Best Boats For Navigating Susquehanna Flats

The Susquehanna Flats, located at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, is a sprawling, shallow delta at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. It is home to the Bay's largest underwater grass bed, extending over thousands of acres, and is an important habitat for numerous fish species. To explore the Flats, you will need a boat, with options including kayaks, canoes, motorboats, and fishing boats. The type of boat you choose will depend on your preferences and the specific conditions of the Flats, such as the water depth, current, and wind. For example, the Flats can be dangerous for kayaks if the wind picks up, and motorboats need to be cautious of shallow waters and hidden rocks.

Kayak suitability for Susquehanna Flats

Kayaking is a popular activity on the Susquehanna Flats, with the shallow waters providing an important habitat for numerous fish species. The flats are located at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, near Havre de Grace, Maryland, and constitute a sprawling, shallow delta at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. The area is mostly flat, but there are some sections with faster-moving water that are more suitable for beginner kayakers looking for a bit of adventure.

When it comes to launching your kayak, there are a few different options. One popular option is Perryville Park, which is kayak-only and puts you right out onto the flats. Another option is Millard Tydings Memorial Park in Havre de Grace, which provides access to the flats but has a lot of boats and a longer paddle to reach them. This park has paved parking spaces for 17 trailers and about 40 parking spaces on grass for car-toppers, with a fee for launching trailed boats but not for car-topped kayaks.

The Susquehanna Flats offer a variety of fish species to target, including largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, striped bass, yellow perch, catfish, northern snakehead, and blue catfish. The flats are particularly well-known for their striped bass fishing, with many anglers visiting during the spring trophy season. The area's shallow waters and extensive underwater grass beds make it well-suited for fly fishing, and kayakers can easily access the miles of shoreline and thousands of acres of shallow water habitats.

Overall, the Susquehanna Flats are a great place to kayak, offering beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife, and excellent fishing opportunities. Kayakers of all experience levels can enjoy paddling in this area, with novice and beginner kayakers able to explore the calm, protected waters, while those looking for more adventure can seek out the faster-moving sections of the river.

Fishing spots and species

The Susquehanna Flats, located at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, is a sprawling shallow delta at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, just a short boat ride from the Havre de Grace boat ramp. It is an important habitat for numerous fish species, constituting a literal playground for fly fishers.

To access the fishing spots, you need to launch at the Havre de Grace Town Ramp in Millard Tydings Memorial Park, 352 Commerce Street Havre de Grace, MD 21078. There is a fee for launching trailed boats, but launching car-top carried watercraft is free.

The fishing spots include the underwater grass beds, as well as areas with deeper waters nearby. The Flats offer miles of shoreline, including Swan Creek on the western shore and North East River on the eastern shore. Within the Flats, there are thousands of acres of shallow water habitats, much of it vegetated from late spring through early fall.

The species of fish you can target include largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, striped bass, yellow perch, catfish, northern snakehead, and blue catfish.

For largemouth bass, medium-sized poppers and floating frog patterns, Clouser minnows, and other minnow imitations are recommended. For striped bass and catfish, large Clouser minnows, Lefty's Deceivers, and other minnow imitations are suggested. Anglers have also been fishing at the mouth of the Susquehanna for white perch, with blood worms and grass shrimp as bait. Shad darts have been highly effective as lures.

Catfish are especially heavy in the North East River and the Elk River, and they have been biting on cut fish bait. Bass are now active in the northern rivers, and bass fishing is expected to improve as the water warms up. White perch are plentiful in the Susquehanna and are biting on bloodworms and grass shrimp, with more perch deeper closer to the mouth of the river.

The Susquehanna Flats is an amazing place to fish, with something to offer for every angler.

Launching points and fees

To access the Susquehanna Flats, you can launch your boat at the Havre de Grace Town Ramp in Millard Tydings Memorial Park, 352 Commerce Street Havre de Grace, MD 21078. There is a fee for launching trailed boats, but not one for launching car-top carried watercraft. There are paved parking spaces for 17 trailers and about 40 parking spaces on the grass for car toppers.

If you're looking to launch a kayak, Perryville Park is another option, which puts you right out onto the flats. However, there is an $8 toll if you have to cross the Susky to get there, and they don't open until 7:30 am. Alternatively, you can launch at Tydings in Havre de Grace, but it's a longer paddle to the flats and there are a lot of boats.

