S8, Ep 31: Chasing Smallmouth: Brian Shumaker's Adaptations for Unpredictable Spring Weather
Episode Overview
The Articulate Fly's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report returns with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides, delivering a timely mid-spring conditions update for the Susquehanna River system in Central Pennsylvania. This episode cuts straight to the practical challenge facing every Mid-Atlantic smallmouth angler right now: how to fish effectively when an extreme pattern of temperature swings — 80°F one day, back to the 50s by mid-week — is compressing and disrupting the spawn, locking fish down unpredictably, and keeping the frog bite from ever materializing. Brian, a veteran guide with over three decades on the Susquehanna, breaks down how he approaches these volatile conditions with clients, from the diagnostic logic of starting with yesterday's best fly and quickly reading fish mood, to the deeper strategic pivot of going subsurface on intermediate lines when topwater won't produce. He also touches on where the spawn currently stands — with the first wave already pushing some fish into early post-spawn funk — and what anglers can expect as conditions hopefully stabilize heading toward summer. For anyone planning time on Pennsylvania smallmouth water this spring, Brian's approach to grinding through difficult conditions with a rotating bench of swim flies and crayfish patterns offers both tactical and mental frameworks worth internalizing.
Key Takeaways
- How to use yesterday's producing fly as a quick diagnostic starting point and pivot efficiently to Plan B when conditions have shifted overnight.
- Why slowing retrieve speed and fishing deeper are the first two adjustments to make when dropping temperatures cause smallmouth to lock jaw.
- How intermediate sink lines provide a versatile middle ground that keeps flies in the strike zone when topwater conditions are marginal.
- When to rotate through a broad multi-pattern bench — swim flies, Half-and-Halfs, Clousers and crayfish patterns — rather than forcing a single presentation in unpredictable spring conditions.
- Why crayfish patterns like the Clawdad are producing when stomach content checks confirm fish are actively keying on crayfish as a primary food source.
- How the unusual spring temperature volatility in Central PA is producing an early post-spawn funk in first-wave fish while later-wave spawners are still active, creating a mixed-mood fishery that demands adaptable tactics.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Brian's current approach centers on intermediate sink lines as the primary tool for getting flies into the strike zone. From there, he runs a rotating bench of approximately a dozen patterns, starting with Clousers, swim flies and Half-and-Halfs and moving through the progression until something sticks — a systematic elimination approach that reflects hard-earned guiding experience in variable conditions. When temperatures drop and fish go passive, he leads with slower presentations before working up to more active retrieves. Crayfish imitations have been particularly productive, with Brian noting that fish are showing crayfish in their gullets on inspection — a data point that drives fly selection rather than guesswork. He specifically mentions patterns in the Clawdad-style that can be fished up off the bottom and animated to mimic a fleeing crayfish. Topwater setups remain rigged as a secondary option for afternoon sessions, with Brian noting that conditions like a sulphur hatch could still prompt fish to look up even in an otherwise subsurface day.
Locations & Species
The episode focuses on the Susquehanna River system in Central Pennsylvania, the fishery Brian has guided exclusively since founding Susquehanna River Guides in 1993. The Susquehanna is a fertile limestone river renowned for one of the strongest wild smallmouth bass fisheries in the eastern United States, characterized by rock ledges, wide shallow riffles and abundant crayfish and aquatic insect life. Target species is exclusively smallmouth bass throughout this report. The episode is recorded during the mid-spring spawn window, with Brian projecting that spawning activity on his water will wrap up around the third week of May and that some first-wave fish are already showing early post-spawn behavioral funk — while later-wave fish are still active and available. The unusual temperature volatility this spring is affecting fish behavior across the entire east coast smallmouth fishery, not just the Susquehanna, making Brian's adaptable mid-spring approach broadly applicable.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do you adapt your fly fishing approach when spring temperatures swing wildly day to day?
Brian starts each session by testing what produced the day before — that gives a quick read on whether conditions have shifted. If that approach fails early, he moves to Plan B: slowing retrieve speed, going deeper and working through a systematic rotation of patterns until he finds something that matches the fish's current mood. The key is staying flexible rather than committing to a single technique.
