Try floating the West Branch, either from Muncy to Montgomery or from Montgomery to Watsontown. The Fish and Boat Commission has a boat ramp off Route 405 in Muncy on the east side of the river. From Muncy to Montgomery is a distance of about five miles.

The Fish and Boat Commission also maintains a boat ramp in Montgomery. This one is also off Route 405, but on the west side of the river. The distance from Montgomery to Watsontown is about eight miles.

These two float trips are productive in winter because of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company's Montour Preserve, which lies about 12 miles east of this stretch of the West Branch in Montour County. This preserve, which includes Lake Chillisquaque, is a major gathering place for resident geese from all over north-central Pennsylvania at this time of year. Many of those geese will fly out to the river to spend their day.

SUSQUEHANNA ISLANDS
The main stem of the Susquehanna River is littered with islands large and small. Any uninhabited rockpile in the river is fair game to set up on for waterfowl hunters. Some of the larger islands, however, are privately owned and are posted against hunting. The Game Commission owns several islands in the river, and these are posted with the agency's official signs. If you come upon an island in the river with no signs on it, check with the regional Game Commission office to find out who owns it and whether or not hunting is permitted.

Three islands are part of State Game Lands No. 254 in Dauphin and Perry counties. They are Bressler Island, Clemson Island and Lingle Island, all in the river off Halifax. There are two public boat launches on the east shore of the river near these islands. Both can be accessed off Route 147 north of Halifax.

SGL 290, also known as Haldeman Island, is upriver from Clarks Ferry in Dauphin County. The Game Commission has a boat launch upriver from the island near New Buffalo, off Route 11/15 on the river's west shore. Also, the Fish and Boat Commission has a boat launch a few miles away on the nearby Juniata River. If you launch there, follow the Juniata south to the confluence with the Susquehanna and head upriver to Haldeman.

To hunt geese in the river off these islands, plan on setting up on the downriver ends, where you'll find the best protection from the river's flow. Pitch your decoys in a calm area and then hide in some nearby shrubbery or set up a makeshift blind using camouflage netting.

If you have the equipment and your boat is large enough, you can also turn your boat into a blind and anchor it in the river off one of these islands or a boulder pile. A large, wide flat-bottom boat is perfect for this kind of hunting. All you need to do is rig up some poles in the four corners of the boat and stretch some camouflage netting around them. Dress up the netting by stuffing some grass and branches into the fabric to make your blind look like it belongs in the river.

For maps of the game lands in and around the Susquehanna River, go to the Game Commission's Web site and click on "State Game Lands."