In addition, biologists said the per-hour electro-shocking catch rate of 28 fish over 12 inches in length was also the highest recorded at the sampling site.

That catch rate exceeded the rate obtained during the late 90s, when the Susquehanna's fishing was at its peak. It also blew away the horrible 2005 catch rate of fewer than five fish per hour.

It should be noted between that the river was not sampled at this site between 2002 and 2004, years when anglers experienced a significant downturn in smallmouth bass on the lower Susquehanna River.

"Presentation of the very favorable site-specific smallmouth bass abundance and size distribution data is not a suggestion that the entire Susquehanna River in Area 6, which extends from York Haven Dam downstream to the Maryland state line, maintained such an attractive smallmouth bass population in 2006. It didn't," noted Mike Kaufmann, Area 6 leader.

According to Kaufmann, the bad news was just downstream.

"Electro-shocking catch rates in the Safe Harbor Dam tailrace and on Lake Clark were poor. The Conowingo Pool was not sampled. The electro-shocking results near Marietta indicated, however, that potentially good smallmouth bass fishing was available in certain stretches of the river."

For direct access to this portion of the river, anglers may use the PFBC's Marietta launch at the south end of the town of Marietta on the west side of the river. They can also use the East Donegal Township Riverfront Park launch in Lancaster County off Route 441

No bass fisheries in the Southeast Region equaled or exceeded the state's mean catch rate per angler. In tournaments, however, Marsh Creek Lake, Hopewell Dam and Lake Nockamixon showed respectable largemouth catches.

CENTRAL REGION
Many Harrisburg-area anglers looking for smallmouth fishing as it was in the good old days have been heading slightly west to the lower West Branch Susquehanna River.

Their fishing reports in that zone have been mixed. But a new survey by a PFBC electro-shocking team provides some reason for celebration. The team visited three sampling sites: Montoursville, Watsontown and Chillisquaque. During nearly three hours of electro-shocking, a total of 216 smallmouth bass were captured. They ranged in size from 2-inch yearlings up to hefty 20-inch specimens.

"The 2006 catch rate of age 1 and older smallmouths was the highest on recent record and a considerable improvement from catch rates in 2005," the Area 3 team reported.

"Additionally," reported Bruce Hollender, Area 3 fisheries manager, "the catch rate of smallmouth bass greater than 15 inches -- 6.5 bass per hour of electro-shocking -- was also the highest on recent record."

Does this mean the lower West Branch Susquehanna River is on the way back? The survey report was optimistic.

"The good catch rate of age-1 fish is encouraging and suggests that the smallmouth bass population in the lower West Branch produced a strong 2005 year-class," biologists noted.

This was in spite of the columnaris outbreak that occurred in the Susquehanna Drainage in 2005.

"In addition," the report noted, "the good numbers of 6- to 10-inch bass should provide for good angling as they grow and enter the fishery within the next couple of years,"

On average, smallmouth bass in the West Branch Susquehanna River reach 12 inches at age 4 and 15 inches at age 6.

If you want to get in on the resurgence, use the PFBC's Chillisquaque access, which is four miles north of Northumberland on Route 405, or the PFBC's Watsontown Access in the town of the same name off Main Street (Route 405). Both lie in Northumberland County.