11 replies to this topic

[smbass]

I had been itching to get out and make a spring trip and with a little planning put together a great weekend trip through KY a little over a week ago. I left my house early Friday morning around 6am. Picked up a student (Ben) who has been volunteering with me at work for the last month or two. This was his first collecting trip so he was understandably very excited.

 

After about 6 hours of driving and many fish stories exchanged we ended up in Greensburg KY on the banks of the rather high Green River. There had not been much rain in the area but there was a lot of water being released from the upstream reservoir so we headed to a spot on lower Russel Creek instead. We spent about 3 hours sampling there with great results. Also my good friend Justin Baker met us there, he started from the opposite direction that morning from St. Louis MO. Here are a few photos and a species list with approximate numbers of what we caught...

 

Male Orangefin Darter Etheostoma bellum

 

Male Bluegrass Darter Etheostoma jimmycarter

 

Female KY Snubnose Darter Etheostoma rafinesquei

 

Male KY Snubnose Darter Etheostoma rafinesquei

 

Male Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale

 

In addition to the fish we got to see a Bottle Brush Crayfish which I believe is North Americas largest species of crayfish...

I should have put something in here for scale but this guy was probably about 8" long. I know they get even larger.

 

1^st site Friday March 27^th Lower Russell Creek

 

Largescale Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma oligolepis 50

Southern Redbelly Dace Chrosomus erythrogaster 3

Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera 5

Streamline Chub Erimystax dissimilis 1

Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops 35

Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus 50

Highland Shiner Notropis micropteryx 25

Silver Shiner Notropis photogenis 12

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 75

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 15

Redhorse sp. Moxostoma  25

Elegant Madtom Noturus elegans 15

Brindled Madtom Noturus miurus 2

Bluegill Sunfish Lepomis macrochirus 1

Central Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis 3

Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus 1

Orangefin Darter Etheostoma bellum 35

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides 30

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 20

Bluegrass Darter Etheostoma jimmycarter 20

Headwater Darter Etheostoma lawrencei 1

Spotted Darter Etheostoma maculatum 8

Kentucky Snubnose Darter Etheostoma rafinesquei 3

Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale 50

Longhead Darter Percina macrocephala 24

Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae 20

 

We decided to try a second site before we lost all daylight and headed further upstream on Russell Creek.

 

2^nd Site Friday March 27^th Upper Russell Creek

 

Largescale Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma oligolepis 20

Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera 5

Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops 12

Highland Shiner Notropis micropteryx 15

Silver Shiner Notropis photogenis 2

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 25

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 10

Redhorse sp. Moxostoma  5

Elegant Madtom Noturus elegans 3

Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris 4

Central Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis 25

Orangefin Darter Etheostoma bellum 25

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides 15

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 25

Bluegrass Darter Etheostoma jimmycarter 20

Kentucky Snubnose Darter Etheostoma rafinesquei 20

Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale 25

Longhead Darter Percina macrocephala 2

Frecklebelly Darter Percina stictogaster 4

Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae 5

 

We then headed to the Green River Lake State Park to set up our tent for a place to sleep that night. Got the tent set up just before dark and headed into a near by town for some dinner at a local steak house. After dinner we made a quick stop at walmart for some extra blankets to help make it through the night. Temps got down to about 25 degrees both nights but we survived. Hardest part was getting out of the sleeping bag in the morning.

 

Saturday morning we met up with Josh Blaylock and headed southwest toward the Red River (Cumberland River basin). Our first stop was on Whippoorwill Creek a tributary to the Red where we caught the following...

 

1^st Site Saturday March 28^th Whippoorwill Creek

 

Largescale Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma oligolepis 35

Whitetail Shiner Cyprinella galactura 4

Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops 25

Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus 35

Scarlet Shiner Lythrurus fasciolaris 10

Redtail Chub Nocomis effusus 20

Highland Shiner Notropis micropteryx 25

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 25

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 12

Redhorse sp. Moxostoma  3

Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris 1

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides 5

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 12

Saffron Darter Etheostoma flavum 25

Smallscale Darter Etheostoma microlepidum 1

Westrim Darter Etheostoma occidentale 50

Redline Darter Etheostoma rufilineatum 50

Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae 15

 

I had hoped to catch some picture worthy smallscale darters but the one we got was very tiny. So we made another attempt for them near by on the Red River itself. This produced more smallscales but again all small juveniles. My favorite catch at this next site was a blotched chub, I like the "odd" cyprinids. I had only caught this species one other time and it did well in my aquarium before so I was excited to find another one. I'll try to get a photo of it in my stream tank and post later. Here is what we caught at this site...

