S8, Ep 56: Topwater Tactics: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report

Episode Overview

On 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 a peak-summer conditions update on the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers in Central Pennsylvania. Flows are running skinny with a stretch of cool mornings and low humidity, with rain in the forecast to bump levels back up. Shumaker breaks down a topwater program built around a heavy blue damsel bite, the arrival of the white fly hatch on both rivers and cicadas working the banks, along with the disciplined casting angles and dead-drift-then-pop presentation that turn a good popper bite into a great one. He also covers how he adjusts on cooler mornings when bug activity is slow, switching clients to lightly-weighted Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns fished on floating lines and long leaders to stay in the smallmouth's strike zone without hanging up. Shumaker explains why he skips the obvious white fly dry fly in favor of a small floating minnow or white popper during the dusk-into-dark spinner fall and why a proper strip set, not a trout set, is the difference between a hookup and a miss. The conversation closes with a seasonal look ahead: bookings running into early October before the bite transitions from topwater to streamers as water temperatures cool through the fall.

Key Takeaways

• How to position the boat and cast at a consistent 45-degree angle downstream so both anglers maintain a natural drift without creating drag or crossing lines
• Why the pause after a popper's initial splat, not the retrieve, is what triggers a smallmouth strike
• When to switch from topwater to lightly-weighted Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns on cooler, low-activity topwater mornings
• Why floating lines and 9-foot leaders outperform intermediate lines for working skinny summer flows without hanging bottom
• How to fish the Susquehanna's white fly hatch with a small floating minnow or white popper instead of a matching dry fly
• Why a strip set rather than a trout set is essential for solid hookups on topwater and streamer eats

Techniques & Gear Covered

Shumaker's summer program centers on blue and black poppers fished with a deliberate splat-pause-pop-pause retrieve, paired with disciplined 45-degree downstream casting angles from both the bow and stern to keep flies drifting at boat speed and avoid drag. For lower-activity topwater mornings, he switches clients to lightly-weighted Clouser minnows tied with small dumbbell or bead chain eyes and crayfish patterns worked with short strips and a pause, fished on floating lines with 9-foot leaders rather than intermediate lines. During the Susquehanna and Juniata white fly hatch, he intentionally avoids a matching dry fly in favor of a small floating minnow or small white popper, reasoning that a fly which stands out from thousands of naturals draws a more confident eat. Across every presentation he emphasizes a strip set over a trout set to avoid pulling the fly away from a committed fish.

Locations & Species

The report centers on the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers in Central Pennsylvania, where smallmouth bass are the primary target during the height of topwater season. Conditions are running low and clear after several days of cooler, low-humidity weather, with rain needed to bump flows back to normal summer levels. The Susquehanna's white fly hatch is in full swing alongside blue damsels and resident cicadas, a combination that defines the region's peak summer surface bite from late morning through the dusk-into-dark spinner fall.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy does the pause matter more than the retrieve when fishing poppers for smallmouth bass?

Shumaker explains that whether an angler is fishing a popper, streamer, crayfish pattern or hellgrammite imitation, smallmouth bass eat during the pause far more often than during active movement. The retrieve gets the fly in front of the fish, but the pause is what triggers the strike.

How should anglers position themselves in a drift boat when casting poppers for smallmouth?

Both the bow and stern anglers should cast at a consistent 45-degree angle downstream rather than straight out or straight downstream. This keeps each fly drifting at the same speed as the boat, prevents drag and avoids the two anglers crossing or tangling lines, with the oar marking the boundary between each angler's casting lane.

What should anglers throw when cooler mornings slow the topwater bite?

On cooler, low-activity mornings, Shumaker switches clients to lightly-weighted Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns fished on floating lines with 9-foot leaders. The lighter weight keeps the fly up off the bottom in the strike zone without hanging up, since he is intentionally avoiding intermediate lines in the current flow conditions.

Why does Brian Shumaker avoid using a standard dry fly during the white fly hatch?

Even though smallmouth will eat a dry fly during a heavy white fly spinner fall, Shumaker prefers a small floating minnow or small white popper because it stands out among the huge volume of naturals on the water. Giving fish something visually different from the thousands of identical insects increases the odds of a confident, aggressive eat.

Why is a trout set the wrong hookset technique for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna?

Lifting the rod straight up in a traditional trout set pulls the fly away from the fish rather than driving the hook home. Shumaker recommends a strip set instead, which keeps tension on the line and results in a much more reliable hookup on topwater and streamer eats alike.

Related Content

S8, Ep 52: Hot Days and Night Bites: Brian Shumaker's Guide to Pennsylvania Smallmouth Fishing

S8, Ep 48: Summer Heat Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Smallmouth Tips

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

View all Pennsylvania Smallmouth Reports with Brian Shumaker

Connect with Our Guest

Follow Brian on Facebook and Instagram.

Follow the Show

Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.

Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.

Support the Show

Shop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.

Join our Patreon community to support the show.

If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.

Subscribe & Advertise

Subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.

Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.