Susquehanna River Smallmouth Fly Fishing Tactics | TCO Flycast Ep. 4 - Mike Rosa

<p>Smallmouth bass might be the most underrated species in fly fishing.</p><p>In Episode 4 of the TCO Flycast, Bill sits down with Susquehanna River guide Mike Rosa to talk about everything smallmouth bass. From seasonal patterns and river structure to topwater eats and streamer retrieves, this episode breaks down how to successfully target smallmouth on the fly in Pennsylvania.The Susquehanna can be intimidating. In many places it’s over a mile wide and full of structure, islands, ledges, and boulder fields. Mike explains how he approaches the river, how fish move throughout the year, and how anglers can start breaking down big water.The conversation also covers seasonal tactics, fly selection, and how smallmouth behavior changes from pre-spawn through summer and into fall.If you’ve only focused on trout fishing, this episode might make you rethink what a fly rod is capable of.Topics include:• How to break down a massive river like the Susquehanna• Seasonal smallmouth patterns from winter to fall• Streamer techniques and why fish often eat on the pause• Topwater smallmouth tactics in summer• Fishing structure like boulders, ledges, and seams• Fly gear setups for river smallmouth• Susquehanna conservation and fish population recovery• The Bass Thumb Fly Fishing TournamentWhether you fish from a kayak, raft, drift boat, or on foot, this episode is packed with practical insights for anglers interested in smallmouth on the fly.Chapters:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg">0:00</a> Intro – Mike Rosa and smallmouth fly fishing<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=69s">1:09</a> Trout vs smallmouth on the fly<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=235s">3:55</a> Why smallmouth fishing is so addictive<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=367s">6:07</a> Breaking down the Susquehanna River<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=520s">8:40</a> Smallmouth seasonal patterns<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=647s">10:47</a> Summer fishing and topwater tactics<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=743s">12:23</a> Fishing high water and river conditions<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=802s">13:22</a> Fly rod and line setups for smallmouth<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=972s">16:12</a> Reading structure on big rivers<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=1121s">18:41</a> Streamer retrieves and eating on the pause<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=1267s">21:07</a> Average size of Susquehanna smallmouth<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=1489s">24:49</a> Susquehanna river health and fish populations<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=1632s">27:12</a> Wading vs floating the river<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=2028s">33:48</a> The Bass Thumb Fly Fishing tournament<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=2241s">37:21</a> Crayfish patterns and fishing techniques<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=2576s">42:56</a> Topwater smallmouth tactics<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=3045s">50:45</a> Fishing dirty water conditions<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=3138s">52:18</a> Best time of year to catch big smallmouth<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkK2rMIOYg&t=3303s">55:03</a> Outro and where to find Mike Rosa</p>