Unique Susquehanna Fishing Spot In York Haven

Join me for a quick walk along the York Haven power station's fishing catwalk in York County, PA.
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TopoRanger Episode 66 - York Haven Catwalk - Unique Susquehanna Fishing Spot
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[@Dave_0993_I]

The garage-door thing around the side that had trapped the guy out there when they opened it is used to release all the wood and other flotsam that they screen out of the inlet. There's a traveling scraper thing, I think, that pushes all the stuff down to that side - I think you can see this if you go around what they consider the Portage Trail to the up-stream side. Also, the dam at the plant is just a wall that forms their head-race. If you look on an aerial view, the dam here is sort of 'L' shaped, and where the bend is, upstream, is where the spillway part of the dam starts, and goes over at an angle to TMI. Hope this is clear enough. That point at the corner where the spillway starts was a great fishing spot since the fish could go no further upstream, and were concentrated there. Bass, Catfish, and sometimes Walleye.

[@TopoRanger]

Thanks for the info. Do you know why it's gated where it is? Some type of safety issue? I've seen people walking along the dam way out in the middle of the river. I wonder still allow this because I would love film along there.

[@Dave_0993_I]

@@TopoRanger I would have to think anyone walking on the wall part of the dam are breaking some rule, but I don't know for sure. Before 9/11 we used to boat out to the dam from the Goldsboro boat launch, tie the boat to the dam at the spillway corner, and climb down the spillway with our tackle. After 9/11 security at TMI and the dam increased, so we would boat up from the York Haven boat launch (now closed) up thru the rocks, and then wade across from boulder to boulder to get to that corner. We could only do this when the river was at the right level. My friend had a John-boat. With a small canoe or kayak, you could paddle right up close to that corner. I think you could launch a kayak from the ramp right there at the power plant. However, you'd have to get past the power-plant turbine outflow first, probably by looping way out into the river. A very dangerous place. The Susquehanna clames several lives each year. Take care.

[@TopoRanger]

@@Dave_0993_I Yeah, that turbine outflow looks treacherous. I'd like to kayak up into the rocky area below the dam his summer but I'll approach from the Falmouth launch.

[@willhalt01]

Just want to mention that John Smith did not make it this far up the river. He made it to about Port Deposit. The names and locations on his map of these northern locations were given to him by the Susquehannocks. The Susquehannock fort location was in Washington Boro, and he did not physically see it.

[@TopoRanger]

My understanding was that his scouts went with the Susquehannocks and got as far as Conewago Falls.

[@frankkiefer3053]

@@TopoRanger John Smith stopped at Port Deposit MD and the natives took him to their village at Washington Boro.

[@SimplyExploVenturing]

I want to go there as well

[@beastking55]

great place to fish

[@canofworms9879]

The catwalk is closed now. They built a new spillway that blocks the access to the catwalk. I fish off the wall 1-2 times a week and haven't seen it open since they built it.

[@TopoRanger]

I've seen the new spillway. I thought once it was finished they would reopen the catwalk.

[@fredmiller4110]

When did they open catwalk back up it was closed off for a few years

[@TopoRanger]

It's closed again I think due to construction. I don't know when it was closed before I made this episode. I just remember reading something about it being off limits temporarily.

[@fredmiller4110]

@@TopoRanger I grew up fishing that catwalk and the south bridge of tmi right across river in Falmouth

[@fredmiller4110]

@@TopoRanger the warm water discharge was the best winter fishing in pa until they fenced it off

[@zip8z]

@@fredmiller4110 i fish there every week, whole bunch of guys came through one night and trashed it(beer cans, loose line, ect.) so me and 3 of my buddies walked down with 4 trash bags and left it spotless and put a no littering sign. It's such a beautiful fishing spot and i would like to preserve it for many years to come

[@maliqueway9326]

How do you get in?

[@TopoRanger]

Park at Hydro Park and then go across the bridge and stay to your right, go past the "garage door" and you'll hit it.