Dave Keith displays a nice smallmouth bass caught and released during a recent float trip on Mahoning Creek.

The cool flow of Mahoning Creek pushed hard against my legs as I launched a long cast into a small eddy of protected water tucked along the far bank. 

I gave the three-inch suspending jerkbait a sharp twitch, then a pause, and a smallmouth bass crushed it. 

Moments later its current-hardened 14-inch profile rocketed two feet above the stream’s surface.

The bass was my third fish in as many casts, part of a fun-filled float trip Dave Keith and made last weekend that covered a five-mile stretch of the lower portion of Mahoning Creek, which flows from Mahoning Creek Lake outflow to the merger with the Allegheny River near Templeton. 

The six-hour float yielded at least 20 smallmouth bass and three walleyes, plus several fish that were lost.

The float trip scratched an itch that had been growing for over a month.  It was at that time that I took delivery of a new 12 foot, two-person kayak. But high water and a busy schedule combined to delay the boat’s maiden voyage.

The outing was worth the wait.

Our area is blessed with larger streams that are ideal for adventures like the one we Dave and I made.  Fishing kayaks, becoming more and more popular with anglers, are an excellent vehicle for reaching areas of creek rarely fished. 

Here are a few float-tripping tips:

Planning — The first step is the planning stage. Internet resource such as Google Earth are a great aid in locating access spots for putting in and taking out. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s State Game Land Mapping Center is ideal for measuring potential floats, a big factor in a successful trip.

Flow — The key word in “float trip” is float.  

You want to be sure there’s adequate water in the stream in question, otherwise you’ll spend significant time walking your boat through shallow spots. 

Books and websites are available that list minimum flow rates for many of the state’s larger streams. Paddling Pennsylvania: Kayaking & Canoeing the Keystone State’s Rivers and Lakes is a worthy reference.

Flow information (both high and low) is available online that’s derived from the Pittsburgh Council American Youth Hostel for flow rates for floatable streams in the western part of the state.

Used in conjunction with real-time USGS gauge readings, also found online, one can determine the feasibility of doing a particular float.

Duration — If the primary focus of your trip is to fish, don’t bite off too long a length of creek.  Floats of four to six miles are about right, allowing you plenty of time to beach the boat, and then carefully ply promising looking stretches.

Tackle considerations — Space is at a premium, plus it’s wise to reduce the weight as much as possible. 

So keep things simple.  For creeks like Mahoning, where warmwater species are the target, a small selection of suspending jerkbaits, sinking worms like Yum Dingers, three inch- tube jigs, and twister tail jigs are all that’s really needed. 

It’s wise to pinch down the barbs on the hooks, particularly treble hooks.  A hook in the hand (or worse) takes on added significance if you’re miles from an access area.  

PFD — Things can happen in a hurry when floating.  Modern flotation devices designed for the paddling angler provide a comforting level of security and double as a fishing vest. 

Jeff Knapp is a fishing columnist for the Butler Eagle.