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CNF Snorkels 2014

Started by Guest_Casper_* , May 16 2014 02:46 PM

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#1 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 16 May 2014 - 02:46 PM

Saturday, May 10 marked our first trip of 2014. The day started with a drizzly rain, a bit chilly setting up gear with Snorkel Boss Jim, Amy and Brooke our 2 lifeguards. 12 scouts from Troop 172 in Chattanooga along with parents stretched on suits in the cool 62 degree air as i reminded them that fish don't mind such a day. Visibility was somewhat reduced by the overnight rain and increased flow but in the riffles it was reasonably clear. As we finished our 2nd session the sun came out and the adults fired up the charcoal for burgers and hotdogs. After they left i returned to the water for some photos.

Looking upstream that early morning.

Troop 172 Scouts after the 1st session, note the rain drops falling on the water's surface but the boys were quite happy in the rain.

The ever present predator, the handsome Redeye Bass, Coosae.

A bit of a mystery but i suspect it a Greenbreast female with some type of odd yellow patches along her back.

And her escort. Generally males hide under rocks but when breeding season is on they are out and about showing off fancy fins. I always like the red, white and blue in their dorsal and caudal fins.

Tricolor. Nicely tuberculed. Elegant.

Alabama, slight wound on his side. Note the tubercules projecting forward like prongs. Several males were displaying in this short gravel run.

I am not happy with these pictures, and i shot about 100. The colors are washed out. My WG2 is just not sensitive enough in low, overcast light. And depth of field is way to shallow, the aperature being automated too wide but i need speed to minimize blur. I did get some nice video of the male Alabamas sparring, but that will take some editing to share. I'm going back Tuesday and hopefully the sun will shine bright, the water clear and i can study on WG2 setting options.

#2 Guest_daveneely_*

Guests

Posted 16 May 2014 - 03:12 PM

Casper, they're all good but that male jordani is great!

I'm glad you mentioned that issue with the WG2 -- I was considering a TG2 as a replacement for a(nother!) flooded Olympus. Anna has been happy with the last round of Panasonics that get used for summer camp, so maybe I'll go that route.

Decisions, decisions...

#3 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 16 May 2014 - 03:39 PM

Nice photos Casper. I think these are quite good considering the conditions. Capturing swimming minnows in low light is tough with any camera (unless you have some good strobes). I hope Tuesday brings you better weather.

#4 mattknepley

NANFA Member

Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.

Posted 16 May 2014 - 08:14 PM

Really enjoyed the pics. Am especially glad you're out there introducing a new crop of folks to our fish, forests, and mountains!

Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#5 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 22 May 2014 - 05:15 PM

Thanks fellow fishheads. Here's another account, my 2nd Conasauga guide trip for 2014...

May 20, Tuesday a pretty blue sky day but the water was cold cold cold even for a Joe Eskimo. 57 degrees from the recent rain while the water flowed fast but reasonably clear. 60 is my comfort line. Brrr.

These 13 students were from Kennesaw State and held up quite well in snug wetsuits with the sun shining bright upon us. They were on a 2 week Georgia wander as a biology class visiting places throughout the state. Okeefenokee, the Coast, Cloudland Canyon all the while tent camping along the way, even though most had never camped before! They were a cheerful, enthusiastic and courteous band of travelers.

A handful of Pollywogs, easily caught by one of the students.

After they left Amy and i returned to the water for a few photographs. Here is one of the common Hogsuckers, be it Alabama or Northern i do not know.

A young, photogenic Bronze Darter. Often they are nervous but this one raised its dorsal fin proudly for me.

2 for one, Handsome Blue Shiner upfront and Tricolor behind. Alabamas were looking good as well this fine day.

Coosa Darter, a bit uncommon at the snorkel hole. Note his spawning partner is not of the same specie, a hybrid in the makings?

Greenbreast Males at the head of a riffle run. Upstream in the sandy runs we had been looking for some Speckled Darters, hoping to catch a bit of blue shine. I considered the possibility that the recent rain had flushed a lot of calm water fish downstream, but just a theory.

Interesting photo looking at a small stream inflow, just needs a big Hogsucker vacumning the sandy patches. It's hard to compose living creatures, they rarely listen.

Amy teasing a premium Blue Shiner. Sometimes they will dance between your hands, spinning and flaring their fins round and round. Try it sometime.

