S8, Ep 43: Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal Shifts: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Report
Episode Overview
In this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early summer conditions update on the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania. With late spawners still working through a post-spawn funk and a stretch of volatile weather keeping temperatures yo-yoing between the 70s and the low 90s, Shumaker explains why the region hasn't fully transitioned to topwater mode — and what that means tactically for anglers on the water right now. He walks through his two-rod, split-presentation approach: one angler working poppers toward the banks to prospect for fish looking up while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns off the banks for fish holding deeper. If the topside bite isn't producing, both anglers go under and adjust from there. Shumaker flags the appearance of blue damsels as his primary visual cue that the bug bite is imminent — a reliable seasonal indicator that, combined with warming temperatures, signals the topwater game is close to locking in for the summer and early fall. Forage development is tracking normally despite an unusual spring: small baitfish are present in expected numbers and crayfish are progressing on schedule, suggesting the full summer pattern is assembling without disruption. Both Shumaker and Marvin agree that early July is typically when the topwater game solidifies and runs through the end of the season, making late summer and early fall a prime window for anglers looking to get on the Susquehanna with a guide.
Key Takeaways
- How to use a two-rod split approach — one angler on topwater and one subsurface — to efficiently read fish mood and adjust during early summer transition conditions on the Susquehanna.
- Why the appearance of blue damsels is a reliable biological indicator that sustained topwater smallmouth fishing is imminent, even when temperatures haven't yet fully flipped.
- When to expect the topwater game to solidify on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers, with early July typically marking the turning point for consistent popper fishing through the rest of the season.
- How to work bank structure simultaneously from topside and subsurface angles — poppers toward the banks, streamers and crayfish patterns perpendicular off the banks — to cover the full feeding zone.
- Why forage tracking matters early in the season, and what normally developing baitfish and crayfish populations signal about the summer bite ahead.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Shumaker's early summer approach centers on a simultaneous split-presentation strategy: one angler works topwater with poppers along the banks while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns subsurface off the banks. The pairing functions as a real-time fish mood check — if the topside bite isn't firing, both anglers shift below the surface and dial in from there. Shimmering Minnow patterns are also in the subsurface rotation. Bank structure is the primary focus throughout, with poppers presented tight to cover and streamer or crayfish patterns cast perpendicular to probe fish holding off the bank.
Locations & Species
The episode covers the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania, which forms the backbone of Captain Brian Shumaker's Susquehanna River Guides operation. Smallmouth bass are the sole target species, with the fishery sitting in a transitional early summer window as late spawners finish shaking off post-spawn lethargy and conditions trend toward the full bug-and-topwater season. Temperatures are running below average for the time of year — mornings in the mid-50s, daytime highs in the 70s — with additional rain in the forecast, conditions that have delayed the full topwater transition but kept the subsurface bite productive. Both baitfish and crayfish forage are developing on a normal seasonal schedule, a positive signal that the Susquehanna's mid-summer smallmouth pattern should build on pace.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How should I approach Pennsylvania smallmouth fishing during the early summer transition before topwater locks in?
Shumaker recommends starting every outing with topwater to test whether fish are looking up, then shifting one or both anglers to subsurface presentations if the topside bite isn't firing. The split-rod approach — one angler on poppers, one on streamers or crayfish patterns — lets you gather mood data on the fish in real time without committing the whole boat to a single presentation.
What does it mean when blue damsels start appearing on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers?
Blue damselfly activity is one of Shumaker's key biological indicators that the transition to sustained topwater fishing is imminent. Once damsels are showing, anglers can expect the bug-driven bite to ramp up, with the full insect-driven topwater game typically locking in by early July and continuing through the rest of the season.
When is the best time of year to book a guided trip on the Susquehanna for smallmouth bass?
While smallmouth are catchable throughout the warmer months, Shumaker and Marvin agree that late September and early October represent a particularly attractive window — fish are shade-seeking and the sun is brutal through July and August, but angler comfort improves meaningfully as temperatures cool heading into fall. Booking windows currently remain open in late July, August, September and October.
Why is forage development tracking an important check early in the smallmouth season?
An unusual spring can shift the timing of baitfish and crayfish cycles, which in turn affects when smallmouth transition between different feeding behaviors. Shumaker notes that forage on the Susquehanna is running on a normal seasonal progression — neither ahead nor behind — suggesting the full summer bite should build predictably even after a stretch of erratic weather.
How do weather and water temperature swings affect the topwater bite on Pennsylvania smallmouth water?
