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TN NANFA Creek Gathering for September


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#1 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 23 July 2014 - 12:15 PM

TN NANFA Creek Gathering for September

We are set for the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance Picnic on Saturday September 27th. Usually we sync this with Tennessees's Free Fishing Day but this years NC NANFA convention conflicted with that June date. September will be fine, cooler and pleasant from the summer highs and hopefully the yet to fall leaves will not be filling our seines.

This is a covered dish gathering so bring something to share.

Sunday we will go snorkeling somewhere, Hiwassee or Conasauga likely.
The apartment should be available to stay over in but bring your own sleeping bag, sheets and pillow.


The picnic is in Georgia and on private property with the creek, a pond and a spring run all offering diverse habitat.
Yesterday Rob, Robert and Brittney visited and we seined a nice mix of critters. I was ill equiped with new Keen sandals that seemed designed to catch and retain all the sharp cobble encountered making for sore feets. Nonetheless each pull, though sparse, seemed to yield a different specie.


Shiners: Warpaints, Spotfin or Steelcolor, Striped. Some mysteries.
Stargazing Minnow
Hogsucker
Redhorse
Gambusia
Stonerollers
Bigeye Chub
River Chub
Sunfish: RockBass, Bass, Longear, Redbreast, Spotted, Bluegill.
Darters: Logperch, Redline, Snubnose, Speckled.
Bugs, Snails and Crawdaddies.


We could have caught more diversity if my feet had not given out and shadows had not come.
We went back to the house with just enough light for a quick chigger rinse and snorkel in the pond and collected a few plants that i had promised Robert back in NC.


I didn't take too many photos but here are 3 quickees...


RobRockBassCity.JPG

Rob returning for Rock City Bass, his hometown fish of merit.


Longear.JPG

Handsome Longears, a common catch today.


RobertPond.JPG

Robert in the lush overgrown pond collecting plants and rinsing off ticks and chiggers.

Let me know if your interested in the September gathering, depending on how many attend i will study on additional options.

#2 Guest_lgyure85_*

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Posted 23 July 2014 - 01:03 PM

I'll talk to Eli. We just got our own snorkel gear, and have been wanting to get back in the swing of things. He's been out of town/country a lot in the last 18 months, and hopefully after he's home this time it'll be for good.

#3 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 23 July 2014 - 08:26 PM

You can count on NANFA Georgia to be present! I will figure out a way to be there and will likely bring a few other folks with me!
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#4 Guest_Stickbow_*

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Posted 23 July 2014 - 10:14 PM

Sounds like fun; I'll have to see if I can get away north for a weekend.

#5 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 24 July 2014 - 09:41 AM

I hope to make the picnic anyway, it's at the same spot at the farm on the state line?

#6 Guest_Doug_Dame_*

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Posted 24 July 2014 - 11:25 PM

Putting it on my calendar.

Thanks for the advance notice, that's always helpful.

Doug

#7 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 28 July 2014 - 08:48 PM

I snorkeled Sunday behind the house with blue skies but only 2 or 3' of visibility. It looked more promising from the bridge. I call this grope snorkeling. The best one can do is find a good spot and cobble together a pit amplitheatre and beckon the fish to you. Mostly River Chubs, Sunfish, Logperch but a highlight was a whirl or either Spotfin or Steelcolor Shiners dressed out with hot white fin tips. I was set to shoot some video when i noticed my camera internally fogging up. A few days ago i noted water droplets on my battery and chip so i reckon my WG2 has finally sprung a leak from all the abuse i give it. I will be returning this week with some visiting NANFans so i will throw out another tease about what we encounter.

I have never seen a Chub mound in the creek until last week when Robert pointed an old one out. There are plenty of River Chubs but with the standard turbidity it is near impossible to find or observe one in action. However now i will know where to look next spring and maybe maybe the water will be clear enough at some point.

Yes Bruce... same place.

I have most of your emails but if not send them to me and i will pass on details as we get closer.

prizma@aol.com

#8 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 10:46 AM

Quick Seine of South Chick

The ASIH meeting is in full swing so Fellow Peter and President Bruce brought
along 3 other fishy guys for a quick seine of South Chick in search of Striped
Shiners to dissect. A nice streamseine break from all the talking downtown. Even
with all 6 of us shuffling and pulling seine, the fish were sparse and all the Stripeds
captured were itsy bitsy. My favorite catch was a nice Spotfin / Steelcolor in
breeding mode, very pretty, quite handsome. I was going to use the phototank later for a
proper ID but when i did a water change out he shot lickity split. We caught more
Stargazing Minnows, Warpaints, River Chubs, Bigeye Chubs and lots of small
Logperch. Typical Sunfish. Added a small Rainbow and Banded Darter to the list
from a week before. Where have all the fish gone? Of course i worry about
something occuring upstream in the farming lowlands but it is probably the summer
temps that have driven more fish into the cooler deep pools.

A couple of pics...


SeineGang.JPG

The ASIH Seine Gang crossing South Chickamauga. Peter on the left, Bruce on
the right. Out of Staters beyond.


Dissection.JPG

Dissection of the Striped Shiners. Utah and Detroit weilding knives and tweezers.

A hint of things to come.

#9 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 08:37 PM

The Return to South Chick, yeah it was a good idea. I was even able to guide us to Casper's digs.....

#10 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 11:57 AM

Quick Dip in the Chick.

Jeremy of Freshwaters Illustrated wrapped up his activity at the ASIH meeting Friday and after lunch we took a cooling dip behind the house in South Chick. The visibility was only 2' as is often the case but we were able to enjoy the late afternoon for a couple hours. I call it grope snorkeling and the best option is to build a small arena in a well located location and have the fish come to you.

A few photos...


ChubMist.JPG

Out of the haze first appears the River Chubs, always eager for something tasty dislodged by your activity.


LogDescent.JPG

Soon a Logperch appears, descending down into the freshly excavated pit.


Trio.JPG

Before long his like sized buddies showed up, flipping the tiny cobble for unseen tidbits.


Spotfin.JPG

The high male for the day, caught a few days ago but escaped before the phototank session could be arranged. Maybe those in the know can tell if it is a Spotfin or a Steelcolor Shiner from this low light, turbid flurry motion of a photo. On some individuals i sometimes can make out a pale pinkish nose... bright red being a characteristic for Steelcolors.


Jeremy.JPG

Jeremy almost ready for dinner at the Urban Stack with Peter, Dave and myself and then a drive to our capital.

Another tease for a September Saturday in South Chickamauga Creek.

#11 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 10:57 AM

TN NANFA Creek Gathering for September 27 & 28 2014

The South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance Picnic will be held on Saturday September 27th.
Late September will be cooler and pleasant from the summer highs.

This is a covered dish gathering so bring something to share.

Sunday we will go snorkeling somewhere, Hiwassee or Conasauga likely.

The apartment should be available to stay over in but bring your own sleeping bag, sheets and pillow.

The picnic site is on the Tennessee / Georgia line and on private property with the creek, a pond and a spring run all offering diverse habitat.

Only a month away so let me know if your interested.

#12 Guest_Casper_*

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Posted 21 September 2014 - 05:26 PM

C A N C E L L E D

#13 al10

al10
  • NANFA Guest
  • North Carolina

Posted 21 September 2014 - 08:51 PM

Ahh, I was looking forward to pics.



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