A triple photo view of the day. From a picnic table we enjoyed some of Amy's 2014 Citico Buffalo, the X Y Z bones softened in the canning process. Most excellent on Ritz crackers with a splash of Texas Pete.
At the end of our day a few leechs were picked from our feet and fingers, but no Lampreys as they were content with Redhorse and Drum. The fast water kept us out of the deeper flows but the edges provided plenty of viewing options. At one point several of the students had gathered around me and a fish swam in amongst us. They asked what it was and i asked "What color is its eye?" They replied "Red". "Well it's a Red Eye Bass, a Coosae Bass, a handsome predator in these waters". I told them about one following me the year before eating tiny critters i dislodged and how after offering a crayfish, the crayfish had pinched him on the jaw leaving a black mark. At that moment i lifted a rock and lo and behold there was a crawfish underneath and here comes the Redeye Bass. They were snorkel garbled voices exclaiming Oh My! and Oh No! as the Bass started circling round the crawfish and nipping at it. The crawfish responded with a raised claw snap and the Bass soon relented, deciding he was a bit more than an easy mouthful. Pretty cool, especially right after telling a story.
Today these students got to see the iridescent Alabama Shiner flaring blue metallic foil, Holiday Darters darting along in their Christmas colors, and Logperch flipping stones. Stonerollers grazing, tubercules already faded away. Most had never snorkeled before. A good day indeed.

#6 Guest_Doug_Dame_*

Guests

Posted 22 May 2014 - 05:58 PM

I know he's already a Fellow, but can't the Board do something about this guy ???

Appoint him as Ambassador-at-Large and Official-Raconteur would be a good start.

#7 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 31 May 2014 - 12:01 PM

Boy Scout Troop 731

Back to the Conasauga Friday May 30 with Scouts from Marietta, Ga. Usually we
require at least 12 snorkelers to host a program but i suspect a few had faded out
from their week long camping trip up at Lake Conasauga. The water was 68
degrees, about 10 degrees warmer than the week before. Overnight rains had
clouded the water a bit but we still had over 6' of visibility. Oddly this troop, though
fewer, warmer and with no chilling rain were not as dedicated to the experience as
last week's Chattanooga troop. After a lunch break only 3 Scouts and 2 Dads
returned to the water but that gave me more opportunity to work with those truely
interested.

The tormenting flys have not returned in force. I stunned this green eyed biter for
a photo op, the big black ones will return this summer. Good reason to wear a
wetsuit and cap.

[

Tiger Beetle eating prey. Iridescent blue green you will often see them hunting
the trail in front of you.

Back to the water and found this insect laid pebble pattern, somewhat caddisfly i
suspect.

Hogsucker

Alabama Shiner, tuberculed male.

Blue Shiner

Coosa Bass, predator and why Greenbreast Darters flee and hide! I had to
shune him away at times but they are persistant. I often see them following
Hogsuckers hoping for a quick snack of something dislodged.

Greenbreast showing their wonderful colors, a bit to far away.

A closeup of a washed out male's side. They will change from light in the sun to
dark in the shadows.

My desired subject for the day. Vary wary but active downstream of the riffles in
the river weed foraging and displaying to males and females. One of the most
handsome fish and probably the most common Darter at the snorkel hole.

I played with various color corrections and sharpen / contrast / intensity
features and came up with this more pleasing version.

Snorkel Selfie. Next group 40 teachers from the surrounding region. They will
become missionaries bringing school groups to the river. Snorkel Boss Jim thinks
we might set a record this year.

#8 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 31 May 2014 - 03:08 PM

Nice shots - especially the hogsucker and blue shiner. Is that last one a bronze darter? I like it as well. I don't know if you did anything differently, but your white balance is really good on this last bunch.

#9 Guest_Moontanman_*

Guests

Posted 31 May 2014 - 03:12 PM

Awesome pics and looks you had a great time. I've never snorkeled in an inland stream like, looks it would be great!

#10 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 12 June 2014 - 09:03 PM

Conasauga River June 3 2014 Project Wet

From the Land to the Water...

