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Post by kingflyguy86 on Apr 16, 2014 9:31:02 GMT -5
I was interested in finding out if anyone has had any sightings of Musky in the Brandywine River at all this year.... I had a couple sections on the River last year where I would fish for them.. No luck so far this year though...
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Post by teb67gt on Apr 17, 2014 10:05:11 GMT -5
I am hoping the steps take to minimize the number of muskies that wash from the lake into the creek pay off this year. It is nobody's fault and nothing wrong with fishing for them if you see them in the creek, but it is kind of a shame to see them wind up in the creek. They really don't stand much of a chance once they wind up there.
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Post by kingflyguy86 on Apr 17, 2014 15:02:03 GMT -5
I can understand that… Isn’t the natural habitat for Musky located in Rivers and Creeks? I always thought that’s why they have a hard time keeping these fish in Marsh Creek. I lost a really expensive Fly on a log in the same section of the Brandywine River I always liked fishing because of the deep the water in that particular stretch. So I went back the next day with Goggles and a Snorkel to find it and possibly retrieve it… While I was looking down into the water, I couldn’t help but notice all of the under water structure I could never see while fishing.
So after I got my Fly back, I decided to explore around and try to see what else was there as far as structure and fish. I ended up Snorkeling down this entire 1-1.5 Mile section of the River and saw a ton of Smallmouth Bass, at least 5 Largemouth Bass all over 3LB’s, a ton of Carp, Pan fish, and 2 Musky. Both Musky were positioned in ambush points and were on the fatter side when considering their girth to their length. If I had to guess, I’d say the smallest Musky was around 30-33 Inches and the other was around 36-40 Inches. So I wouldn’t go as far as to say “They really don't stand much of a chance once they wind up there.” Now my last statement only applies to the section of the River I fish for Musky. There are some sections of the Brandywine I know Musky couldn’t survive, let alone even be found. I’m sure most of the fish that escape from Marsh Creek end up making their way all the way down to the Delaware. If they can survive the process of getting out of MC, I don’t think any Dam on the Brandywine can stop them from going down river.
Once the water temp warms up, I plan on floating down that same stretch of River with my Goggles and Snorkel to see what’s there. Last year in early Spring, I was fishing this deep section of the River and caught the biggest Smallmouth Bass I’ve ever seen. After I hooked the Bass, I honestly thought it was a Musky because of the way it was pulling. That all changed after I watched the fish that had the same Shape and Size of a Football came flying out of the water. After I landed the Fish, I measured it’s length, girth, and took its weight with my scale. All I will say… The Smallmouth Bass was OVER 5LB’s. I was also using that same Fly I lost on that Log a couple weeks later and that’s why I went swimming there to get it back. WOW!!! It just hit me how much I just wrote… I’m done…
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Post by MacAttack on Apr 19, 2014 15:53:54 GMT -5
I saw a nice healthy muskie, about 30-36 inches and girthy, at Johnsontown Park. It was under the railroad bridge in shallow water. I had to use all of my self-control to not cast at him. I had my trout rod, so it would have been cruel to try to catch him. Every year I see a couple in the Brandywine and this was the first of the year. I am not completely convinced that muskie should not be in the Brandywine, but I fear that many fisherman would have tried to catch or foul hook such a fish.
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Post by teb67gt on Apr 20, 2014 12:46:08 GMT -5
I can understand that… Isn’t the natural habitat for Musky located in Rivers and Creeks?" To some extent that is true. Muskies are found in moving water as well as lakes. That being said, small trout creeks that are generally not exactly suitable habitat for them. Think about it...other than a deep pool they are quite ill prepared to ambush any prey. They are also sitting ducks in that creek for snaggers. "So I wouldn’t go as far as to say “They really don't stand much of a chance once they wind up there.” I disagree...both due to the general difficulty in their ability to ambush prey in many stretches of the creek, again they are either going to be forced to hole up in a deep pool (there really are not that many from the trestle through Kerr park). How easy do you think it is for a 3 + foot predator fish to hide in that little creek? Again, this makes them sitting ducks. Plus, once hooked, they really don't have much of a level playing field for the fight. Either they stay in the same deep pool area, where it is just a matter of time, or they take off up or downstream in shallow water where it is a joke to pursue them. Not very sporting, IMO. I am sure may make it south of Downingtown and beyond. I can say I have canoed, fished or floated the entire stretch of the east and main branches of the Brandywine from Dorlan Mill through Talleyville, DE. I don't see it being decent sized for muskies to thrive until the two creeks join just above 926. MUCH of the Brandywine below 322 is relatively shallow and featureless. Last note: after participating in several musky rescues from that creek back to MC (where they came from and with WCO Bonney present) I can tell you from FIRST HAND OBSERVATION that the creek is 100% not ideal for them. We released around 50 large muskies back to the lake over the course of a month a few years ago. MOST of these fish had severe scarring under the jaw from repeated rubbing on the bottom in shallow water. In warmer temps this could easily lead to infection and ultimately kill these pretty fragile fish. Many had lures ripped into there back, face and ballies. The scars most had was really depressing. These fish belong in proper habitat and it is unfortunate when they wind up in that situation. Again, I hope the steps made will greatly reduce the number of muskies getting through so they can remain in the lake where they belong.
