This was my first encounter with silverjaw minnows and arrow darters. I was pretty excited to see both of them. I was disappointed that I didn't see Etheostoma baileyi; it and E. simoterum s.s. are the only northern snubnoses I haven't seen. The upper Kentucky and upper Cumberland were difficult to sample at the time due to heavy rain, and we ended up cutting the trip short.

Sounds like you were in my backyard. Depending on where you were, I could have given you a sure thing location for E. baileyi, and probably most other darters from central/east KY.

Interesting, the native species sound alot like the species on the eastern part of new england (away from the hilly terrain), with the exception of the pirate perch. *grumbles at the one fish too lazy to swim accross the lake*. (if the mudminnows were native to their they would be another we didn't have). Curious.

We most certainly have Eastern Mudminnows. I just haven't gone looking for them as yet. They tend to be ranging towards our South Shore region.

Interesting, the native species sound alot like the species on the eastern part of new england (away from the hilly terrain), with the exception of the pirate perch. *grumbles at the one fish too lazy to swim accross the lake*. (if the mudminnows were native to their they would be another we didn't have). Curious.

I found the Eastern Mudminnows late last fall. They are probably out and about now.

Pirate Perch are some of the neatest fish I have seen in wild. I have only seen 2, but they were so much fun to watch with a snorkel!

I am hoping to go back to that area this summer to see if I can spot one (or two) again.

Yeah, they are pretty funky. Typically they are found in our South Shore stream habitats. They do pretty well on earthworms and feeder guppies, from what I've observed.