South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

Floated from 3 Bridges- Neshanic to the confluence today with Wilson in the front seat. Water was gin clear. No more than 10 min. into our float we spotted what looked like a mink playing on the bank.
Wilson started us off by hooking into something SOLID. Plenty of drag burning and down and dirty fighting, fought 'em for a while before he came unbuttoned without getting an eye ball on 'em.
I was next to hook up, BIG fish, fought this one for a while. Finally got an eye ball on this one, smallmouth. I was getting ready to put the lip grab on 'em when he popped off, Wilson and I both agree, an EASY 4 pound fish if not close to 5, my PB river smallie !
Floated some more and pounded the fast water stretches in hopes of a trout, no love.
Got to the confluence and I hooked up again, took a team effort as Wilson moved the canoe as I fought this nice smallmouth through some real sticky stuff, this one boated and taped out at 16".
It was a quality over quantity today. Float was no more than 4 and a half hours. We saw all kinds of snakes, turtles, and birds on this float trip.

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

Sounds like a great trip! Although not as fun, its the one that get away that makes "catchin" memorable! I still wanna float that river.........

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

Yes we did, but only one Carp and few bait fish. No suckers, chubbs or any other fish...kinda strange. Andy's SMB lost at the boat was a giant.
Well that's what keeps me coming back for more:cool:

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

NICEE JOB.. Slob Smallies are really starting to turn on...The fish already know winters rite around the corner..too bad no eye ball on the one fish but sounds like ur learning a little more each time on that stretch..

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

good job boys, sounds like a nice trip. was a much better day sunday than the snot on saturday

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

Nice job. It sounds like more bass are being picked up the past few days. I also saw what looked to be a mink on Monksville a few weeks ago, running just above the shoreline. I'm determined to see one closer there, so I can determine it was a mink and not an otter.

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

I always get a kick out of seeing squirrels and small animals out in the water on muskie holding lakes. Theres a video on youtube of one getting inhaled by a muskie and theres also a good one of a duckling getting pulled under by a big pike. those minks/otters got some balls out on monksville, theres some big toothies in that place, I doubt one could defend itselft against a huge muskie, it would be lights out in one swipe

Re: South Branch float 9/15/13:
 

Very very true, I've seen those vids as well...while fishing from the shoreline once on Monksville; I saw something about 12-14" swimming on the surface 50' away, making passes, I assumed it was a muskrat or otter. I kept an eye on it and it came in close enough that I could see it was actually a musky about 4' long. The head was MASSIVE and that's what I saw breaking the surface, not an muskrat/otter. I was pretty shocked to say the least. I've never seen any fish scope shallows (3-10') with it's head breaking above the water line.