What fly line setups are most effective for Pennsylvania smallmouth in cold or variable spring conditions?
Intermediate sink lines are Brian's primary tool right now, allowing him to keep flies subsurface without anchoring them to the bottom. Topwater rigs stay on deck for afternoon sessions as a speculative option, particularly when hatches are occurring. In colder conditions, he prioritizes slower patterns and quieter presentations before working up to more active swim fly retrieves.
Why are crayfish fly patterns so effective for spring smallmouth bass fishing?
Stomach content checks on the Susquehanna are showing fish actively feeding on crayfish, making imitative patterns a data-driven choice rather than a hunch. Patterns that can be fished up off the bottom and animated to simulate a fleeing crayfish — rather than dragged along bottom and snagged — are producing best because they remain accessible to fish holding at a range of depths.
When does the smallmouth spawn typically wrap up on the Susquehanna River in Central PA?
Under normal conditions, Brian expects spawning to be largely complete by the third week of May on his water. This spring's extreme temperature swings compressed the front end of the spawn but have also extended and complicated the overall picture, with first-wave fish already showing post-spawn behavior while later fish are still in the spawn cycle — creating a mixed-mood fishery that is more difficult to read than a typical spring.
What should anglers expect after the spawn in terms of fish behavior and fishing quality?
The post-spawn funk is real — fish that have completed spawning become temporarily lethargic and difficult to catch. Brian describes a brief early version of this pattern already affecting first-wave fish on his water. The good news is that once temperatures stabilize, fish typically come around quickly and the summer bite — including the anticipated frog bite and topwater action — can be excellent on the Susquehanna.
Related Content
S8, Ep 27: The Pre-Spawn Puzzle: Captain Brian Shumaker's Tips for Pennsylvania Smallmouth
S8, Ep 23: Low Water Chronicles: Matt Reilly on Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal Shifts
S6, Ep 41: Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan Ruch
S1, Ep 97: All Things Smallmouth with Mike Schultz
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Hey, folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly. We're back with another Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report with the man himself, Brian Shumaker. Brian, how are you?
Brian ShumakerI'm doing well, Marvin. How about yourself?
Marvin CashAs always, just trying to stay out of trouble. I appreciate you taking time away from the Skull and the Yankees to talk smallmouth with me this evening.
Brian ShumakerYou're quite welcome.
Marvin CashYeah, I hope you didn't swallow your dip there. That would have been bad. No, you're a veteran. So it's kind of funny.We were talking before we started recording and, you know, I don't think it matters what you've been chasing with fins east of the Mississippi this spring. It's been kind of a mess. And, you know, we were talking. You've got the weather wonkiness that's gotten everything screwed up.Still on tap for the next week or so, right?
Brian ShumakerOh, absolutely. Today on the water we had got up to the high 70s. Tomorrow we're probably going to hit 80 degrees.And then Wednesday we're going back down to the 50s and we're going to have some rain and then we're in the 50s the rest of the week. So, yeah, it's. It's one of the most trying, I would say, springs that I ever had.I've never seen a spring with so many swings like what we're having now.
Marvin CashYeah, because I guess, you know, obviously all the fish don't spawn all at the same time, but the, the warmer temperatures kind of compress the front end of that. Right. But then you've got this, like, warm up. Everyone gets happy, cool off, everyone gets locked jaw.And so you're probably looking at like you think you were saying tomorrow will be pretty good because you're kind of in the continuing warming trend. But then moving through that funkiness is probably going to be a little tough.And then coming out the other side will probably stabilize out when it's cooler. Right.
Brian ShumakerYeah, we're. We're got our fingers crossed because we're going to be filming next Monday and Tuesday with Ahrex Hooks.
Marvin CashOh, cool. So, yeah, Mo must be up there with Steve with you.
Brian ShumakerYeah, they're. Mo's coming in. I think he's coming in on Saturday and we're, we're fishing Monday and Tuesday and filming Monday and Tuesday.So, yeah, so that's what we got on tap for next week because this time of year I had my fingers crossed and I had Mo talked into it to come over in May, and we should be on the frog bite. But we haven't had it yet. So it's just this crazy weather.