Cooling fronts that push temperatures back into the 70s after brief spells near 90 are enough to reset fish behavior and delay the sustained topwater bite. Precipitation that clouds the water adds another layer of suppression; under those conditions Shumaker defaults to subsurface presentations and waits for water to clear and temperatures to stabilize before committing heavily to poppers.
Related Content
S8, Ep 39 - High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Insights
S8, Ep 34 - Frog Patterns and Fishing Strategies: Brian Shumaker's Late Spring Smallmouth Report
S8, Ep 31 - Chasing Smallmouth: Brian Shumaker's Adaptations for Unpredictable Spring Weather
S6, Ep 41 - Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan Ruch
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In this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report from The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early-summer conditions update on Central Pennsylvania smallmouth bass waters. With late-spawning fish still in post-spawn mode and unseasonably cool, unsettled weather delaying the full transition to the topwater bite, Shumaker describes his current approach: starting with poppers before shifting to streamers, Clouser Minnows, Shimmering Minnows and crayfish patterns when fish aren't willing to come up. He notes that blue damselfly emergence has begun — a reliable natural indicator that prime topwater conditions are close at hand — and confirms that baitfish and crayfish forage are progressing normally for the time of year. Guide trips on the Susquehanna River system remain available through October, with late September and early October historically the sweet spot for angler comfort.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Guest: Captain Brian Shumaker - Guide at Susquehanna River Guides (Central Pennsylvania)
In this episode: Guide Captain Brian Shumaker delivers a Pennsylvania smallmouth bass fishing report covering early summer post-spawn transition conditions on the Susquehanna River system. Topics include how temperature swings from passing weather fronts are delaying the topwater bite, adaptive strategies for fishing mixed conditions with topwater and subsurface presentations, reading natural forage and insect indicators, and optimal booking windows for fall smallmouth season.
Key fishing techniques covered:
- Topwater fishing with poppers as the first presentation of the day
- Subsurface streamer fishing when fish aren't looking up
- Fishing Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns off the banks
- Dual-angler boat strategy — one angler targeting banks with topwater, one fishing subsurface in the opposite direction
- Reading blue damselfly emergence as a seasonal indicator for approaching prime topwater conditions
Location focus: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River system
Target species: Smallmouth bass
Equipment discussed: Poppers, streamers, Clouser Minnows, Shimmering Minnows, crayfish patterns
Key questions answered:
- How do weather fronts and temperature swings affect summer smallmouth fishing in Pennsylvania?
- When does the topwater bite peak for Pennsylvania smallmouth bass?
- What are the best strategies during the post-spawn to summer transition for smallmouth on the fly?
Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers interested in Pennsylvania smallmouth bass fly fishing, early summer river conditions and reading seasonal forage indicators
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Marvin Cash
Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly. We're back with another Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report with Captain Brian Shumaker. Brian, how are you?
Brian Shumaker
I'm doing well, Marvin. How about yourself?
Marvin Cash
Just trying to stay out of trouble and kind of catch up. I was telling you before we started recording, my youngest son graduated from high school and had his college orientation day.So it's been a busy four or five days in the Cash household.
Brian Shumaker
Absolutely, absolutely.
Marvin Cash
So.
Brian Shumaker
So yeah, tell your son congratulations.
Marvin Cash
I'll do that. He's. He's living his best life right now. He's actually on his way to Chattanooga with a buddy, so. But all good. He'll. He'll be at App State this fall.We're looking forward to that. And it's. I think it's going to help him get a little bit fishier too. So all good there.And you know, it's kind of funny, we were talking before we started recording, you've got kind of, I guess maybe the late spawners are still maybe in the post spawn funk.But also you kind of had weird weather where you just haven't had hot weather long enough to really kind of completely shift over to the bug bite, right?
Brian Shumaker
Yeah, that's true. We've been having up and down weather.We, we get a couple days that'll hit 90 and then all of a sudden the front comes through and then we're back down into the 70s. And then of course that yo yos and water temperatures a little bit and you get precipitation and also clouds up the water a little bit.So we haven't got the prime conditions yet for top water.
Marvin Cash
And so what does that kind of make the normal day kind of when you go out, what's kind of the general plan of attack?
Brian Shumaker
Well, we definitely start out with trying to throw some top water to start off with and, and we're catching some fish on, on poppers and stuff like that. And then basically it's going to be, you know, streamers, clouser minnows, shimmering minnows. We're going underneath.And usually my setup is I'll basically have one person throwing top one throwing underneath and we'll see what mood to fish are in and then we make adjustments from there.