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Post by kingflyguy86 on May 5, 2014 10:22:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the Musky Location Update MacAttack. I went to check out the Johnsontown Park back on April 25 around 7:30pm and ended up going to Marsh Creek to do some night fishing instead. I’m not familiar with the water around that Park so I thought it would be better to fish it during the day to get a better understanding of the area and water. The water near the Bridge you spotted the Musky looks like its deep, but I could be wrong.
I’ve been doing a lot of Night Fishing at Marsh Creek with Top Water Flies over this past month. I’ve had about 15 Blow Up’s and 0 Hook Up’s. It’s only a matter of time before I get one.
Thanks for the write backs.
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Post by hickorylarge on May 8, 2014 8:30:55 GMT -5
I've heard tales of muskies in the brandywine long before the MC stocking program started. I remember an ex-girlfriends grandfather telling me that he caught a pike in the brandy back in the 60's, so that would be before MC even existed. He also told me there used to be shad and river otters in there too. I did not see any photos or anything to back his story up though.
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Post by teb67gt on May 8, 2014 13:27:48 GMT -5
I believe that. Shad are in the Brandywine, but cannot get past the first dam in Wilmington. I have caught good numbers of hickories and a few white shad there this year. Otters make sense too. Muskies, maybe coming up from the Delaware, though that seems a stretch. I would be more inclined that pickerel, which are native in this region, were what was being caught. If you know where to look, there is at least one spot still on the Brandywine that produces some redfins
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Post by pspudsq on May 13, 2014 7:17:25 GMT -5
There still are a few river otters, saw a couple in the spring of 2011. Very beautiful playful creatures.
I have not seen a musky since 2012 summer above the brandywine picnic dams, 3 total.
I would love to see a pic of that 5lb smallie.
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Post by pspudsq on May 13, 2014 7:22:35 GMT -5
We have also had 2 X 50 year floods in the last 3 years. These a extremely impactful on all wildlife...including muskies.
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Post by pspudsq on May 25, 2014 6:47:36 GMT -5
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Post by kingflyguy86 on May 28, 2014 13:43:02 GMT -5
WOW Pspudsq!!!! That's a Nice Purebred Musky!!! This is the first Picture I’ve ever seen of a Musky that was caught out of the Brandywine River. What time of the Year did you catch that Fish?
I’ve recently came across some new areas of the Brandywine River that I believe might hold Musky. But as the water temp warms up, I’d like to think any of Musky in the Brandywine are going to start moving down and out of the River. I still have yet to catch a Musky out of the Brandywine River this year, but I’ve already landed 2 on Fly at Marsh Creek. Nothing over the 40 Inch mark though…
I’m actually planning on going there sometime this week and hit my Top Producing Spots for SmallMouth Bass. Here is a Picture of my Biggest Caught SmallMouth Bass I’ve caught this year.. I got it at night using a Top Water Pole Dancer Fly… It’s like the Zara Spook… This Fly “Walks The Dog”
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Post by kingflyguy86 on May 28, 2014 13:50:03 GMT -5
Here she is.. This was NOT a Pre-Spawn SmallMouth Bass!!
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Post by teb67gt on May 29, 2014 6:35:36 GMT -5
There is a dam on the Brandywine down in DE, just below 95 (near the zoo). This dam has no fish passage device in place and except for eels - which seem to squirm their way past most obstacles, nothing else is going to be able to get past it...unless they start stocking steelhead and salmon I guess a fish could jump it to go downstream but they sure aren't coming back for a return visit. Any muskies in the river are going to remain there. What part of the river is the question. As I have said before, bigger ones will struggle to thrive and can be easy pickings unless they hole up somewhere.
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Post by pspudsq on May 31, 2014 8:06:01 GMT -5
Kingfly- Thats a trophy smallmouth and on a fly-unbelievable! You must be fishing a special spot because Brandywine smallies rarely look that healthy. I may need to start trying night fishing.
I caught the musky last weekend on a modifed large buzzbait. Fortunate to have her hit on my baitcaster rig with braid.
Im familiar with 15-20miles of the Brandy. There are 2-3 areas that can support a musky population from a water flow perspective. The forage is what I question. Most of the Brandywine has poor forage to support a predator such as a musky and may hurt the rest of the food chain.
They dont volutarily migrate down because there are 11 dams and in DE many are not passable. I think the floods push them down every couple years because water breaches the dams and make them passable.
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