Eastern Fence Lizard . June Flowers . Mystery Caterpillar . Redhorse & Lamprey . Mobile or Jenkinsi

CFI Gals & Bama Shiners.
I did not take enough pictures today, especially people pictures as i was busy working with the many folks in attendance. In addition to the 30 or more orange clad teachers and their staff, CFI personel were along as was famed photog Isaac Szabo. We divided the teachers into 2 groups putting one group in the Conasauga while another worked with buggy critters in the adjoining spring run. Pat, Crystal and Rebecca of CFI and Isaac assisted in pointing out the various fishes. One of the teachers was asking aloud what a cute, round little fish with a short tail was. Isaac eased over and told her it was a pollywog.

We broke for lunch then swapped groups. Back in the water. I am behind writing this account and cannot recall everything that occured but there were a lot of shiners in fancy color, little musk turtles, dashing darters and vacuuming hogsuckers. Some of these teachers will return later in the season with their students. Snorkel Boss Jim tells me we are already booked for a record season.

Isaac at Rest Above & at Work Below.
After everyone left Isaac and i walked downstream to a favorite run, myself in hopes of seeing the mystery hybrid darter ( Bronze Logperch likely ) from 2 or 3 years ago. It is probably deceased by now and i never saw it last year and only a fleeting glance the year before. With the day coming to an end the sun drops in the west illuminating a two hundred yard length of the river as it flows to the sun. As the sun lowered, its lightrays cut into the water illuminating a group of displaying Alabama Shiners Isaac and i were enjoying. It was magic light time. In this little clear pocket there was a spendid gathering of several species, and we enjoyed the fading light from here.

We stopped for Chinese on the way home warming ourselves from the chilly Conasauga waters with hot and sour soup and kung ka pow chicken. Back at the house i worked on final packing while Isaac headed north to the Emory and a car parked campsite. 6 pm tomorrow evening we were due to be in Linville Falls for a dinner of Frogmore Stew.

#11 Guest_NotCousteau_*

Guests

Posted 12 June 2014 - 09:52 PM

Great shots. I would love to do that hear in Minnesota sometime.

#12 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 19 June 2014 - 01:47 PM

June 18, Wednesday.

The scheduled Hiwassee trip was canceled as both generators were running, generating needed power as current high temperatures have everyone turning on their air conditioners. The Hiwassee Water Shed Coalition was scheduled for their home waters but instead of cancelling they were given an option to go to the cool water of the Conasauga, an entirely different watershed from the Hiwassee. Only 20 minutes apart while driving, yet thousands of river miles and the Gulf of Mexico seperating the distinct fish populations. Conasauga's cool water meaning 70 degrees as opposed to the chilling 60 degree dam release waters of the Hiwassee.
11 people attended including a young fella of 12. Everyone was very enthusiastic and stayed in the comfortable water for both sessions, breaking only for lunch while distant thunder rumbled through the valley.

For this series of photos i tried some new settings on my Pentax WG-2, pumping up Sharpness, Saturation and Contrast. I also reset focus to a wider field as opposed to pinpoint. The colors are more vivid but the focus is still erratic, compounded by slow shutter speed. Again after shooting many shots, only a few turned out reasonable to share.

The morning view looking out across the Conasauga Snorkel Hole. The greens are a lot more vibrant right out of the camera with its pumped up settings.

Upstream is Georgia and here an Alabama Shiner swims below a Tennessee sky.

The pleased Coalition of Eleven, content after snorkeling a different watershed. We are resheduling for the Hiwassee so they will get to see both.

Cautionary Caterpillar. I don't think you want this one going down your neck collar.

Mr.Coosae Bass was ever present, persistantly following me for any tiny critters exposed while i moved stones.

Crayfish are prey for Coosa's but this one was sheltered in a grinded round cove.

The Conasauga Crays are nicely marked in sharp red, contrasted by the soft teal of their body.

A group of Stonerollers, grazing on the slick algae covering the stones of the riffle runs.

Male Longear Sunfish, guarding his nest.

...and the nest contents. He was quick to nip your pinkie if you got to close.

Rain began to fall, pelting the water's surface. The local waders disappeared as the thunder rumbled close but i stayed in the river looking for more opportunities. I added a new species to the site, a solitary Blacktail Shiner, common and distinct downstream at 411 but never seen here at the snorkel hole by me. At the end of the afternoon with my battery depleted i came up on two mighty River Reds feeding in the shallows of the riffle run, their tail and anal fins bright blood red. Big fish in these waters. I looked for any Catfish to appear in the depths and lowering light but have yet to see any this year. I usually see Channel Cats and at night some specie of mottled cat.