Marvin Cash
Gotcha. And kind of what kind of structure are you fishing around? Is it banks, mid river, grass beds, all that kind of good stuff?
Brian Shumaker
Yeah, we're starting out. We'll start out on the banks.I'll have basically one guy throwing towards the banks and then one guy with the streamer or crayfish pattern or so forth fell in the opposite direction. Be off the banks and we'll see. Like I said, we'll see what mood the fish are in and then we. Then we go from there.So if they're not looking up and, and want to come up and eat something, then we're going underneath. But the interesting thing is starting to see the blue damsels. That means top water fishing is not too far away.
Marvin Cash
Yeah. It's kind of funny. I was joking with Matt Reilly the last time I recorded with him.I was like, well, you know, you get to July 4th and it's all figured out you have top water for the rest of the year. He just started laughing.
Brian Shumaker
That's pretty true comment right there. Usually, you know, by the beginning of July, then you're. You're really into.You should be getting it into the bug season and it just keeps going up from there. So.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, and I know you'll have some bait fish windows too.I mean, it was kind of interesting because I kind of been asking all the smallmouth guys, you know, if, you know, we had a really wacky spring where all the bug stuff kind of got out, you know, hatches for trout guys kind of got off and things were kind of weird there, you know, are you seeing any kind of disruptions like, you know, either early crayfish activity or, you know, the bait fish, you know, they're a little bit bigger than they should be this time of year. Is everything kind of normally tracking seasonal on that front?
Brian Shumaker
Everything's been tracking normally, you know, for the season. Because right now, especially when, you know, we first to go put the boat in the water and stuff, you're seeing all kinds of little bait fish.They're not, you know, big bait fish. They're just the little guys.So everything seems to be on par for, you know, the normal progression of the bait fish or the crayfish and stuff like that. So nothing's really like, you would have had high, higher water temperatures and everything just takes off. It's just kind of progressing along.
Marvin Cash
Got it. And it looks like you're probably.You're going to get a little bit more rain over the next week to 10 days and you're probably slightly cool for this time of year.
Brian Shumaker
Yeah, we've actually, this starting Monday, we. We were in the 70s and the mornings have been like mid-50s. So yeah, we're a little bit cool right now. We're going to get a little warm up tomorrow.Humidity comes back for one day. Thunderstorms roll in and then humidity's going back down and so are the temperatures. So we'll be in, I don't know, mid to upper 70s by the weekend.
Marvin Cash
Got it.And so, you know, I imagine you're probably pretty well booked up in the near term, but you want to let folks know calendar and how to reach out and all that kind of good stuff.
Brian Shumaker
Sure. I got a few days left in July, towards the end of July. I have a few days left in August and days available in September and October.You can reach me, shoot me a text or call me at 717-574-5338. You can shoot me an email at susqriverguide.com that's easiest way to get a hold of me.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, it's kind of funny.You know, the sweet spot for me is really that kind of like late September, early October, because, I mean, it's as I always tell people, kind of as we head into July and August, the fish are in the shade and you're not.
Brian Shumaker
Exactly.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, exactly. And you know, folks, if you have a question for Brian, if you shoot it to me either by email or DM me on Instagram, happy to get it on the show.And if we use it, I will send you some articulate fly swag. We're in a drawing for some cool stuff at the end of the season. And folks, it ain't going to get any cooler as we head into summer.So you owe it to yourself to get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, Brian.
Brian Shumaker
Tight lines. Marvin.
Guide | Hosted Travel
Brian Shumaker is the owner of Susquehanna River Guides, specializing in fly-fishing for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River that runs through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna River is a fertile limestone river and home to one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the East. This majestic river is rich in food, with rock ledges and wide shallow riffles laden with nymphs, crayfish and other foods. This environment ensures prolific hatches and rapid growth rates and holds the promise of thrilling smallmouth fishing!
Brian’s love of fishing started at an early age, encouraged by his father. After years of exploring the fascinating island-studded river, Brian started Susquehanna River Guides in 1993 as a way to share his love of the river and fly fishing with others. Today, clients from every reach of the U.S. and as far away as Canada travel to Central Pennsylvania to discover the thrill of fly fishing for smallmouth bass.
Off the river, Brian is active with various organizations, including Smallmouth Alliance and Trout Unlimited, and has been a guest speaker for many local and regional organizations. Publications such as Fly Fish America have covered Susquehanna River Guides, as well as regional newspapers and publications.
