Delaware River / Ridge & Valley TU Float trip 7/13/15

[americandesi]

I joined Ridge & Valley TU last month, and went on their Delaware River float trip yesterday. Great group of guys. Used live crayfish as bait and caught one smallmouth, one sunfish, and one large fallfish (larger than the pictured smallmouth and somewhere between 15-18"). I was surprised at how hard the fallfish fought.

Got no bites live lining the crayfish. Had to use a few split shots to get the bait down to the fish. Hooked another smallmouth that had to be in the 2-3 lb. range, but he was able to wiggle off the hook right when I got him near my boat. I was using a size 6 octopus circle hook (I crimped down the barb) so I don't feel too bad about losing him that close to the boat.

I also think my drag was set a little bit too low because it had no trouble pulling out line and swimming upstream. I let it tire, and when I was pulling him up to unhook him, he wiggled off. I increased the drag on reel, and used a net to land the fallfish and other smallmouth. I think everyone in the group caught at least one fish, which was good.

[AndyS]

That is a VERY active Trout Unlimited group. River clean ups, river restoration projects, fly tying nights, pig roasts and smallmouth bass float trips on the Delaware river !!!!