About ..Experience the Thrill of Fishing the Susquehanna I'm Jake Brelsford, I grew up on the Susquehanna River in NE PA. I have always loved the river and known it really is something special. After spending years pursuing trophy smallies and netting many I began chasing muskies after netting multiple trophy class muskies I started chasing them on a fly rod. And after netting several muskies on the fly I realized I get more thrill out of netting a fish for someone else than I do myself.
To me the thrill of the catch is a team sport especially with muskies, but not much better than someone's new PB smallie or first musky. To me trophies don't have anything to do with the size of the fish but the day it was caught or who it was caught with or what that fish means to you. A quick example is that after multiple 50+ inch muskies one of my most memorable was a small barley 24" musky, but my first caught on the fly rod.
Smallmouth Fishing
If you're looking for a thrilling outdoor experience, cruising the Susquehanna in my 1654 big tiller jet boat, and getting to chase arguably the strongest fighting, most aggressive, and down right funnest fish there is in fresh water, smallies are for you.
Whether you need me to teach you how to cast or you want to come see for yourself what all the talk is about, susquehanna smallies this will be a great trip! On almost any given day smallies are ready to play, whether we are jigging up numbers of fat pre spawn smallies in the early spring, getting the explosive bone jarring strikes of spinnerbaits and top water in the summer, or hammering on schools of feeding smallies in the fall they will never disappoint! If you're looking for action, hard fight, down right awesome fish, smallies are the way to go.
And don't forget the by-catch while smallie fishing. You can expect to be encountering walleyes, pike, and even the occasional musky!
Why You'll Love Smallmouth Fishing
- Exciting Action: Smallies are aggressive hard fighting fish. From the second you set the hook whether the slight tap of a jig bite or the unmistakable top water blow up these fish will give you a thrill, sometimes spending as much time out of the water as in the water during the fight they are willing and able to put on a show while you battle them to the net.
- Accessible for All Skill Levels: Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting started, susquehanna smallies are for you! Whether you're looking for your new personal best (PB) smallie or looking to learn how to fish the susquehanna offers high density of quality smallmouth. If you're looking for a hogasaurs smallie, the susquehanna has them. While the elusive 20+ inch smallie is still a giant here many have been netted, photoed, and released in my boat. But if you're just looking for the first tug a smallie I have taught multiple people everything from how to cast a spinning rod to coaching through the fight and netting fish all in one trip.
- Scenic Locations: the endless mountains of north east Pennsylvania is a truly beautiful place. Most places we will launch from after leaving the launch we will see little if any signs of civilization. It is common to see multiple eagles, ospreys, deer, and even the occasional bear. This is really just a special place.
- Year-Round Adventure: from ice out to ice up smallies generally are willing to play. If you're looking for the true giants I personally prefer the spring and fall into winter. The fish have heavy weight on and this is the time to find the fish of a lifetime. If you're looking for action, mid to later spring till fall. From schooled up fish in the spring on the pre-spawn feed to pounding shorelines with top water, spinnerbaits, fly rods and everything in-between. Generally when the water hits the 65-68 degree mark the spinnerbait and or shoreline bite takes off with the top water bite about to go, normally late may to early june.
Musky Fishing: The Ultimate Freshwater Challenge
Known as "the fish of 10,000 casts," muskellunge (or musky) fishing is probably the most challenging fish in freshwater to target. But also the most rewarding if and when you do get the strike it will be like none other, fast, aggressive, explosive, and most of all, BIG!
Why You’ll Love Musky Fishing
- First of all, musky fishing is not for everyone! If you need lots of action or loose concentration easily or quickly while fishing this is not for you. I want that to be clear because I want everyone who steps on my boat to have a fun memorable day and not a day of boredom wondering why you're out here.
- What is musky fishing like: all my musky trips are 8+hrs. We are fishing a very low density, apex predator that eats when they feel like it. If you can come out and enjoy being on the water, casting, casting, and casting more you will have fun. The musky is about the hunt of the fish as much as it is the catch. But when you get one be prepared to get the musky bug because they are addictive!
- Low Catch, High Reward: Muskies aren't easy to catch, but that's what makes them so coveted. If you can give me 8hrs of concentrated, positive attitude casting I tell clients it's a 70% catch ratio on trips. But that's what makes these fish so awesome! Just when you think all hope is lost you could be doing battle with a 4ft fish! It's not necessarily skill that will catch these fish but the willingness to keep casting!
- The hit: Yes! They will hit top water! But honestly any hit from a musky whether on top or on deep rubber it will be heart stopping! Muskies dont "nip" they T bone, total commitment, plow it, or don't hit, (generally speaking). But when you set the hook, be ready for a fight, and the reward of finally netting the fish of 10,000 casts!
Best Time & Places to Catch Musky
The best time to catch a musky is when you can go, plain and simple, you can't catch um from the couch. On every trip I will be watching our moon phases of the day and being sure to have us in prime locations or returning to previously seen fish during those times. If your looking to get hooked up with musky on "smaller" lures, spring time. Looking for fast moving lures, covering water? Late spring/summer. Looking for the giant on a giant lure, fall and winter. My only rule is at 80 degree water temps for the safety of the fish. I stop fishing for them. They do not handle hot water well especially when stressed by being caught.
 
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