# S8, Ep 34: Frog Patterns and Fishing Strategies: Brian Shumaker's Late Spring Smallmouth Report

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-34-frog-patterns-and-fishing-strategies-brian-shumaker-s-late-spring-smallmouth-report
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-34-frog-patterns-and-fishing-strategies-brian-shumaker-s-late-spring-smallmouth-report.md
Podcast: [The Articulate Fly](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360)
Published: 2026-05-21T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s8-ep-34-pa-smallmouth-report-brian-shumaker-topwater-frogs
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/39c7c150-6a83-490b-8e0e-1e7cf4ba8c8e.mp3
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Duration seconds: 813

## Resource

Episode Overview In this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for a timely late-spring conditions check on the Susquehanna River system. The frog bite has been exceptional — two solid weeks of deer hair bug action — and Brian breaks down exactly how to rig, dress and present deer hair frogs for surface-eating smallmouth before the post-spawn funk sets in. Beyond the fishing report, Marvin turns the episode over to a listener question from Myles, a college angler eyeing a career in guiding, and Brian delivers a candid, experience-rich breakdown of how to break into and build longevity in the guide game. Brian's own path — 40-plus years as a union electrician running parallel to a decades-long guiding career on the Susquehanna, with Bob Clouser as a key early mentor — frames the conversation in practical terms. The dual-career model, the reality of weather-dependent income, the roughly 10-year timeline to build a dependable client base, and the value of humility with clients all get real treatment here. This episode delivers useful tactical information for smallmouth anglers targeting the frog bite while also offering one of the most grounded, experience-backed discussions of guide career structure the show has produced. Key Takeaways How to select and prepare deer hair frog patterns — including applying resin to the belly for proper orientation — to maximize floatation and presentation during the late-spring frog bite on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers. Why the frog bite window is typically compressed into the first few weeks of May under normal conditions, and how unseasonable heat and weather swings can extend or disrupt that window. When to adjust e…

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