8 replies to this topic

[strat guy]

Anyone in the area ever find these guys in any significant populations? There's a few spots that popped up on fishnet2, but they're not more than ditches and the IDNR catch rates are low, when the information is given. Looking for ten or so to add to my tank. Thanks!

Edited by strat guy, 07 March 2016 - 05:16 PM.

[BenCantrell]

If you want to come down to the Peoria area, the creek by my parents' house is full of them.

[strat guy]

Full huh? That's like two hours from me, but a sure thing may be worth twenty maybes. Any other interesting species around there?

[BenCantrell]

SRBD, western blacknose dace, central stoneroller, creek chub, orangethroat darter, and fantail darter.  Take a look at the 2nd half of this blog post.

 

http://bencantrellfi.../test-post.html

 

On the way down/up you can stop at Sandy Creek.  It's a bit bigger, but when the water is low it's easy to wade.  I've found over 40 species of fish there including some cool stuff like mud darters and banded darters.  The red shiners, spotfin shiners, and hybrids between the two make really cool aquarium specimens.

 

http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html

 

http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html

 

http://bencantrellfi...ouble-date.html

 

http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html

 

[Doug_Dame]

Full huh? That's like two hours from me, but a sure thing may be worth twenty maybes. Any other interesting species around there?

 

I defer to the great Jim Graham on this, he of many 7-day+ collecting trips covering 1000+ miles: 

 

"One target species a day is a good day."

 

(And two is great.) 

[Doug_Dame]

 

I defer to the great Jim Graham on this, he of many 7-day+ collecting trips covering 1000+ miles: 

 

"One target species a day is a good day."

 

(And two is great.) 

 

Also, a trip to the fish store to buy some fish is just an errand.

 

A trip to the creek to experience the outdoors and fish and other critters in their natural habitat is a joy !

[strat guy]

Also, a trip to the fish store to buy some fish is just an errand.
 
A trip to the creek to experience the outdoors and fish and other critters in their natural habitat is a joy !

That may be true, but three kids and a bun in the oven says that my time is at a premium lol. So unfortunately, my outings are all business. Seining just for the fun of it almost never happens, my time is spent in waters that I know have good populations of fish to bring home to the tank.

SRBD, western blacknose dace, central stoneroller, creek chub, orangethroat darter, and fantail darter.  Take a look at the 2nd half of this blog post.
 
http://bencantrellfi.../test-post.html
 
On the way down/up you can stop at Sandy Creek.  It's a bit bigger, but when the water is low it's easy to wade.  I've found over 40 species of fish there including some cool stuff like mud darters and banded darters.  The red shiners, spotfin shiners, and hybrids between the two make really cool aquarium specimens.
 
http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html
 
http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html
 
http://bencantrellfi...ouble-date.html
 
http://bencantrellfi...y-creek-il.html
 

That sounds awesome. I lost my two big spotfins, I had one that was close to 6", and I'm really looking to replace those. I don't have any Redfin or satinfin shiners, and would love to get a big group going. My hogsucker is looking lonely too, so I've been thinking about finding him some company. Even though they get big. They don't seem to grow too fast, I've had mine for over a year now and has only gone from 3/4" to about 1 3/4" in that time, so he's not exactly one of the monsters that I see when I'm out in the river. Still, those SRDs are calling me.
You know anything about the Vermillion up near Starved Rock? I know some guys call it Gartopia, and I catch White bass there, but what are the minnows like there? Never seined there before, only use that river for sport fishing.

[BenCantrell]

Sandy Creek is full of hogsuckers too. Send me a PM with dates you could come down.

The Vermilion is a bit bigger. I've only fished it hook & line, but I know NANFA people have seined it in the past. I imagine it would be the same stuff I found at Sandy.

[olaf]

I don't know precisely what species of minnows are in the Vermilion, but there are tons of them. I would imagine there's a pretty good variety. I love that river and have been daydreaming constantly of getting down there since the snow melted. Since I just got a dipnet, when I do get there I'm excited to finally get to identify all those little fishes I've been watching and fishing over all these years. Hopefully will be in the next 2-3 weeks, depending on weather. Rain in the forecast. Will be watching the USGS gauge carefully.