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Okie Dokie in Oklahoma.


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#1 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 22 June 2015 - 05:03 PM

Day 1, June 2 a Tuesday.  Memphis.

 

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My daughter Cyan and i broke up the 12 hour drive from Chattanooga by stopping in

Memphis before crossing the mighty Mississippi River.  At the welcome center Elvis

provided a postcard recipe for his fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.

 

 

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The Great Pyramid is an easy detour off i-40.  After the many taxpayer funded

boondoggles it is now the world's largest Bass Pro Shop.

 

 

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Inside Alligator Gar feasted on the many Sunfish available.

 

 

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Cyan was pointing out several of the Longnose Gar so as to alert those who were

dipping their toes pondside.

 

 

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This scuba diver was collecting wishing coins the harder way.

 

 

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We stopped in the Fish Bowl for a quick strike.  Several youngsters nearly lost

limbs trying to retrieve gutter balls.  Cyan is holding some kind of marbleized reptile

eye.

 

 

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Memphis is muddy water, i have yet to find clear mountain streams in my birthcity

as falsely advertized in this tourism propaganda.  Use caution.

 

 

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A tower of light leads to the apex.  For 10 bucks you can ride up high.

 

 

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A bar awaits at the apex, overhung by all manner of fabricated critters.  Behind the

tender is a cylindrical aquarium, still awaiting live tissue as opposed to rusting iron,

copper and glass.  An expensive restaurant will soon be serving all manner of fine

foods.

 

 

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Windup gears, better eyes to see by, hydraulic powered.

 

 

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Fitting for Memphis, a Paddle Wheeled Catfish.

 

 

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Diesel powered teeth.

 

 

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An illuminated view of the beast's transparent finnage.

 

 

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2 species of Copper Clad Cats.

 

 

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I am not sure what to make of this propeller driven flying fish.

 

 

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Overlooking Mud Island to the north, factories, residences, boats and a bouy tender

populate the view.

 

 

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Looking down from on high.

 

 

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The Mississippi beckons, the double span making a mighty M for Memphis.
Crossing to Arkansas, 6 more hours to Tahlequah.


Edited by Casper, 22 June 2015 - 05:28 PM.

Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#2 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 22 June 2015 - 05:27 PM

Steampunk fish!


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#3 andrewz

andrewz
  • NANFA Member
  • Nashville, TN

Posted 22 June 2015 - 05:32 PM

That's a pretty awesome Bass Pro! Looks like I would spend even more money there than at their regular stores. Bad idea for me!

#4 Kanus

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  • Board of Directors

Posted 22 June 2015 - 08:28 PM

Wow! Those steampunk fish are among the cooler things I've ever seen. I wouldn't mind a few of those hanging around the house!


Derek Wheaton

On a mountain overlooking the North Fork Roanoke River on one side, the New River Valley on the other, and a few minutes away from the James River watershed...the good life...

Enchanting Ectotherms

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#5 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 22 June 2015 - 09:42 PM

Wow! Those steampunk fish are among the cooler things I've ever seen. I wouldn't mind a few of those hanging around the house!

I was thinking the same thing what could be better then Mad Max fish?


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#6 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 22 June 2015 - 09:56 PM

Nice photos Casper. Looks like a fun place.



#7 mattknepley

mattknepley
  • NANFA Member
  • Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.

Posted 24 June 2015 - 05:42 AM

Daddy-daughter adventures rock! Thanks for posting, Casper.

Just study Casper's aerial photo before heading to that BassPro. Note the Blues Brothers-esque off ramp...
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#8 dmarkley

dmarkley
  • NANFA Member
  • Lower Susquehanna River

Posted 24 June 2015 - 07:16 AM

So, you were "Walking in Memphis"?   :D/  :-


Susquehanna River Drainage

#9 BenCantrell

BenCantrell
  • Moderator
  • Sebastian, FL

Posted 24 June 2015 - 08:21 AM

Dang, I really want to visit Memphis now!  I stopped in the East Peoria, IL and the St. Charles, MO Bass Pros on my trip, but neither of them were anywhere near as cool as that.  In fact, the St. Charles one was downright boring.  At least the East Peoria store has a 100+ blue catfish and a small (but growing quickly) alligator gar.



#10 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 29 June 2015 - 10:26 AM

Day1-Steampunk.JPG

 

Intrigued by this sign i was told many were at the pyramid's apex.  Steampunk is right.  I inquired who was the artist and was told it was a team of engineers from Bass Pro that built them using old accumulated parts and materials.  I was highly impressed and suggested it was one master artist dictating but they assured me it was a team effort.  Dang cool indeed.  If passing through Memphis i would consider it superior to the King's Graceland.  Bass Pro offers Cypress Lodging in the mid elevated section but rooms starting at $350. are well beyond my budget.
There were pools filled with hungry Gar and fat Cats everywhere, sometimes only seperated from the oblivious wide eyed shoppers by a a thin ribbon of yellow police tape.

