In this episode of the TCO Flycast, Bill catches back up with Susquehanna River guide Mike Rosa for a full recap of a strange, unpredictable spring — and a look ahead at summer smallmouth strategy. Mike breaks down why this year threw every pattern out the window: a brutal winter freeze, cold water lingering into spring, and fish that wouldn't show up on schedule.
We dig into how Mike adapted — skipping the tributaries early to chase big fish in the main river, fishing oversized flies slow when nothing else worked, and reading a river that stayed high and off-color for months. From there we get into the summer transition: gear changes, leader tricks, grass and shade structure, and how a guide's daily game plan shifts from sunrise topwater to midday hunting.
Mike also shares his full rod and line lineup for the Susquehanna, a barrel swivel trick every angler should be using, an update on his guide lodge on the river, and advice for anyone wanting to try smallmouth fishing for the first time. We close out talking about the upcoming Bass Thumb Tournament and why fishing early in the day matters more than people think.
If you fish the Susquehanna — or want to start — this one's full of real, in-season insight you won't find anywhere else.
The best way to support this podcast is to choose TCO Fly Shop for all your fly fishing gear needs. Find our online store here:https://www.tcoflyfishing.com/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flycast_ep9_mike_rosa
Bass Thumb Fly Fishing Tournament (July 9-11, benefiting Project Healing Waters & Susquehanna Greenways): https://www.tcoflyfishing.com/products/bass-thumb-fly-fishing-tournament-2026
Streambred Anglers Website: https://www.streambredanglers.com/
Mike’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sba_flyfishing/
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Recapping the Spring Season
01:26 A Cold Winter and a Slow, Unpredictable Spring
02:15 Skipping the Tributaries for the Big Susquehanna
03:23 A Trout Fishing Detour During High Water
04:42 The Triple Deceiver: Mike's Dirty Water Go-To
06:02 Frog Season Starts Early and Never Stops
07:38 Why a Tough Puzzle Makes Guiding More Fun
08:34 Pre-Spawn to Post-Spawn: This Year's Timeline
10:24 Tributaries vs. Main River Right Now
11:27 Ice-Scarred Trees From a Brutal Winter
12:34 Slowing Down and Sizing Up in Tough Conditions
14:09 Gearing Up for the Summer Transition
15:30 Grass, Shade & Structure: Summer Smallmouth 101
17:22 A Guide's Daily Game Plan
18:32 Hammocks, Lunch Breaks, and Island Life
19:09 Long Leaders for Low, Clear Water
19:40 The Barrel Swivel Trick Every Angler Should Know
21:33 Night Fishing on the Susquehanna
23:17 Previewing the Bass Thumb Tournament
24:30 Last Year's Tournament: Chasing Big Fish, Not Numbers
25:12 Sight Fishing vs. Blind Casting Grass Lines
27:09 Sizing Down Streamers for Summer
28:13 Retrieve Tricks and the Half & Half
29:49 Crayfish Colors for Every Water Clarity
31:11 40+ Floats Later: Lessons From a Wild Spring
36:02 Sage Rod Lineup for the Susquehanna
38:58 Fly Lines for Wind and High Water
41:18 Why an 8-Weight Rules This River
41:42 An Update on the Guide Lodge
43:31 Advice for Beginners Trying Smallmouth
46:05 Creek Fishing Nostalgia
46:56 Final Words: Beat the Heat, Fish Early