 

2^nd Site Saturday March 28^th Red River (Cumberland Basin)

 

Largescale Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma oligolepis 25

Blotched Chub Erimystax insignis 1

Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops 12

Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus 30

Scarlet Shiner Lythrurus fasciolaris 15

Redtail Chub Nocomis effusus 10

Highland Shiner Notropis micropteryx 15

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 12

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 5

Redhorse sp. Moxostoma  5

Stonecat Madtom Noturus flavus 2

Northern Studfish Fundulus catenatus 1

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides 2

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 5

Saffron Darter Etheostoma flavum 5

Smallscale Darter Etheostoma microlepidum 12

Westrim Darter Etheostoma occidentale 5

Redline Darter Etheostoma rufilineatum 30

Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae 12

 

We decided to give up on catching any picture worthy smallscale darters and head back to the east some. Josh wanted to look for Splendid Darter in the upper Barren River basin. So our next stop was on a small stream in this area. Josh and I both took some photos at this site...

 

Female Splendid Darter Etheostoma barrenense

 

Male Splendid Darter Etheostoma barrenense

 

Male Highland Rim Darter Etheostoma kantuckeense

 

3^rd Site Saturday March 28^th Little Trammel Fork

 

Largescale Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma oligolepis 35

Southern Redbelly Dace Chrosomus erythrogaster 12

Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus 30

Scarlet Shiner Lythrurus fasciolaris 25

Tennessee Shiner Notropis leuciodus 20

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 8

Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus 5

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 10

Elegant Madtom Noturus elegans 6

Northern Studfish Fundulus catenatus 20

Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris 1

Central Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis 3

Splendid Darter Etheostoma barrenense 30

Orangefin Darter Etheostoma bellum 20

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 50

Fantail Darter Etheostoma flabellare 8

Highland Rim Darter Etheostoma kantuckeense 12

Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale 1

 

After this site we were all getting pretty tired and had varying amounts of driving to do. Josh and Justin both headed home in opposite directions and Ben and I headed back to Green River Lake state park for another night in the cold. Ben and I had a great dinner at a local Mexican place, definitely will return if I am back in that area.

 

I had found pretty much every species I wanted to see except for Gilt Darters due to the high water on the Green River so I decided to head much further east Sunday morning to the South Fork of the KY river to a site I had been to before several times. Every time I go to this site I catch something new. This time is was Frecklebelly Darters. I have now captured 7 different Percina species at this site. We actually did not get as much variety as far as darters go as I have on some other visits but it was still a productive stop and I did finally catch a couple of small Gilt Darters...

 

1^st and only site Sunday March 29^th South Fork Kentucky River

 

Central Stoneroller Minnow Campostoma anomalum 25

Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera 6

Steelcolor Shiner Cyprinella whipplei 6

Streamline Chub Erimystax dissimilis 4

Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops 100

Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus 25

Silverjaw Minnow Notropis buccatus 8

Silver Shiner Notropis photogenis 4

Rosyface Shiner Notropis rubellus 25

Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus 4

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus 100

Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans 25

Black Redhorse Moxostoma duquesnii 15

Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum 15

Brindled Madtom Noturus miurus 1

Brook Silverside Labidesthes sicculus 1

Eastern Sand Darter Ammocrypta pellucida 1

Emerald Darter Etheostoma baileyi 15

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides 25

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum 25

Fantail Darter Etheostoma flabellare 12

Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum 20

Variegate Darter Etheostoma variatum 35

Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale 12

Gilt Darter Percina evides 2

Blackside Darter Percina maculata 100

Frecklebelly Darter Percina stictogaster 17

 

I did not really count 100 blackside darters but to be honest we probably caught even more than that. They were all small young but literally every seine haul had 8-12 young blacksides. This was interesting because in past visits I have found them but never this many.

 

This was our final stop for the trip and Ben and I headed home to Ohio after this stop. As always it was fun to get out and explore and see some new species I have never caught before along with many I have seen. Hopefully Josh can add in a few more pictures, I think he actually took site photos.

