Raritan Float: Eyes and Smallies

[SkillfulAngler908]

Floated about 6 miles of the lower Raritan with Gatto yesterday. The river was fairly murky but the action was steady throughout the day. A few minutes after launching I had a nice walleye follow back to the boat and turn off without a strike. No fish, but that got us pumped up for the trip. Floated about another half mile downstream to a deeper section. Fished it hard and we were just about to move on when I saw a big gold flash come and nail my bait. I set the hook and he started digging and pulling drag. Got him up towards the boat into view and it was a good 4-5lb eye. He took off again when he saw the boat and the hook came undone. Bummer, 0-2 on walleye in the first hour. Headed downstream after that and Gatto picked up a nice smallie. Shortly after that Gatto got bit close to the bank in a deep run. Saw it right after he hooked it, another big eye! Gatto fought him to the boat and I grabbed it when he got close. This one wasn't getting away, 24in 4lb. Beautiful healthy looking fish. That made the day right there. Continued on to "smallie alley" and picked up about 5-6 smallies between us within an hr or so. 2 small ones and 3 or 4 that went about 1.5lb. Headed down past the ladder to the big water and we noticed the boat started taking water, so we had to call it off early. Fun trip on an overcast, rainy day. Wish we could've put more casts in the lower section, but they're always next time. Bonus walleye pic at the end that Gatto got trolling the canal today.