Bass Fishermen Angle for 'Hot Spots' in Lycoming County

Source: Google images, www.tristateoutdoors.com

Fishing has been a great American pastime for generations, and with thriving populations of both smallmouth and largemouth bass in many of its lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, Pennsylvania is an ideal state for bass fishing.

Many waters across the state of Pennsylvania have healthy bass
populations. Locally, waters of the Susquehanna River, Gray’s Run, Rose
Valley Lake, Lycoming Creek, Pine Creek Loyalsock Creek, West Branch of
the Susquehanna in Linden, Milton and Danville, and Lake Chillisquaque
in Washingtonville are proven “hot spots.” Visit
http://fishandboat.com/hotspots.htm for additional areas.

All black bass are well-known as strong fighters, and are fished recreationally. Depending upon species and various other factors such as water quality and availability of food, black bass may be found in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, creeks, even roadside ditches. Largemouth are known for their overall size and resistance when hooked, favoring short, powerful runs and escape to cover such as submerged logs or weed beds.

Largemouth bass are known for their wild jumps while Smallmouth bass are generally accepted as the hardest fighting black bass, pound for pound. Smallmouth bass tend to jump more and fight aggressively on the surface when hooked, in order to throw the hook. Largemouth bass tend to go after top-water and submerged baits with colors that closely resemble that of the bait-fish in their natural habitat.

All bass are scent as well as visual predators so care should be taken to ensure no foreign scents, like tobacco, contaminate soft plastics. Largemouth bass offer the best striking ability of all bass and usually give the fisherman the most action. However, more bass anglers are adopting "catch and release" angling where the bass are returned to the water after being hooked and retrieved.

Although largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found in many of Pennsylvania's waters, they do not always share the same habitat.
Smallmouth bass tend to be schooling fish and often can be found in areas with a rock or gravel bottom. Largemouth bass are generally more solitary (though not always) and prefer vegetation and submerged wood cover, and prefer slightly warmer water with less current than smallmouths.

In the mid-19th century, the first artificial lure used for bass was developed in the form of an artificial fly. At first, these artificial fly patterns were largely derivations of existing trout and salmon flies. As time went on, new fly patterns were specifically developed to fish for bass, as well as heavier spinner/fly lures that could be cast by the bait-casting and fixed-spool casting reels and rods available at the time.

Floating wooden lures (plugs) or poppers of lightweight cork or balsa were introduced around 1900, sometimes combined with hooks dressed with artificial fur or feathers. Production of the plastic worm began in 1949, but it was not until the 1960s that its use became popular and revolutionized the sport of bass fishing.

In the United States, the sport of bass fishing was greatly advanced by the stocking of largemouth and smallmouth bass outside their native ranges in the latter portion of the 19th century. As the nation's railroad system expanded, large numbers of 'tank' ponds were built by damming various small creeks that intersected the tracks in order to provide water for steam engines; later, new towns often sprang up alongside these water stops. Shippers found that black bass were a hardy species that could be transported in buckets or barrels via the railroad, sometimes using the spigot from the railroad water tank to aerate the fingerlings.

Largemouth bass were often stocked in tank ponds and warmer lakes, while smallmouth bass were distributed to lakes and rivers throughout the northern and western United States, as far west as California. Smallmouth were transplanted east of the Appalachians just before the Civil War, and afterwards introduced into New England.

Crankbaits, topwaters, spinnerbaits, jigs and various soft plastics are effective for catching bass in Pennsylvania. Live bait also works well: worms, minnows and crayfish all are popular.

In spring, cast shallow-running crankbaits around flats or work jigs around nearby drop-offs. Try fishing jigs and plastic worms along the edges of cover in summer, and focus on shallow water in the morning and evening, moving to deep structure during the heat of the day. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits work well in moderate depths in fall.

Bass fishing is strictly catch and release from April 17 through June 11. Length restrictions and daily limits vary according to the time of year, and river regulations are slightly different from lake regulations. Complete details can be found on the Pennsylvania Fish&Boat Commission website.

Many of the state's best bass waters are under Big Bass Program special regulations, which involve a higher minimum length and lower daily limit to improve fishing in these waters. All fishermen must have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license to fish for bass, which can be purchased at most bait shops and sporting goods stores statewide.

SOURCE: Wikipedia, PA Fish & Boat Commission