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

About this episode

Captain Brian Shumaker shares insights on fishing strategies during the Pennsylvania smallmouth spawn cycle amidst volatile spring conditions.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Marvin Cash

Guest: Captain Brian Shumaker

Topics covered

• fly fishing
• smallmouth bass
• fishing strategy
• spawn cycle
• Pennsylvania rivers
• topwater fishing
• summer fishing

Keywords

• smallmouth spawn
• fishing pressure
• water temperature
• pre-spawn fish
• angling strategy
• topwater season
• streamer fishing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Susquehanna River Guides

Places: Pennsylvania, Juniata, Susquehanna, Florida

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• S8, Ep 40: Chasing Fish and Seasons: Josh Trammell's Guiding Adventures · June 5, 2026 · 37 min
• S8, Ep 39: High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Insights · June 4, 2026 · 8 min
• S8, Ep 38: High Water and Transitional Fish: Matt Reilly's Southwest Virginia Fishing Insights · May 30, 2026 · 13 min
• S8, Ep 37: Big Water, Big Fish: Ellis Ward's Strategies for Streamer Fishing Success · May 29, 2026 · 18 min