Trending
The stretch of the Juniata River between Lewistown and Port Royal, also known as "the Narrows," is one of my favorite sections to fish. When traveling between Harrisburg and State College, one of my favorite pastimes was stopping and checking out the various pools holding bass, panfish and catfish that inhabit the river. There is always something waiting to take my lure or bait.
Prior to the highway's construction, I would routinely delay my travels, stopping at various pull-offs, parking lots or anywhere I could get off the road to run down and make a few casts. Unfortunately, the highway sped up my travels but made accessing the water more difficult. Many access points were now under tons of concrete, and pulling to the side for a quick look and see was out of the question. Now, the easiest way to fish in this section is by kayaking.
This section of the river is perfect for kayak fishing. Although the many shallows and riffles make access to a traditional boat difficult, they do not impede a kayak. Once past the riffles, a kayak lets you easily explore the deep pools, bridge pilings, ledges and grass beds.
Access to your kayak will still be required, and where you launch will be determined by how you want to fish.
If you plan on drifting the area, the best method is to access the narrows and float down. Accessing via Lewistown's Victory Park and floating to the PFBC Access in Mifflintown is approximately 10 miles. Continuing to Mifflin will add two miles, with the Walker access adding another four miles downstream. This can easily be done as a day trip, even with plenty of stops to fish and explore. You can shorten your trip considerably by retrieving it at the PFBC Narrows Access, only about four miles downstream from Victory Park.
Of course, this type of trip will require two vehicles, one at the upper launch and one at the lower launch for the return trip. It is a great choice when fishing with friends but not very convenient for the solo angler. For one of your trips, I recommend launching at Victory Park, exploring the upper mile or two, and returning to Victory Park to end the day. When the current is slow, you can enjoy the same type of trip by launching at the Narrows Access, paddling up or down stream, and returning to the launch to retrieve.
Fishing is productive throughout this section of the river year-round. Something is always biting.
Spring: Focus on slower current areas with warm water. These can include shallow points where the sun warms water sooner, small eddies below obstructions or tiny coves along the shoreline.
Summer: This is when bass are feeding and most likely to take your lure. Focus on grass beds and shallows in the early morning. As the sun and water temperatures rise, shift to deeper pools, where top waters will invite exciting action.
Fall: Fish will prefer the deeper pools, but fishing will remain strong. Topwaters along ledges and divers in the pools will indeed produce some nice catches.
Regardless of when or where you spend your time, chances are you will soon find that the Narrows hold bigger adventures than the name implies.
•••
Tom Burrell is a retired Waterways Conservation Officer, veteran and lifelong outdoorsman. He now spends his days hunting, fishing and sharing his experiences with readers.