North of Chattanooga is the small town of Dayton known for the Monkey Trial of
1925. Just northeast of Dayton is a pocket wilderness area where folks can hike,
picnic and enjoy the outdoors. Several mountain streams join creating Richland
Creek which flows down through the town.
After finishing a job there i had a bit of time in the late afternoon to revisit a site i had
snorkeled a few years before.
The local swim, swing and bathe hole. The property owners had chained a couple picnic tables
along the roadside and athletic youngsters had tied a rope swing over the pool's deepest section. Boulders
had been piled up damming the stream's flow but today the pool was only 3 or 4 feet deep during this dry spell. Maybe
ok for monkey swinging but not for plunging human cannon balls.
I was greeted by the welcoming committee made up of all manner of Sunfish.
Redbreast, Bluegill, Green, a few Longear, Rock Bass and several Bass patroled
the pool.
Redbreast, or Robin as breeding males are sometimes refered to as.
Bluegills were common and generally small, probably from last year's spawning.
Mighty Greens were handsome. Well marked Rock Bass retreated to the shadows
when approached and the few Longears would not be still long enough for a blur free
photo.
Easing into the bouldered shallows lots of Snubnoses appeared, a few well marked
and chasing others about. Fall is in the water and i think the males are feeling
frisky again after the higher Summer temps.
Nice cray offering a wary photo pose.
Hog & Logs. Settled deep and a bit nervous, generally these fish are in near every decent stream of
my home waters.
I kicked out an area and backed off. Soon every Logperch in the pool had gathered
to hunt for any late afternoon nibbles. I counted 9 at one point.
Sunlight angling onto some of the big boulders, worn smooth and round by the raging floods of centuries.
The low light offered my last chance to dry off in comfort and take a few
streamside pictures. 13 species were observed in my bare skin quick dip. Additionally a herd
of grazing Stonerollers, a small school of Bluntnose Minnows, and a fleeting
glimpse of both Rainbow and Redline Darters.
Cool refreshment after a warm afternoon.
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