Susquehanna River 2 nights by kayak (Towanda, Tunkhannock: rentals, hotel, high school)

[weluvpa]

I just finished a 2 night 3 day kayak fishing trip of the Susquehanna river from Laceyville to Tunkhannock. We started in Laceyville on Saturday night about 7pm and camped about 6 miles down river that night. Sunday we fished and paddled our way down to Mehoopany for our second night on the river. Monday was an easy 9 mile day down river to Tunkhannock with stops for fishing and swimming along the way and we finished up about 5:30pm on Monday night. There was only one bridge over the river after we started and the river in that area is awesome with some areas seeing little traffic if any. There were coyotes, minks, bald eagles, turkeys, red tailed hawks, deer along the way and it made for a great trip. The fishing was solid and again there was not really anyone on the river and very little pressure on the fish.

If you have the ways and means to do a trip like this I recommend it, if not you break it up into day long paddles and have a great time. Its right in our back yards and when the smaller rivers don't have enough water to paddle the susquehanna will and its worth the time to see it.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Hello there Weluvpa, It sounds like a fantastic outdoor trip with much exciting adventures. Did you tail all the camping stuff on the kyack? BTW, breathtaking pictures, very nice scenery. Was wondering if you ever tried ocean kyacking? Thanks for sharing with us.

Hat

[NEPA-x-pat]

Hey Dan, awesome trip for sure. That is a great section to float. I paddled the section from Towanda to Meshoppen way back in the day (1975) with radio station WARM. Two guys were doing a sojourn from Towanda to WB. They asked people to join. I was a senior in high school then and thought it would be an easy trip, it rained just about every minute for the trip. We slept in soggy tents riverside while the radio guys slept in a RV or a hotel for the night. Needless to say we cut out before reaching WB!

It is a treasure to be sure, beautiful country side. Fishing looked to be great too. We didn't fish, but one of the paddlers who went along, husband and wife team in their 60's, caught a huge carp by placing a ball of salami sandwich on a knot of the painter (rope) trailing behind the canoe. Weirdest thing I ever saw.

I envy your trip Dan

[MermanMike]

That is a cool trip...where do you camp for the night? Are there public spots along the river?

[weluvpa]

No there were no public camping areas that I know of. We camped on the islands in the river that were in the most secluded areas within the time we could paddle in a day. We stopped and fished and had lunch so we did not over do the miles per day. The first night was on an island that was deep in the bend of the river with cliffs on the shore line, we stayed on the shore behind the island and below the cliffs, basically in the middle of nowhere.

The second night was a spot that we pulled into during a lightning storm and was only a 1/2 mile from our proposed camping spot. We ran under some trees to get out of the rain and it happened to be an old camping site with fire ring and places for tents so we stayed there.

Highhat, yes we traveled the gear in our yaks. My yak has a working capacity for gear of just over a 100 pounds and my buddies could each carry 75 to 80 in theirs so we had plenty of space and really not that much gear to begin with. Water was our largest weight, 8 gallons weighs alot.

Yes, I have been ocean kayaking before in the Bahamas and The Outer Banks in NC. Short day trips in NJ as well.

We are currently planning a 5 night trip starting further up river in Towanda or even further and finishing in Falls.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

The second night was a spot that we pulled into during a lightning storm...(edited for brevity)...we ran under some trees to get out of the rain

It sounds like you all had an awesome time, but for future reference please do not seek shelter beneath trees when there's lightning in the area. I hear too many tragic stories, especially involving children, where people trying to dodge raindrops under the green leafy canopies are struck by lightning.

Do I sound enough like your mom yet, Dan?!

[weluvpa]

Under the trees was much safer then out in the middle of the river with an aluminum kayak paddle in your hands. The lesser of two evils I guess.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Under the trees was much safer then out in the middle of the river with an aluminum kayak paddle in your hands. The lesser of two evils I guess.

GREAT pix Dan!!! That mountain scenery is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Any mahi-mahi in the Susquehanna??

[poconoproud]

Boy, that takes me back to 1991, before I got married. Mr. Poconoproud and I went on a similar trip on the Delaware with a group of friends. You really brought back a fun memory for me, weluvpa, thank you!

[nkotb]

I kayak from Tunkhannock or White Ferrys to Falls with a friend quite frequently !!
Took one trip with - 'something outfitters ??? anyway, hated it - the guy is a dope !!
I bought my kayak from him !!! Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals in Falls does
a much better job. Gotta love the great outdoors !!!!!