North Branch Susquehanna River

[Esox Angler]

Originally Posted by Shellback

I imagine boat launching is going to get a little dicey from now on. If I remember correctly the 2 launches in Tunkhannock were pretty shallow launches. I think I had my front wheels in the water at the Fish Comm launch and still couldn't get the boat off.

Shell,
The Susq is rolling about 4 feet at Wilkes-Barre which makes launching and driving anywhere fairly stress-free, if you know the water. Icy conditions continue, so maybe Christmas eve or Christmas day will be good for an excursion.

EA

[Esox Angler]

River Level is just below 4 feet at Wilkes Barre. Most of the prime spots are covered by chunk-ice. The only open launch is Breslau. Shick, Hunlock Creek, Nesbitt, Appletree, White's Ferry, Tunk PFBC and Tunk City are all covered in Ice chunks.
Launched at Breslau yesterday and dodged icebergs to Forty-Fort. No fish bigger than 18". Will be haeding out shortly and will update this evening. There will also be an outing tomorrow before the precip hits. Rain expected sunday up to an inch. NOAA predicts river to rise to over 10 feet by Monday evening, which will hopefully get rid of so much of this ice.

More to follow.

EA

[Esox Angler]

Just got home. Launched at Breslau and dodged Icebergs up to Forty-Fort. Not a single fish over 16 inches. Caught plenty,(3 dozen or so) just no keepers. All fish were found between 26-34 feet, on jigs with 4inch curlytails tipped with Gulp 3inch minnows or fatheads. Fish were hugging current breaks, none in the eddies or in slack water. Don't know about tomorrow's trip.

Best of luck,
EA

[walleye7]

Fished N Branch today below Shickshinny. Boated 14 Walleye between 14" and 26" Ice wasn't a factor today. I'm from Harrisburg but fish up there quite often.

[Sluggo / NY]

You guys are breaking my heart! My stretch of the Susky just opened back up.. unfortunately.. it also went from about four feet to eighteen feet (flood stage) in the past six hours! We got a little rain up here. Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

[walleyefreak]

Last weekend I had planned to get out on the Susqie here in the mid-state area on this Saturday (tomorrow). But that little rain storm we had Monday has put the ki-bosh on that....... River still over "action" stage and looks like chocolate milk.

[Esox Angler]

Levels are low, below 3 feet at Wilkes-Barre.
Air temp in high 20's, Icing guides were problematic.
Wind from the west, made control an issue.
Bites were sluggish, tentative, and sporadic.

But, we were the ONLY people on the Water!

Can't ask for much more than than that.

EA

[Shellback]

WOW, Diehard fisherman you are! We've gotten about 40 inches of snow here in the past week. I thought I was still living in Montrose! Be awhile before there are any ramps open.

[Esox Angler]

Many of the ramps here are unusable due to icing and a lack of maintenace after the high water event. We plowed the Breslau launch with our quads and that is the only one in our area open.

White's Ferry - Ice jammed
Appletree - Ice Jammed
Nesbitt Park - Ice and Mud
Breslau - Open
Hunlock creek / Garden Drive-In - Ice jammed
Union - Gate locked (PFBC?)

Good Luck. I will be out this week; more reports to follow.

EA

[Esox Angler]

Storm approaching, get out today!

Report form NOAA:

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 7 PM this
evening to 7 PM EST Tuesday.

A storm system will intensify over the mid-Atlantic region
tonight... and then move across Long Island... to the New England
coastal waters on Tuesday.

Snow will move into the advisory area this evening... and continue
into Tuesday morning... before diminishing on Tuesday afternoon.
Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected tonight... with total
accumulations of 3 to 5 inches by Tuesday afternoon.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... a Winter Weather Advisory
for snow means that periods of snow will cause primarily travel
difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited
visibilities... and use caution while driving... .

Air temps are increasing and bright sun should trigger bites as air temps increase further. See ya on the water!

EA