10 replies to this topic

[Itsnotme1988]

Over the last few weeks tried this new to me spot and haven't posted pictures on here...I've been slacking I know...

 

Anyways, this is a section of the Little River that flows not too far from me in NC.  The first time I went out I didn't realize how high the water was...after reviewing USGS water level and flow data, this is normally a very shallow section so it is quite variable whenever it rains.

 

 

First day I was out...didn't get my hopes up as it seems quite popular with locals...2/18/2016

 

 

A little walking around and I started to find nice backwaters and pools.  I wouldn't realize until later how flooded it is at this level...

 

 

 

 

First drags with the dipnet produces LOTS of crayfish, Cambarus latimanus are very common here.  Also have seen a few other species, but I don't know crayfish at all...

 

 

Started finding Green Sunfish (L. cyanellus) in the leaf litter between the bluegill (L. macrochirus) and redbreast (L. auritus)

 

 

The next day I went out, the water level had dropped tremendously! (2/21/2016)  The picture looking back towards the pumping station I took standing where water was the first trip. 

 

This trip was mostly the same, with lots of tesselated dartes (E. olmstedi) and gambusia so no pictures...

 

 

2/27/2016

 

Rained a little and brought the water way up again

 

 

[Itsnotme1988]

 

Found a few Enneacanthus gloriosus in one of the pools

 

Largemouth {Micropterus salmoides)...no not dipnetted...

 

One of the many tesselated darters

 

Nicely lit up green

 

Erimyzon oblongus (Eastern Creek Chubsucker)  Never thought I'd dip one of these from the bank...especially this size!

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpsemutojsh.jpg

 

Some Bacopa monnieri I managed to get tangled on the hoop of my net.  The only stalk I could reach...

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpserfyegf7.jpg

http://i1375.photobu...zpsmgu3xnwh.jpg

 

Headed out 3/12/2016.  This is the lowest I've seen it yet!  Several pools getting locked away with one just having a small stream heading to the river

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpsftgdwg41.jpg

 

Tesselated darter

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpssl4oai2t.jpg

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpsyobtjbs7.jpg

 

Couple of Redbreast sunnies

 

http://i1375.photobu...zps3thizkhi.jpg

 

Got to point I would pull in at least one tesselated every other dip, even pulling it up by pairs!  They were as thick as gambusia! (ironically I didn't net a single gambusia this time...)

 

http://i1375.photobu...zps5l0cs4bx.jpg

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpsdmgb560m.jpg

 

Esox species.  My guess is E. americanus.  Has the "no pigment" line down the sides and fins have a red tinge.  Snout looks a little long to me though...but I've had very little exposure to Esox.  Also this was in a small pool off the river and it seems Niger are more often landlocked in impoundments from what I've read.

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpszgsjag0x.jpg

 

E. gloriosus were quite common today

 

http://i1375.photobu...zps6mrw3lwj.jpg

 

As were Bluegill

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpsfqdfione.jpg

 

Finally found a madtom!  Tadpole madtom (Noturus gyrinus) found under a chunk of bark in some leaf litter. 

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpss0uumca1.jpg

 

One very angry cray!

 

http://i1375.photobu...zpslpgawim2.jpg

http://i1375.photobu...zpstocqob7e.jpg

 

Even dipnetted this little guy today! Stinkpot! Sternotherus odoratus

[mattknepley]

Nice stuff. Love that chubsucka. My springtime reptilian surprises always seem to be of the water snake variety. Would love to find a li'l stinker like that. It's amazing how fast the Carolina rivers and streams are rising after rains now that we're out of the drought. At least the spots I go. Looks to be the same up by you.

[Michael Wolfe]

not sure how you were trying to attach your photos, but I believe there is a ten picture per post limit, that you would have been over on that second try. I added the chubsucker just to see if it would do it for me and it worked fine.

[gerald]

Is this above or below where Lowell Mill Dam on Little River was removed 10 years ago?

http://restorationsy...er-dam-removal/

 

I agree the pickerel is most likely redfin.  The "Bacopa" could be that or possibly Micranthemum, which is more common IME.

Hope you can make it on our Raleigh Aqu Soc trip this Friday.

[Itsnotme1988]

It is where Rains Mill dam used to stand from what I can find out. Wasn't Lowell Mill dam behind/near Big Boys in Kenly? (Amazing how hard it is to find this information online...)

As far as the plant, I'll have to trust you there...as little as I know about iding plants. ...haha

And I will be there Friday barring anything.unforeseen!

[Itsnotme1988]

not sure how you were trying to attach your photos, but I believe there is a ten picture per post limit, that you would have been over on that second try. I added the chubsucker just to see if it would do it for me and it worked fine.

I was copying from photobucket. I even tried to split my post and do them one at a time and it wouldn't work for me...oh well...can't edit now...at least the links are there!

[Michael Wolfe]

corrected as many as I could with no problem... but there are too many pictures for one post.

[Itsnotme1988]

Awesome, thanks! I'll have to keep that in mind next time...

[Itsnotme1988]

Went out again today  (4/17/2016)

 

Doesn't even look like the same area!

 

Fire ants are getting really bad...you know it's bad when you're pulling then up in a dipnet...

 

 

Percina roanoka

 

 

Margined madtom and american eel

[Isaac Szabo]

Nice roanoke darter!