S8, Ep 27: The Pre-Spawn Puzzle: Captain Brian Shumaker's Tips for Pennsylvania Smallmouth

Episode Overview

This fly fishing podcast episode launches the inaugural Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly, featuring host Marvin Cash and Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides. The episode arrives at a pivotal moment in the Pennsylvania smallmouth spawn cycle, with an unseasonably volatile spring — swings from the upper 50s to the 70s in water temperature within days — compressing what is normally a methodical, staggered spawn into a chaotic quest to pattern pre-spawn fish. On the Juniata and Susquehanna, Shumaker reports catching spawned-out females alongside buck males, signaling that the first wave has already completed, while subsequent waves are just arriving. The conversation covers responsible angler strategy during the spawn, where to focus presentations to avoid disturbing bedding fish and how low flows on the tributaries have pushed fishing pressure onto the main river. Shumaker also previews his summer guide calendar, highlighting July through September as prime topwater and streamer season, and teases a planned trip with Bob Clouser to target peacock bass in Florida.

Key Takeaways

• How volatile spring water temperatures — from the upper 50s to the low 70s within days — compress the smallmouth spawn and make it more difficult to pattern pre-spawn fish on Pennsylvania rivers
• Why concentrating presentations on mid-river structure rather than bank edges is the most effective and responsible strategy when spawning activity is underway
• How to identify when you've stumbled into bedding fish — landing several fish in quick succession from the same bank zone is the signal to back off
• When swim flies, Deceivers and Half-and-Halfs, produce in mixed-bag pre-spawn and spawn-transition conditions on the Susquehanna system
• Why Pennsylvania tributary flows have been too shallow for float trips since mid-April, making main-stem Susquehanna and Juniata fishing the primary option this spring
• When to plan a guided Pennsylvania smallmouth trip with Shumaker: July through September for topwater popping bug fishing, with streamer and crayfish options throughout

Techniques & Gear Covered

Shumaker's current approach to the spawn-transition period centers on streamer-style patterns — swim flies, Deceivers and Half-and-Halfs — chosen for their ability to produce across a wide range of water temperatures and fish behavior stages. The mixed-bag nature of the conditions (cold-water days followed immediately by warm-water days) makes pattern commitment difficult, and Shumaker acknowledges the fish have been hard to lock into a single presentation. For summer bookings, he highlights popping bugs and topwater flies as the primary draw from July through September, with streamers and crayfish patterns rounding out the arsenal.

Locations & Species

The primary fishery covered is the Susquehanna River and Juniata River system in central Pennsylvania, with additional context on the region's smaller tributaries, which have been unfishable by raft since approximately mid-April due to low water. The target species is smallmouth bass, with Shumaker noting a split population dynamic: first-wave fish (spawned-out females and smaller buck males) already post-spawn, and subsequent waves still staging or actively on beds. Water temperatures have swung dramatically this spring — from the upper 50s approaching 60°F to the low 70s within a single week — creating an unusually compressed and difficult-to-pattern spawn window across the Susquehanna drainage.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you tell if you're fishing over spawning smallmouth on beds rather than pre-spawn fish?

Shumaker's rule of thumb is location and catch rate: pre-spawn fish are still staging out in the current and mid-river structure, while fish on beds are in the shallower water along the banks and edges. If you're casting toward the bank and catching multiple fish in quick succession from the same area, you're almost certainly into bedding fish — the responsible move is to back off immediately.

What fly patterns are working for pre-spawn and spawn-transition smallmouth on the Susquehanna system?

Shumaker has been rotating through swim flies, Deceivers and Half-and-Halfs during the transition period. He notes the fish have been difficult to pattern because water temperatures have swung significantly day to day, so he's fishing a mixed approach rather than committing to a single presentation.

Why are Pennsylvania smallmouth tributaries unfishable this spring?

Low water has been the dominant story on the tributaries since roughly the second week of April. Despite brief bumps from rain events, levels drop back almost immediately. Shumaker notes that floating his raft requires getting out and dragging the boat 10 to 15 times per trip — making the main-stem Susquehanna and Juniata the practical choice for guided float fishing.

When is the best time to book a guided Pennsylvania smallmouth trip with Captain Shumaker?

Shumaker has openings in July, August and September, with a few days remaining in October. He identifies July through September as prime time for topwater popping bug fishing — in addition to streamers and crayfish patterns — while October offers cooler conditions for anglers who prefer that style of fishing.

How has this spring's weather affected the Pennsylvania smallmouth spawn?

An extended stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures — including 90-degree air temps — spiked water temperatures into the 70s accelerating the typical methodical, staged spawn and making consistent patterning of pre-spawn fish very difficult.

Related Content

S8, Ep 23 – Low Water Chronicles: Matt Reilly on Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal Shifts

S7, Ep 33 – Nut Jobs and Chimichangas: A PA Smallmouth Update with Brendan Ruch

S7, Ep 36 – Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop

S1, Ep 97 – All Things Smallmouth with Mike Schultz

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