Now on to Tahlequah... All the Way from Memphis...
 

https://www.youtube....h?v=wvarPF5zlUA


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#11 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 29 June 2015 - 11:56 AM

Day 2, June 3 a Wednesday.  Tahlequah.

 

A blurry eyed snorkelmiester arrived at 2am guided by his daughter's technology.  One dead rabbit, a frightened buck and a ghostly white weasel blur along the way.  After a sound sleep we decided to explore Tahlequah, embrace tourism and walk among the Cherokee.

 

 

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Two beautiful murals greeted us.  Osiyo, is a Cherokee greeting, a cheerful hello to you and i.  Tahlequah is 30% American Indian and we enjoyed talking with everyone we encountered during the day.

 

 

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At the town's center the cool, clear Tahlequah Town Branch flowed over a low road, the local traffic blocked by 2 barricades due to the recent rains.  Beyond, a unique bridge overpass and beyond it, the historic ivy covered Franklin Castle House.

 

 

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Just a bit downstream was a low dam and just beyond springs, wooded seeps and a spring house all feed the clear flow.

 

 

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The spring house.  This is the very area that the Trail of Tears ended.  Tahlequah.  2 springs are enough, is one of the Cherokee meanings.  Tomorrow would bring a wondorous surprise from the clear water here.

 

 

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But for today we wandered and visited the Spider Art Gallery, the historic Jail, the Cherokee National Museum and Heritage Center and late in the afternoon Cherokee Chief John Ross' gravesite.  We much enjoyed ourselves but the heat was a bit exhausting by the end of the day.  Michael and Isaac arrived as the sun went down and we visited the Cherokee Casino for the locally recommended Fry Bread Indian Tacos while surrounded by flashing lights and the clicking of coins from those in hope.

 

 

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Cherokee Fishhook.

 

 

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Road Rescue, 3 Toed Tortoise with 5 toes.

 


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#12 Aquastudent

Aquastudent
  • NANFA Guest
  • Albany, NY

Posted 29 June 2015 - 02:01 PM

Neat journal so far. Got some cousins in Memphis. Been meaning to visit them. Will see them on the Fourth although in NY not TN.

 

One of my favorite books is Rifles for Watie and Tahlequah is one of the main backdrops of the story. There's a lot of Native American culture forced there. Many of them were decendents of the Trail of Tears.



#13 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 06 July 2015 - 10:18 AM

I feel fortunate that the convention site was moved from Broken Bow to Tahlequah because of the Cherokee history.  That really added to the experience for me especially because we have so much Cherokee history here in Chattanooga.
Over the weekend my daughter Cyan and i watched "Where the Red Fern Grows"  and indeed the bridge crossing the Illinois River is seen in the film.  We probably heard "Tahlequah" spoken at least two dozen times during the film and the blonde haired mother was said to have Cherokee blood flowing in her veins.  It appears that Brandon Brown, our OK host, was seen buck dancing in a social gathering as a young man.  Excellent film, much enjoyed while set in the Oklahoma Ozarks during the depression era.


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#14 Chasmodes

Chasmodes
  • NANFA Member
  • Central Maryland

Posted 08 July 2015 - 12:18 PM

Daddy-daughter adventures rock!

 

I couldn't agree more.  I cherish my time with my daughter, especially a treat when it's outdoors.

 

Great stuff Casper!


Kevin Wilson


#15 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 13 July 2015 - 09:59 AM

Day 3, June 4, Thursday.  Snorkel Tahlequah, Alongside the Illinois River and a Spring Creek Dip.

 

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I was unsure of my invitation to Michael and Isaac to snorkel downtown Tahlequah.  Though i am generally eager to snorkel clear water just about anywhere, i was worried that they would not share the same motivation in an urban setting.  But it is here, to me, the epicenter of the NANFA OK gathering that i wanted to immerse myself into and the bonus was the historical significance of the site... the stream and springs the Cherokee gathered at after their terrible walk of forced relocation.

Standing on the road we could see very few fish but when i laid in the water, vibrant life erupted.  Hundreds of Southern Redbelly Dace swarming among the pit digging mighty Stonerollers.

 

 

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The armored bulldozers were burrowing down gathering and spitting out mouths of gnarly rocks, while the vibrant Dace swarmed in to spawn at each opportunity.

 

 

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Common Orange Throats and elusive Fantails were present and were also spawning among the finer cobble.

 

 

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Lots of big crays made their appearance.
 

I snorkeled a spring pool set higher and a bit further downstream eager to see something unique but diversity was again minimal.  However what the living waters lacked in diversity it certainly made up in quantity.

 

 

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Here the three plus me are getting ready to drive to the Illinois River.  The orange barricade by Michael's yellow Jeep had been moved from the crossing that morning, as well as the one placed on the other side.  After the first high velocity splash through's that the young speeding males seemed to relish most, we considered in the name of public service and our own personal safety to move the barricades back.  But we were odd visitors and the wonderful spot was much enjoyed by all.  In the water you can see the nice gravel break line that makes for the perfect spawning habitat.

