As we look ahead to another and hopefully drier summer bass season, a few questions keep popping up with members looking to book a bass trip on the Juniata this summer. In this short post I will answer the three most asked questions.

1. Where? Our trips occur downstream of the town of Huntingdon on the Juniata River, which is the combination of the Raystown Branch, Frankstown Branch, and the Little Juniata Rivers. It can get confusing when there are three branches that all have similar names. We focus on the upper 15 or so miles after the confluence for those members staying at the club. This keeps anglers closer to the club and cuts down on drive times. For anglers interested in a day trip from farther south or interested in a different locale we also guide, and are intimately familiar with, the lower 30 miles of the river before it empties into the Susquehanna River just North of Harrisburg, PA
2. Equipment? Our trips are a “come as you are” trip, except for sunglasses and rainwear. We provide all the equipment needed for a day on the Juniata River. Rods, reels, terminal tackle, spin fishing gear, and everything needed will be in and on the boat when we shove off for a float.
3. The Fish? A question that keeps coming up is…how big are the fish, and what species? The smallmouth in the Juniata average roughly between 10 and 14 inches on the upper river with multiple fish in the upper teens caught on most every float. On the lower river the sizes are similar with good a deal more large fish thrown into the mix. Keep in mind that a trophy smallmouth is 20’’ and that a mid-teen fish will bend an 8wt over easily. Although smallmouth bass are the target species, the river has good populations of carp, catfish, walleye in spots, and also a few musky. Panfish like sunfish, bluegill, pumpkin seeds, and rock bass are also landed on a regular basis during a float trip.

If you are interested in floating the Juniata River this summer or have more questions about the River, the fishing, or anything else… feel free to ask Joel or Mike at the Clubhouse. Kyle and myself are running these floats and we’ll be happy to give you first hand info as well.