If you're looking for other launching points, there are 10 places on the Lancaster County side of the river where people with boats can get in the water. Here are some options:

• Falmouth Access — Collins Road, Conoy Township; owned by the Fish and Boat Commission. It can accommodate trailers and paddle boats.
• River Park Access — Vinegar Ferry Road, East Donegal Township; owned by East Donegal Township. It can handle boats and trailers.
• Marietta Access — Robert K. Mowrer Drive, Marietta; owned by Lancaster County. It can accommodate trailers and paddle boats, but it can be challenging in low water.
• Columbia River Park Access — Walnut Street, Columbia; owned by Columbia Borough. It can handle trailers and paddle boats.
• Blue Rock Access — Blue Rock Road, Manor Township; sits within a township easement. It can handle trailers and paddle boats, but it has a steep, narrow approach.
• Pequea Creek Access — Route 324, Conestoga Township; owned by PPL. It can handle trailers and paddle boats and has the newest facilities on the river.
• Peach Bottom Marina — Slate Hill Road, Fulton Township; owned by Exelon. Managed privately, but available for public use for a $10 launch fee. It's intended primarily for trailers.

Recommended equipment

The Susquehanna Flats are a sprawling, shallow delta at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, just a short boat ride from the Havre de Grace boat ramp. The Flats are an important habitat for numerous fish species, including largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, striped bass, yellow perch, catfish, northern snakehead, and blue catfish.

When preparing to fish the Flats, it is recommended to bring 7-9 weight fly rods with floating, intermediate, and sinking fly lines. For largemouth bass, medium-sized poppers and floating frog patterns, Clouser minnows, and other minnow imitations are effective. For striped bass and catfish, try using large Clouser minnows, Lefty's Deceivers, and other minnow imitations.

The Flats are also home to migratory waterfowl, including canvasbacks and Canada geese, so a good pair of binoculars may be useful to spot these birds. Additionally, the Flats can be quite windy, as one fisherman recalled taking water completely over the bow of his boat on a windy day. Therefore, it is important to check the weather conditions and dress appropriately for cold and windy weather if heading out onto the Flats.

For those looking to explore the Flats by kayak or canoe, it is important to be prepared and know your limits and the limits of your boat. A rudder is recommended, as well as knowledge of self-rescue techniques. Dressing for cold water kayaking is essential, and a dry top or dry suit is recommended. A grey camo cover for your kayak or canoe can help you blend in with the water and surroundings.

Finally, a detailed map of the area can be extremely useful when navigating the Flats, as there are many rocks and hidden hazards that can be dangerous for boats.

Historical context

The Susquehanna Flats is a shallow delta at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, which is located at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, next to Havre de Grace, Maryland in Harford County. The Flats are an important habitat for numerous fish species, including largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, striped bass, yellow perch, catfish, northern snakehead and blue catfish. It is also home to the Chesapeake Bay's largest underwater grass bed, extending over thousands of acres.

The Flats have been a popular fishing spot for centuries. In a 2012 forum post, a user reminisces about fishing the Flats with friends in a 12-foot jon boat during their college years. They recall the Flats as an "amazing place" with an abundance of largemouth, catfish, and striped bass.

The Flats have also played a significant role in the history of the region. In the 17th and 18th centuries, colonists used the river to transport natural resources, especially timber, connecting with sailing ships. Shipyards developed along the waterfront to build, repair, and service local and long-range watercraft. A strong culture of subsistence fishing and waterfowl hunting emerged, with the river's massive American shad run in the spring attracting many anglers.

In the 19th century, the arrival of steam power connected Havre de Grace to Pennsylvania's canal system, and steamboat service was established for the run to Baltimore. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad reached Havre de Grace by the 1850s, further enhancing the region's transportation network. During the War of 1812, British Admiral George Cockburn shelled and plundered the town, but commerce and trade rebounded after the war.

Today, the Susquehanna Flats continue to be a popular destination for fishing and boating enthusiasts. Visitors can launch their boats at the Havre de Grace Town Ramp in Millard Tydings Memorial Park, which offers paved parking spaces for trailers and grass parking spaces for car-topped watercraft. The Flats offer miles of shoreline to explore, including Swan Creek on the western shore and North East River on the eastern shore.

Frequently asked questions