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collecting at convention


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#1 Guest_don212_*

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Posted 10 June 2014 - 09:40 PM

went out with Casper Friday and learned how to snorkel in less than 4 inches of water, water was exhilarating, fish amazing,Sat Eileen and I learned how to seine under instruction from fritz, caught 3 new species on first attempt, then a beautiful brown trout, then on last attempt of day caught a magnificent big head chub ,thanks Casper and Fritz, also Andrew who gave us a lot of photo instruction, had one of best weekends ever and love the area. I may be an addict.

#2 Guest_fritz_*

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Posted 10 June 2014 - 09:51 PM

Just practice singing "we are the champions"!

It was a lot of fun working with you and Eileen on Saturday, I had no idea it was your first time seining. Y'all did great.

Your t-shirts will be coming soon.

The Watauga Wetsocks

#3 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 11 June 2014 - 03:09 PM

Good to meet you, Eileen and circus doggie Edge. 4", a little shallow for a scuba instructor indeed. The 2nd stop was stunning for Texas Nic and i. It will be awhile before i can run through my photos to share but we have several of Bluehead breeders in Nic's palms. I now see you and don212 are one and the same. FL has a lot of fishheads though only a few snorkel. Plenty of wonder clear water down there, so you have no excuse not to spend lots of your time immersed.
:)

#4 Guest_don212_*

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Posted 30 July 2014 - 07:40 AM

got t shirts this week thanks, also for the mag, going to wear t shirt to crash sks meeting in st pete sat, understand they're going to talk about our convention

#5 Guest_lilyea_*

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Posted 30 July 2014 - 08:52 PM

going to wear t shirt to crash sks meeting in st pete sat, understand they're going to talk about our convention

Don - I look forward to seeing you at the meeting on Saturday. I am planning to be there as well.

FL has a lot of fishheads though only a few snorkel.

Casper - I spend plenty of time with my perfect dipnet, cast net, and occasionally on the end of a seine. I am even looking at micro fishing. I am okay (but respectful) around the snakes and alligators but am wary of putting my head in Florida's freshwater lakes and ponds because my fear of the local bacteria/parasites/amoebas in Central and South Florida. I would really like to snorkel and learn how to duplicate your (and other's) underwater pictures, but that will likely have to be when I can make it up into your area or other areas in northern FL or above.

#6 Isaac Szabo

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Posted 30 July 2014 - 11:04 PM

lilyea, I'm not sure exactly where you are in FL (except within the Peace River watershed), but you are probably only 2-3 hours from some great freshwater snorkeling. The Ocala/Gainsville area offers the best freshwater snorkeling in all of FL with many beautifully clear springs and neat fish. Alexander, Rainbow, Three Sisters, and Silver Glen are some of the springs closest to southern FL that I have visited and enjoyed. The springs are a big draw to swimmers, snorkelers, and divers, and I have never heard of people getting sick from water quality issues.

#7 Guest_don212_*

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Posted 31 July 2014 - 05:48 PM

the amoebas are rare, and occur in very warm brown water, not the cool clear springs, and they usually require a forceful injection such as falling or jumping in the water, there are numerous beautiful spring runs all over especially any where north of tampa, there have been a few cases lately of crypto mostly in fecal contaminated pools, and saltwater vibrio, mostly skin infections unless you are otherwise immune deficient and rare,

#8 Guest_lilyea_*

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Posted 31 July 2014 - 08:18 PM

...you are probably only 2-3 hours from some great freshwater snorkeling. The Ocala/Gainsville area offers the best freshwater snorkeling in all of FL with many beautifully clear springs and neat fish. Alexander, Rainbow, Three Sisters, and Silver Glen are some of the springs closest to southern FL that I have visited and enjoyed. The springs are a big draw to swimmers, snorkelers, and divers, and I have never heard of people getting sick from water quality issues.

Isaac - you are right about the springs. My generalization about central Florida's lakes and ponds did not include the springs. If you (or other NANAFA snorkle-masters) make it down to the springs again please let me know and, schedule permitting, I would like to tag along and learn from you.

the amoebas are rare, and occur in very warm brown water....

Don - the amoebas may (or may not) be rare, but my fear of them certainly isn't! While some could argue the concern toward parasites may be an over reaction, I have found that it is a wide-spread attitude across a wide demographic (both in and outside the fish world) to swim at the beach or in a pool and not in lakes and ponds because of the invisible stuff in the water.

#9 Guest_don212_*

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 06:54 AM

in florida there are no semi clear ponds, it's not the microbes I worry about in the dark water, its the gaters and cottonmouths, I like to stick to spring runs, after all they are the fountains of youth, and you can see amazing things. beaches, often have bacteria problems due to large bird populations,urban pollution or too many people but most are regularly checked like pools and closed when necessary

#10 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 10:03 AM

What Me Worry?

I have NEVER gotten sick from snorkeling. On the other hand i have gotten major sinus infections from swimming in public pools. I have also gotten sick from eating at Mexican restaurants. I always check for ticks and chiggers.

I DO worry about Mocs and Gators while snorkeling in Florida, especially when alone. I figure the odds of being eaten are cut in half if Isaac is with me.

While in Nevada i had concerns about some kind of skin rash itch that was talked about, but we are talking about Florida.

Lilyea... I have no concerns about snorkeling in the Southeast. I would stay out of stagnant ponds. Clear water is always nice in these parts. Worry not, there are plenty of other things to worry about. War, Cancer and Crazy Drivers.

#11 Guest_Stickbow_*

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 01:03 PM

I am totally in Casper's camp here.

I snorkel, wade, play, fish in clear, black, and clay stained water here in south Georgia. Our gators are bigger and don't wear blue and orange :-$ From years of messing around in what people call "moccasin infested swamps, I am comfortable telling you that you don't need to be afraid of the snake IN the water, be wary/aware of it out of the water.

Amoebas, viruses and flesh eating bacteria....well...Never gotten sick from snorkeling either. Got campylobacter from a restaurant I worked in, giardia from a western backpacking stream, but nothing from a southern body of water. That doesn't mean it's not there, just that odds are you won't. For me, the pleasures and benefits outweigh the risks.

#12 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 11:03 AM

Makes me wonder about the role of childhood exposure to local potential pathogens in developing immunity, similar to the low prevalence of allergies in kids raised on farms.



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