 

 

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Driving about 30 windy river miles and guided by the marked cardboard signage we relocated to a gathering site along the Illinois River.  Grilled hotdogs, chips and drinks were provided to the chilled and hungry along with the other NANFans gathered and admiring the shaded trailered mega aquarium packed full of all kinds of interesting Oklahoma species.  I quickly grabbed my snorkel and plunged in.

 

 

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I am not exactly sure of the ID but i think it to be a Redeared Josh.

 

 

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We gathered in the shade to listen to those in the know speak, watch fish get dissected and peered through microscopes.

 

 

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Gut Teeth.

 

 

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Shocking commenced and the sun was very hot.  As others stood at the bank's edge i waded into the river for a cooling photo opportunity of those gathered.

 

 

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Freshly shocked Redhorse.  Identity unknown but by a few scale counters and lip checkers.

 

 

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Swimming across the rapid flow of the Illinois River i was greeted by Fred 3 and 4, the King and Prince to those in the know.  Behind them crosses the bridge featured in the film "Where the Red Fern Grows" but i prefer the author's other story "Summer of the Monkeys".  I was standing refreshed on the gravel bar while others seined in the sun but my fellow snorkelers were in need of a cooling rinse requiring a gravel road drive to clearer waters.

 

 

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Spring Creek.  The water was pretty and inviting.  We quickly got in and began to work ourselves upstream pulling ourselves along the right edge close to the stream bank.

 

 

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We found a few steep pyramidal mounds, not quite active but the locals were still cruising about waiting for stimuli by man or chub.

 

 

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Remembering Host Brandon telling me to look under stones, sure enough i caught sight of our Oklahoma mascot fish, the Sunburst Darter peeking, and teased him out for a few closeups.  I can see his sunburst belly too.

 

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Leaving Michael and Isaac behind to work the mounds, Cyan and i progressed upstream to deeper water.  Looking down i saw a mass of Crayfish gathered into a twisting ball.  With Cyan holding steady i pulled down and while hugging tight her ankle i snapped a few photos.  I also took a bit of video and now agree with Cyan as it appears they have converged upon a piece of flesh and had gathered for the feast.

 

 

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Working further upstream i came to a chute and began to catch glimpses of faint coloring on the Shiners.  Surely something special was ahead and i expected to see a series of mounds but i found nary a one.  However plenty of Chubs, Shiners, Hogsuckers and other species appeared to be resting in the shadows of the log jam behind me.  Confused and disappointed i rose up out of the water to orient myself for a downstream speed float, but twisting in the current i stumbled and fell catching myself on my hands as my face plunged into a swirl of gravel and whirling color.  Color flushed to the right and left as the stream's flow sheared off a steep gravel bar that provided prime spawning ground creating a wall of living color.  Cardinals, Redbellys, Stonerollers, Ozark Minnows, mystery shiners, and hungry Darters... all told hundreds gathered in the day's last light.

 

 

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Satisfied and a bit chilly Cyan and i free floated downstream to where Isaac and Michael had given out and gathered in the sunlight.  With enthusiasm we shared the stream's encounters as we warmed ourselves in the day's remaining rays.

 

 

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Another Pi Day for Georgia Michael and we being just 3 months and a few days since 3 14 15, all agreed Sam and Ella's, say that fast, was one of the best all time pizzas we had ever enjoyed.  Just a skip and a hop from where we started the day in Tahlequah Town Branch's living waters.

 

Pi Day 3.14159265


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#16 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 13 July 2015 - 11:50 AM

Great stuff Casper! What a full and fun day! I love the photos of the school of dace, in your face crayfish, and wall of color shiners. The mystery shiners are Carmine Shiners. I rarely get to see them in peak color like that - very cool. The mass of Ringed Crayfish is really neat too.



#17 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 14 July 2015 - 06:58 AM

Boy, those carmines have a lot more color than rubellus, or is that from seeing them while snorkeling? I guess I am asking if you guys see rubellus with that much color when they are underwater in the wild?


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#18 trygon

trygon
  • NANFA Member
  • Knoxville, Tennessee

Posted 14 July 2015 - 07:07 AM

Very nice Casper.


Bryce Gibson
There are sharks in every ocean...except Billy Ocean.

#19 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 14 July 2015 - 09:56 AM

I don't have much (if any) experience with rubellus, so I can't really compare. However, I don't think you will see carmines like that unless they are in an active spawning aggregation. Many minnow species have good color throughout the spawning season, but my experience with carmines is that they only have good color during the actual spawning event. It's a narrow window. So, perhaps it's similar with rubellus, and perhaps you've just never sampled them during a spawning event.



#20 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 14 July 2015 - 10:41 AM

00-ColorWall.jpg

 

Isaac...

Am i missing anything?


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.



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