Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2021 - 9

heavy action during these
two daytime bookends
without direct sunlight on
the water.
While fish have hit
mid-day presentations
casted into the shadows,
feeding definitely
intensifies in lower light, as
bass seem more apt to roam
than loaf under dawn, dusk,
and overcast scenarios-
especially during low,
warm water periods.
Location
The entire expanse
One year, the author 3-D printed a homemade lure just to see what would happen, and he landed
two trophy Smallmouth Bass on consecutive casts, proving Pine Creek bass aren't overly selective.
Old sneakers do just fine, but wading boots provide
better support and stability on the creek's rocky
bottom. It may get slick at times, so if your " sea legs "
sailed away years ago, a wading staff may be a good
idea. Finalize your wardrobe with polarized glasses
and a comfortable shirt and hat to keep the sun at bay.
A light to medium action rod around 61/2- to 71/2-feet
in length paired with 6- or 8-pound-test line makes
for a fun fight, while still affording the long casts
necessary to reach prime cover in wider areas. While
not an absolute must, a clip-on net may be an asset if
you luck into bass over 18-inches long. A net simplifies
the landing, unhooking, marveling, and releasing
process, all while controlling the fish underwater.
Of course, you need something to carry more
gear than you will use, so pick out a high-riding vest
or sling pack. Fill it with a variety of spinners, soft
plastics, topwater lures, diving crankbaits, and live
bait. Hungry fish will hit all of the above at the right
time and location.
Happy hours
The best luck I had fishing Pine Creek, especially
during the extreme heat of summer, was before the
sun fully exposes itself in the morning and just after
it dips below the mountains in the evening. Because
of the sheer height of some of the surrounding terrain
in the valley, it is possible to have several hours of
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of Pine Creek holds
Smallmouth Bass, but
denser populations
exist in the mid to lower
reaches compared to the
upper canyon. Seek out
fast riffles that spill into
long, deep pools, as well
as sharp drops near turns
and rock outcroppings.
These drastic changes
in depth, coupled with
freshly oxygenated water, are prime holding zones for
mature Smallmouth Bass eager to feed. Cast diagonally
from the shallows into the deep water to elicit a strike.
There is a variety of structure in Pine Creek. The more
you fish it, the more you will learn to read it. The fish
love edges. If you locate these steeper transitional drops,
you will find Smallmouth Bass.
Techniques
As far as offerings, I am successful with crankbaits,
crawfish lures, inline spinners, wacky rigged worms,
finesse worms, and a variety of live bait offerings.
But, my favorite way to catch Smallmouth Bass is
using topwater lures. On summer evenings, the fish
absolutely smash these lures when popped across the
surface causing subtle splashes along the way.
Sometimes, feisty little bass hit lures half its size.
Other times, I am rewarded with a chunky old
lunker that barely fits in my net. One year, I caught
two successive trophy-class bass on a 3-D printed
plug made with glued on hooks from a disassembled
Heddon Zara Spook lure, proving hungry fish do
not discriminate.
Pine Creek Smallmouth Bass are strong, healthy,
and make it well worth visiting this beautiful creek.
So, grab your gear, and make some history of your own
while wet wading the waters of this scenic and storied
valley for summertime Smallmouth Bass.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2021
9

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2021

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