt made up with your glory shot of choice. That was also the era of Earl Ashenfelter, I believe. I regret having never met him, but I'd see his old wooden boat at Rock Run when I'd camp over on Robert Island. Both in my mind and in reality, he was an institution, but then as now I don't feel like I'm in a position to hire a guide at the drop of a hat and unless I know the guide is very personable and willing to teach, would rather freelance anyway.

I got to fish that water once or twice and we did pretty well even though new to it. A buddy and his dad would fish what he called some gravel borrow pits in the NE and he told some fantastic tales of getting into some really chunky bass. He would just shake his head when recounting how strong those fish were. I knew the state record-holder for smallmouth bass would fish up there as well occasionally, and through him likewise saw some eye-popping stringers of mixed smallies and stripers (in the days before C&R was a necessary sacrament).

From that one catch it sounds like you might have found an overwintering hole/pre-spawn staging area? I'm not really in a position to know or hear if fish like that (size and/or numbers) are still being caught with regularity, but I doubt it. Too many folks now sharing the pie, I suspect. By all means share whatever vintage photos of days gone by you might care to - there are fishing addicts here in need of their fixes, so I'm told.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

From 1998 to 2002 I guided the area below Harrisburg down to Three Mile Island for two weeks a year in April and some of the best fishing ever with many 5lb smallies on Butch Ward Tubes. Had to have a coffee can of pre rigged jig heads as we lost 20 to 30 a day in the rocks. But man that was some great fishing. Long gone are those days..

Love the pics..

Capt Mike

[andypat]

Don, I am having trouble posting pictures. I keep losing my post. I had a lot to tell you, but not going to type it all again. Maybe one picture at a time. Lets try this.http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/largemouth.http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/Twobeat-upMDfisherman001.jpgjpghttp://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/HerbstackleShop-NorthEastMD.jpg

[andypat]

Don, use to fish with this guhttp://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/andypat/fishing/Twobeat-upMDfisherman001.jpgy before he became famous and moved to S.C./Santee. He is also from MD.

[Don Hershfeld]

I know how that feels Andypat, losing huge blocks of text way too often. Finally got in the habit of copying my replies/posts to a word processing program just prior to submitting them - often the point at which they go POOF! It is so frustrating, and I can empathize. Why I don't just compose this stuff off-line and THEN copy it into a reply box, I don't know... seems less convenient, and you don't have immediate access to the other person's various points. If you ever care to chat on the phone, you can catch me most weekday evenings after full dark. Before then, you can try but all bets are off. 301 3TROUT1. I very much enjoy fish talk, as well as fish listening, and fairly often chat with folks (repeatedly in some cases) I've never met and am unlikely to because of geography.

In addition to a lot more fishing pressure, and more talented pressure at that, the habitats just don't seem as capable of consistently producing as many nice specimens as they once did. We have grown accustomed to hearing about dead zones, lesions, various diseases, poaching, intersex fish, and other maladies I'm afraid... things that just didn't come up much once upon a time.

I gather that Roland Martin once guided quite a bit at Loch Raven, among other places. In that pic you shared, the look in his eye still reflects that of a regular Joe. I wonder if the bass pros really still love their fishing like they did as amateurs... I know that when I was guiding for $ it certainly altered the perception, if not the experience.

Maybe I worried too much about my client's experience (I probably want them to be successful more than they do, in many cases), and about things that were outside of my control - especially the times/dates. Picked in advance, and set on the calendar, you'll get more than your share of sub-optimal conditions of course. I have the luxury of being able to fish, should I wish to do so, just about any old time - and so its very easy to let the less desirable conditions pass and fling string or jerk jigs or pitch plugs when the getting is good. This is especially true of hardwater, but applies year-round.

Today when a few folks still ask if I'll take them out, unless I know for a fact they reliably have the fundamental skills required to be successful, and you really cannot take most folk's biased word for it, I'd rather try and persuade them to take a lesson instead. Maybe half are willing to do so, but all of those quickly come to the conclusion that their time and money are in facdt being better spent. More than once, about a half-hour into the instruction, I've heard folks say, "Gee, I only thought I knew how to cast/fish; this is great... no wonder I don't catch much very often!" or "I just learned more of value in thirty minutes than I did in thirty years of going my own way!" This might read like bragging, and I don't mean it to at all - I just have a gift for explaining things and helping people learn to fish more efficiently, that's all. Its a gift I'm more grateful for than proud of, really. And one that largely goes wasted as most folks are too little interested in the second half of the ancient Chinese proverb... they just want you to give them a fish whether or not that is realistically in the cards. Some days, one works very hard for just a precious few ops to make a catch, and if/when these are blown due to poor technique or rank inexperience, well its game over and a near-skunking often follows. The odd thing is, the guide works so much harder on the days the client is least satisfied!

In the same half-hour (if spent on the river), I'd know that the entire day was more or less hopeless until/unless the client would humble themselves enough to convert the guided outing into a teaching experience. Sometimes I'd know with the first few stumbling steps a client would take, where the soles of their boots were wet. Right after I'd plainly state that "in this setting, stealth is paramount, so let's take our sweet time getting into position carefully, OK?" Then they'd wade like water buffalos and give you a funny look when you presented the options, "Well, we can either get into position and do nothing for ten minutes, or just pull up stakes and spend that time moving on to the next spot - what's your preference?"