I have another return scheduled on the 26th with the Tennessee Aquarium, a Summer Camp of youngsters.

#13 littlen

NANFA Member

Washington, D.C.

Posted 19 June 2014 - 06:10 PM

Another great write-up! Casper, I think the stream gods would allow you to come back as any stream inhabitant you wanted in the next life for all the time and effort spent in streams. So the question is, what species would you choose?! You've clearly mastered the Eastern Riffle Manatee, but if you had to choose a fish species.....

Nick L.

#14 Guest_BenCantrell_*

Guests

Posted 19 June 2014 - 06:52 PM

Love it! Your pictures make me feel like I'm snorkeling right there with you guys.

#15 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 23 June 2014 - 04:06 PM

Good stuff Casper! It was great to get to snorkel the Conasauga with you and observe you at work. The teachers had a great time snorkeling and were very excited about all the cool aquatic creatures they saw. I think you definitely made some converts. It really is great outreach work that you are doing. The AL shiner and musk turtle shots are very nice. Also, those pretty crayfish are Coosa Crayfish: http://www.gcsu.edu/...sa_crayfish.htm

#16 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 27 June 2014 - 07:32 PM

Hey Nick...
I have often thought i am evolving into some type of bearded Hellbender Walrus hybrid critter with a ever increasing layer of blubber. My water chilled body is always yearning for a bit more me thinks. I hope when i leave this world God will let me travel in time and to other places, yet there is so much to see now in my limited time and tiny region. I am guilty of wasting this time though so i can hope with faith and dreams of the next life to come. But i am sure i would not wanna be a fish in Tennessee, might end up as bait.

Ben, you gotta come back and stay awhile. I will take you to some nice spots and give you a mask to see by.

Isaac, you were a treat to have along on that 4th Conasauga trip of 2014, just before we departed for the great state of NC and Linville Falls. I am eager to see your photographs. Your photography technical lessons have been helping me quite a bit and is much appreciated. When you get to be 57 it's a bit harder to forget and relearn.

#17 Guest_Casper_*

Guests

Posted 27 June 2014 - 07:44 PM

Conasauga River, Tennessee Aquarium Summer Camp. Thursday, June 26, 2014

10 Summer Campers along with Gina from the Aquarium on the left and George and myself on the right. The water was a cool, comfortable 72 but some of the campers were too chilled and got out before the session ended.

About half stayed in for the full 2 hours and had a great time. Here are 3 of them...

Captain Jack, Redheaded and after Tricolors, Blues and Alabama Shiners. Put a net in a boy's hands and they will get persistant. He caught a Hogsucker, Alabama, and Crayfish to put in the viewing tank.

The AquaGals with a found dead Redspotted Newt.

Note how the swarm of Alabama Shiners are taking the opportunty to follow the feeding Alabama Hogsucker as he dislodges various micro organisms. Sometimes you will see a plume blowing out his gills as he filter feeds.

His dexterious, tactile suckermouth. Organic Hoovers.

A pair of Mobile Logperch, noted by the tinge of red in their dorsal fins. I got a lot of good photos of the big male, but i like this perspective, paired photo even though it is a bit blurred.

Handsome Bronze. They often feed in the River Weed which carpets the stones in much of the Conasauga, especially lush downstream in the less impacted natural flows.

Find the Fish?

Probably a Black Redhorse. For the first time ever i counted 3 big River Reds feeding as they came up into the shallows after everyone left. Most Redhorse are very skittish. I had to steady and use the zoom on this unusually calm Black Red.

Too many Leechs on some days. I got 3 yesterday and today my wee wee all the way home toe is itching like crazy.

As i headed home for the slow 9 mile drive through the Cherokee National Forest i came upon this guy. Never touched him, didn't want to either. Leave the serpents alone. Dumbbell pattern, slit eye, triangular head plump with poison.
Another oddity was coming upon a fluttering Dobsonfly. It flew in front of my van for a good mile following the winding gravel lane ahead. Once i almost caught it as it fluttered close to my open window. Flying Hellgrammites, and just a bit uglier.