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California (Brook, NH) Dreaming

Started by Guest_FirstChAoS_* , May 22 2011 10:44 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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Posted 22 May 2011 - 10:44 PM

Ah yes, California, jewel of the west, warm and sunny California. Land of opportunity. Sadly I am not their. However I did decide to test out my new perfect dipnet in California Brook in Swanzey NH. Yes, it is California Brook just after where it flows out of California Brook Pond, next to California Street. I have no idea why they use the name of a western state for it.

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At first it was uneventful, I started at the deep pool just after where it came out of the pond and went into the riffles near the end but only got crayfish, water bugs, a tiny leech, helgrammites, and beetles.

I saw one Small fish in a slow section where it formed a small rocky cove but i missed it when I netted.

I worked my way downstream, past a grey catbird, kick netting the riffles and the runs, catching a newt... then I got my first fish. A longnose dace.

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Then I went back up to the calm rock cove in the pool where I saw the fish and saw it again and dipped in, catching a common shiner. Instantly recognizable by the color it got in the light.

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#2 Guest_keepnatives_*

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Posted 23 May 2011 - 02:17 PM

I think your common shiner is the "common" golden shiner the scales above the lateral line would be larger diamond shaped in a common shiner. Young golden shiners often have a bluish tint. Though I'd expect a common shiner in that stream more then a golden but with its use as bait who knows.

#3 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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Posted 24 May 2011 - 12:19 AM

The bright blue is a trait I associate with commons so I throw me off. I think goldens have a more spade shaped body and a smaller head but I find smaller young shiners look alot more like each other than mature ones so I could be wrong.

#4 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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Posted 25 May 2011 - 02:07 AM

Anyone have a second opinion on this ID? I am still leaning common as I do not see the distinctive diamond shape, but admit smaller individuals are often less pronounced in shape so golden is not out of the question. (this stream flows from a nearbye pond meaning ideal golden habitat is very close).

#5 Guest_Drew_*

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Posted 25 May 2011 - 09:36 AM

It looks like a golden to me as well.

#6 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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Posted 25 May 2011 - 12:17 PM

Thank you both of you for the ID. Is their anything that tipped you off other than the scales?

I am so used to seeing commons at the bright blue shiner. I cannot see the usual distinctive golden body shape in it.

#7 Guest_keepnatives_*

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Posted 25 May 2011 - 06:41 PM

Thank you both of you for the ID. Is their anything that tipped you off other than the scales?

I am so used to seeing commons at the bright blue shiner. I cannot see the usual distinctive golden body shape in it.

The angle of the photo implies a narrower body than I'd expect in a common shiner and a golden shiner around 2 inches standard length often are not as deep bodied as adults.

#8 Guest_Fishwhisperer_*

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Posted 25 May 2011 - 10:14 PM

The giveaway on golden shiner ID for me is the dorsal emerging posterior to the pelvics. I also look for the small head in relation to body, small scales and tall "pork chop" :-k