I quit guiding when it became apparent that no matter now gently I'd make the suggestion that they'd do much better by taking a little "BP" before resuming the game, some guys clearly weren't up for that. In their minds they were A-OK and ready to go, and I guess they were either too impatient or too easily insulted that a little skills 'polishing' (this was the way I'd phrase it, even when it was more like skills discovery) might be helpful. It was like a patient who blames the doctor for finding anything that needed treatment during a check-up, in a way. I just couldn't play the happy doctor and essentially lie to a client by going on all day as if they had a decent chance of success, even when the water and weather were fine, and the fish were chompin'. My clients/students all say I am a very patient man who is encouraging and keeps the faith no matter what, but I don't suffer fools gladly. Too many were too often their own worst enemies, and sometimes (me being the most convenient target) I'd get the spoken or worse, the unspoken blame that they couldn't catch fish.

And this was mostly on the Yock of all places, where if she could just stand up in the water, I could get your grandmother into several modest trout almost anywhere in short order, at least at one time. This was expressly why I chose this river segment to base upon... whether you were guided or opted to freelance, success was almost inevitable, unless the water was too low and warm and thus bringing an A-game was essential. Even then you could float the releases and do very well the entire season long. Not anymore. Now it is quite possible to float the releases and not even see much less catch a trout... even if you've done this before dozens of times and know the spots (like a neighbor of mine did before he wised up and started fishing elsewhere). Now people REALLY need good lessons and guidance to enjoy a measure of success here.

[andypat]

From 1998 to 2002 I guided the area below Harrisburg down to Three Mile Island for two weeks a year in April and some of the best fishing ever with many 5lb smallies on Butch Ward Tubes. Had to have a coffee can of pre rigged jig heads as we lost 20 to 30 a day in the rocks. But man that was some great fishing. Long gone are those days..

Love the pics..

Capt MikeThanks Capt. Mike.

[dougeeboy]

Hi AndyPat- The similarities that we share are truly uncanny. I actually started fishing at the age of 4 with my Dad and older brother at Lake Roland's dam for Carp w/canned corn. This apparently lit the pilot light of an insatiable appetite for fishing 12 months a year. I added trotlining, castnetting, flyfishing, bowfishing as the years progressed. Originally born and raised in Towson, Maryland's Eastern shore's bounty and opportunities became a focal point of my piscatorial pursuits. I, like you, have changed my State of choice to Florida for the last 7 1/2 years now residing in Central Florida. Conowingo's fond memories, used to keep a boat at Ray and Helen Spangler's at Rock Run and consequently developed a friendship with now departed legend Earl Ashenfelter. Used to work at GM Broening Hwy. down the street from your former workplace . Thaddeus(Ted) Blusiewicz a former SP employee also became a friend after hiring him for some reservoir trips to hone Large/Smallmouth skills. Also spent time in Herb's tackle/barber shop back in the 60/70/80's soon developing a friendship with Andy Schoener. Yes sir, from Peachbottom to Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, I have thoroughly enjoyed The DelMarVa's vast menu of Water and Woods. Even Bill Burton and Earl Shelsby's articles were on my to do list to further enlighten me on the current bites. Clyde's Sport Shop on Hammond's Ferry Road and their fishing info. Hotline was on my speed dial each week. Gene Mueller's outdoor columns(Washington Times) also made their way into my read list. I also see that you have moved to the neighborhood of Buddy (Roland) Martin who was a personal friend/U of Md. student with a friend of mine I met while living in St. Mary's County MD. I fish both Fresh and Salt in Florida now and as of last year have added castnet/shrimping the St. John's River. Also, had the opportunity to fish in and lucky enough to win, my boat and partners, Brandon's(TF) !st Rockfish tournament back in the mid 80's. OK, enough for now.

Doug

[andypat]

Doug, I know everyone, and every place you mentioned. We are very close my friend. I still miss them days. It stays in my blood. You can't beat the weather in FL. BUT, GO RAVENS, GO O's, GO CHESAPEAKE BAY. Peace River Seafood restaurant for the best steamed crabs in South West FL. Thanks! See Ya!

[andypat]

Doug, I know everyone, and every place you mentioned. We are very close my friend. I still miss them days. It stays in my blood. You can't beat the weather in FL. BUT, GO RAVENS, GO O's, GO CHESAPEAKE BAY. Peace River Seafood restaurant for the best steamed crabs in South West FL. Thanks! See Ya! Doug, my friend thinks he knows you, and would like to talk to you. His name is Dave Hack, he also lives in Venice FL. now, and is from Baltimore area. His home phone# Is 941-486-1998 His cell# is 321-8849. His e-mail is mrsheepshead@verizon.net Thanks Doug! Give him a call.

[dougeeboy]

Good evenin' Andy Pat- I don't recall your friend by name, however, a lightning bolt struck me, and YOU, my friend should definitely remember me. It has been 30 years, but, the last time you and I fished shoulder to shoulder was on the Eastern Shore at a Wicomico River spillway catchin' nice-sized bluegills. Another clue for ya would be the icefishing @ Broad Creek, Urieville with Turk from Remington farms, Donnie Haggar from Herb's tackle clan. Remember my homemade original-sized Rapala ice jigs(still got the mold!) How about the day my brother and I had a trip with Jim Brousseau on the Northeast and you waxed some SWEET largemouth fishing from a bulkhead within view of our frigid boat trip(slightly marginal success that day) Yep, small world huh Bud! We'll talk real soon . As soon as you pick yourself off the floor,lol!!
What about those nice sea bass you use to catch?
Doug

[andypat]

OH MY! I remember you now. I remember Turk, Donnie. That was a cold day you had with Brousseau, I think . Was he a good guide? Now that I know who you are, no need to call Dave. I'm sure he don't know you. I will tell him. See Ya!