South Branch float 9/15/13:

[AndyS]

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.