Marvin CashYeah. And if you stay in the 50s, you won't have it for a while either.
Brian ShumakerYou got that right. It just, I don't know, it's very challenging.
Marvin CashYeah. And so, you know, when you come out on a day like that, you know, how do you.What's kind of the progression to kind of crack the code where, you know, it's probably going to be funky? You know, do you start with what worked yesterday just to make sure it doesn't work, or kind of, do you have a brand new plan?How do you kind of skin that cat?
Brian ShumakerWell, what I'll do is I'll start out with what worked the day before, and I'll know relatively quickly if that's what they're into. And if not, then I gotta go to plan B. You know, it may be. I might have to slow the retrieves down. I might have to get deeper. I just got.I just gotta start feeling around to get their mood, if that makes sense.
Marvin CashYeah, absolutely.And so, you know, what are you doing kind of on the tackle side, Come from a fly and kind of line side, you know, kind of in this kind of weird weather.
Brian ShumakerWell, what we've been doing is basically we're fishing intermediate lines to get the flies down, you know, and I always have. Have the guys set up with top water just in case in the afternoon. I say, look, let's just give this a try.You never know, you know, because we got sulfur's coming off the. Or coming off the water right now. I said, you never know. They, they, they could decide to look up and get a little frisky. But yeah, it's.So basically, we're staying underneath for the most part. You know, we're using intermediate lines, we're using swim flies, we're using Clouser Minnows, we're using half and halfs. I mean, I could.I got a progression of about a dozen different patterns and I'll have out on deck. And we're just starting it from one side and going right through. Do we find something that sticks?I mean, that's, that's how you gotta grind through it.
Marvin CashYeah. And so I would imagine right when it cools off, you probably start with the Clouser Minnows. Right.Because you kind of figure they're slow and not as chasey before you kind of move on to the swim flies.
Brian ShumakerAbsolutely.
Marvin CashYep.
Brian ShumakerAnd. Well, also what. What has been saving us too are crayfish flies, like the Clawdads, stuff like that.Because we're pulling up a lot of fish that if you look down in their gullet, you're seeing, you know, crayfish down in their gullet. So we'll, we'll throw crayfish patterns.Like I said, the Clawdads work real well because you can keep it up off the bottom and make it move like a fleeing crayfish and then progress from there.
Marvin CashYeah, that's kind of interesting. Well, you know, obviously things are kind of off, you know, how much longer do you think your spawn's going to run?And then I know you've got a little bit of kind of post spawn funk on these fish before they kind of hopefully get their act together for the summer. Right?
Brian ShumakerYeah, the spawn should. It's probably gonna.I mean, you're gonna have spawning fish probably into about mid April, and it should be wrapping up by then, third week of April.And I think right now, too, from the first wave, we're dealing with some post-spawn fish because the way it's been fishing, even though the temperature and stuff's been up and down, it just seems like it's a little early post spawn funk that we're in.
Marvin CashYeah, absolutely. Well, you know, folks, we love questions on the articulate fly. You can email me or DM me on social media, whatever is easiest for you.And if we use your question, I will send you some Articulate Fly swag, which will indefinitely include some butcher shop stickers too. We are drawing for something cool from Brian at the end of the season.We still need to talk about that at some point, Brian, but I'll let you enjoy your, your skull and your Yankees. We'll talk about that some other time.But before I let you hop, you want to let folks know generally kind of your availability, you know, how to get on the calendar and reach out and all that kind of good stuff.
Brian ShumakerSure. So right now I have a few dates left in July. I do have days available, August and September and early October.And if you want to get a hold of me, the best way to get a hold of me this time of year is you can give me a call or text me at 717-574-5338. Have a website www.susqriverguides.com and I'm also on Instagram and Facebook.
Marvin CashGot it. And I've got all that stuff in the show notes, folks.Well, listen, you know, it's also relatively dry in our part of the world, so I would encourage you to get out there and fish today because I'm not so sure the water's going to be great. Later in the summer, so you owe it yourself to get out there and catch a few Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, Brian.
Brian ShumakerTight lines, Marvin.
