If you plan to explore the water without a guide, look for rock ledges, gravel bars, and grassbeds in midstream--usually found below where the river passes through a gap in a mountain or around islands. Smallmouth congregate in all these spots.
On the upper main river and the West and North branches trees and other "wood" in the water (reminiscent of largemouth habitat) provide good fish cover. Cast to the shaded side of trees uprooted by high water and large branches and deadfalls in the water. O'Brien rates these spots highly.
The river has great structure including boulders and ledges that provide holding water for big bass. Cast in front of and behind boulders to cover the water effectively.
Another key spot to search, though often missed by anglers, is the cushion, or pillow, of slack water in front of submerged boulders. Large bass in particular seek these holding spots, but whether a fish is there depends on the shape of the rock. You can't always identify the best of these spots from the surface. Those which generate a lot of turbulence in front will not attract big bass. The only way to be sure is to cast to each one.
The standard retrieve for smallmouth is a long steady draw, two- to three-foot strips of the line. This attracts fish, covers a lot of water, and then allows a weighted streamer or other fly to sink between strips. Smallmouth most often hit when the fly is falling, so you should anticipate strikes then. Watch your fly; often you will see it disappear without actually seeing the bass, or you'll see a swirl, which indicates a take, before the line telegraphs a take.
Both O'Brien and Clouser say it's important to consider sun angles and glare. Wear polarized sunglasses, and concentrate on spots that offer shadows for the bass to hold in. Since the river has many turns and twists, islands, ledges, and boulders, you can always find such spots.
Edges where clear and cloudy water mingle, such as downstream of tributaries entering the river, provide a similar condition. The fish lie in the clouded water and race to snatch a flashy minnow in the clearer water. Fishing a western shore in late afternoon can put you into a shadow while the middle of the river and eastern shore still have harsh light.
At night fish crowd close to shore in very shallow water, and the magnified sounds of splashing and feeding fish make for exciting sport. Make certain you are familiar with the area in daylight before attempting any nocturnal forays--and carry a flashlight. Fish large dark flies slowly on or near the surface at night.
Always be prepared for rain when you fish the Susquehanna valley, because the area has very diverse weather, particularly in summer. Thunderheads can quickly roll in from the west and sweep down the valley, bringing with them an obvious wall of brief but torrential rains. Get off the water when they appear.
Immediately after such storms the bass often turn on, either because the rain washes food into the river or because the surface agitation increases the oxygen content of the water. Fortunately, brief thunderstorms don't adversely affect this broad river, though local changes can hurt or help your fishing. The first rise of cloudy water from an upstream rain can cause fish to abandon caution, providing anglers with remarkable action.
Susquehanna bass grow large because there is plenty to eat. The river has healthy populations of mayflies, stoneflies, crayfish, helgrammites, and numerous baitfish.
A few summers back Bob Clouser, Tom Gilmore, and I hit just such conditions. After deliberating for a long time whether or not to cancel, we decided to go. We caught more fish between 14 inches and 18 inches than I had caught in the previous ten years combined.
One of the best situations is an overcast calm day with a slight drizzle. These conditions eliminate shadows, and they seem to make the fish less wary.
In a river like the Susquehanna the small smallmouth are numerous and competitive. Larger bass are another story; they are shy, wily, hesitant, and territorial. If you consistently catch small fish in an area, you will likely continue to do so there. For bigger game you should change location. If that does not work, then change your technique or fly.
Autumn is the time to concentrate on large fish. They feed heavily with the approach of cold weather and declining water temperatures. Fishing large flies slowly and deeply is the best technique for the big smallmouth. Even during the warmer months large flies catch more big smallmouth. September and October are the best months for the big fish.
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