[mattknepley]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I'm jealous. Thanks for posting; those bandeds and splendids are something else.

PS- be sure to be taking lots of photos on your adventures as you never know when somebody might be asking you for some...

[Isaac Szabo]

Awesome photos Brian! Some beautiful fish. That giant crayfish is really cool too. Sounds like it was a great trip.

[BenCantrell]

Looks like a great outing, and good job on the photos!  Can't wait to make it down to KY and TN again sometime.

[Casper]

I wrote an response last night, but because i was not logged on as a member and i clicked POST... the software switched screens telling me i was not logged on and i lost my extensive posting, poff, just like that.

Seems like the forum software's infinite knowledge would offer something better than just deleting it.

 

Well that said i have to tell you i much enjoyed your Springtime trip report relieving us from the Winter Blues.  Your photos are wonderful and your species list and ability to identify all those is a master skill Mr. Brian.  Gilts are pretty common in my regional waters, sometimes they appear to be the most common Darter.  Hiwassee and Ocoee come to mind at a couple particular sites.  I would remind those so inclined to view Todd Crail's amazing Gilt Darter Brawl on YouTube.  Sometimes i think Gilts are gaudy but other times spectacular.  Your Blackside Darters comments reminds me of a few Dusky Darter encounters.  It seems as if while young they travel in groups, so i have seen several times while snorkeling.  That may account for the mass seining as Blacksides are kindred species i believe.

 

Newly purchased blankets eh?  Way too cold for me to get in the water.

 

Your picture tells me that Michael Wolfe was on point when his vote was for the Splendid Darter as the KY convention Mascot.  Mighty handsome.

[smbass]

Yeah the cold nights were not great but otherwise it was a very fun trip. Glad you enjoyed the report Casper. Gilts look quite different in the northern populations and seem to be in larger rivers than they occur up in the mountains. Different fish in my opinion.

 

As promised here are a couple shots of the blotched chub I took home. It has adapted nicely to its new home...

[Casper]

I am glad to hear the lone Blotched Chub is doing well in your aquaria.  My success was not, but that was a long while ago.  I think he needs a few buddies as i observe them in mini schools while snorkeling.  They are a bit more nervous than other common species.  Such a nice small handsome fish to encounter.

 

Gilts sure do vary to my eye.  Especially when fighting, they will alter color and patterns while you observe them.  They also seem to alter depending upon the season but i only have experience with them in my region, but i believe know they go all the way to NY as Mark Otnes wrote about them years ago.  The Roanoke remind me of Gilts a good bit.  They must be cousins.

 

Very good Brian... Thanks for sharing.

[Isaac Szabo]

Neat fish!

[Josh Blaylock]

Sorry for the late reply, but here's some of my photos from Saturday.  

 

Some of the biggest Rainbow Darters I'd ever seen:

 

 

And my hands aren't small!

 

Not sure what is in that water, these fish were huge..except for the Smallscale darters:

 

Snubbies!

 

Here's some location photos:

 

1st Location" Whippoorwill Creek

 

 

2nd Location: Red River (cumberland drainage)

 

 

This spot had some really interesting rock formations (left side of the previous photo):

 

Yes, I pulled one of the looser ones out and took it home...I'm such a rock junkie

 

I didn't give little Trammel Fork much love:

[Josh Blaylock]

Here's a few more fishy photos:

 

Splendid Darter

 

In the Aquarium:

 

 

What KY lacks in colorful Shiners, it makes up for in Darters.  But, Scarlet Shiners are really nice.

 

 

 

 

SRBD are nice as well, caught in Little Trammel Frk:

 

 

 

[littlen]

I thought everything in Texas was supposed to be bigger. Apparently KY holds the rights to the biggest darters. Did they make the trip home with you too?

[Josh Blaylock]

I thought everything in Texas was supposed to be bigger. Apparently KY holds the rights to the biggest darters. Did they make the trip home with you too?

 

Apparently it does.  Those were really crazy.  I see a lot of Rainbows, I mean a lot.  They are probably the most common darter in Kentucky, but I've never seen them that big.  I'm still shocked on how big they were.  I didn't keep them, though it was tempting.  I have a few rainbows in the aquarium already.