Mink

[Quillback]

Early yesterday morning as I was fishing, noticed a mink on the bank, it didn't seem concerned with my presence, and as I watched it, it walked into the water and submerged into some buck brush - probably hunting some fish to eat.

A couple of minutes later, I've moved down the bank a bit, sitting in the middle of a cove that has docks on both sides. I see the mink on one of the docks, and see him jump in the water and start swimming towards my boat. He's swimming on top, head up, looking right at me. I'm being fairly stealthy as I'm fishing, not making any sudden movements or noise, and I figure maybe the mink just doesn't see me. So I wave my arms a bit thinking that will spook him - but it doesn't, he just keeps on coming straight at me.

Now it's within 15 feet, still coming right at me, and I'm getting a bit concerned, I'm starting to envision me in a wrestling match with a lightning quick crazed mink that for some reason has it in for me.

The mink continues to close, it's almost at rods length away, in desperation I whack the water in front of it with my rod. This seems to do the trick, sort of, you'd think he would have turned tail and headed back to the bank, but he submerges and passes under the bow of the boat behind the trolling motor. I see him pop up ten feet away and fortunately he heads to the dock on the other side of the cove and I never see him again.

Strange behavior for a mink, he was around a couple of fairly busy docks, so I'm thinking maybe he's getting fed fish from somebody and approached me looking for a handout.

Thankfully it did not get in the boat.

[huntest]

Any chance he had rabies?

[Quillback]

Could be I guess. Another reason to not have him in the boat.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think that is a normal behavior for one that is use to humans. I used to take my daughter fishing when she was young and most of it was on a large chunk rock rip rap for perch. There was a mink that lived very near where we fished and it was not unusual to see it going about its business, sometimes within 5 or 6 feet of us. I've also seen them on the river bank feeding or primpig and ignoreing the canoe 20' away.

[rainbow]

Any chance he had rabies?

That would be something to see if "he" had babies. I had one eat a trout off my stringer on Taneycomo one time.

[eyedabassman]

you could have had one mink ear muff for your wife!

[inshore]

Quill did you ever think he just liked you or maybe your boat or maybe he was trying to tell you there were no fish in the area. I really hope in the name of diversity you did not hurt his feelings.

[Champ188]

That's my pet. Quit thrashing at him with your rod! Big meanie!

[Quillback]

That's my pet. Quit thrashing at him with your rod! Big meanie!

Champ, I'm so sorry I assaulted your pet mink, you need to put a collar on him so I'll know he's a pet. I'll try and remember to bring him a milk bone next time I go.

[Rodmaker]

You could have just let him in the boat, handed him a rod and had a fishing buddy for the rest of the day,