16 replies to this topic

[Michael Wolfe]

I had the opportunity to show off some local fishes to Brian Z while he was down here in Georgia on vacation.  This included two new Cyprinella that he had never seen in person and a our local Turquoise darter.

 

 Altamaha.jpg   57.81KB   3 downloads

 Redhorse.jpg   280.09KB   3 downloads

 

All told, we were able to see:

• Golden shiner
• Yellowfin shiner
• Spottail shiner
• Altamaha shiner
• Ocmulgee shiner
• Bluehead chub
• Rosyface chub
• Northern hogsucker
• Notchlip redhorse
• Snail bullhead
• Margined madtom
• Bluegill sunfish
• Redbreast sunfish
• Black crappie
• Blackbanded darter
• Turquoise darter

A great day in the water with a friend from far away sharing fishes that are very close to my home.

[James]

Nice looking fish in your backyard..ok So, Mike Wolfe when are you going to host a convention? I'm sure I'm not the only one curious. Why haven't we had a convention in Georgia yet?

[Josh Blaylock]

Love me some Cyprinella!

[smbass]

I thought we already hadforced a commitment out of you for 2017... As far as I know we have no other offers yet and as I recall that was sort of how it went, if we have no other offers you would do it in 2017 and I believe this statement came some time in 2015...

 

Anyways it was great to get out with you and I enjoyed my day catching fish with you. Before I met up with Michael I stopped at a small stream in the upper Chattahoochee basin on my own to catch a few of the local Luxilus the bandfin shiner. I actually only caught 4 species at that site... Yellowfin Shiner, Bluehead Chub, Bandfin Shiner, and Blackbanded Darter. I liked Michael's joke that it was a requirement that when you kick some woody debris at least one blackbanded darter must be caught at every site in GA! It seemed quite true. I ended up keeping one on Thurs my last day in the area from another stream near where I was staying.

[James]

Thanks a lot Brian I think you'll make an excellent president someday. If the man is any good on his word then it should happen. Unless he's just going to wait around for someone else to offer to do it in 2017.

[Michael Wolfe]

Calling me out will not help. There is in fact a member eager to host 2017. And he has contacted people about his intentions. And he will likely do a better job hosting a NANFA party than I will ever do.

We all have our skills and abilities. A man's gotta know his limitations.

[smbass]

Michael you know I am half joking but I would really like to go to a GA convention and you would do just fine as a host, you need to be a little more confident in yourself.

 

I too got another passing offer from a former Ohioan who has been residing in a southern state close to yours for many years now on possibly hosting in the future. I had half hoped we could come to GA next year and make another southern trip the following year if I push him a little.

[James]

Mike even though you're a person who lacks social skills, hosting a GA convention presents a unique opportunity to grow. I think there are a lot of great people in this organization who have hosted conventions in the past who could help you. I think I've been a member as long as you have and in the past 11 years their has never been a convention in Georgia or ever for that matter. Asking for help draws people together. Do you know who your friends are? My suggestion to you would be to seriously think about it. A GA convention is going to happen sooner or later with or without you.

[Doug_Dame]

I have to stand up (well, type up) for Michael. I know him reasonably well in the way of long-distance buds with shared interests in fish-viewing and -herding, going back at least to ? 2001 and the "Okefenokee I" expedition. I even visited his house in [secret location] once, met some of his family, saw fishies and the LED light workshop. So I can testify to the character of the defendant, and hereby state for the record that Michael is not entirely devoid of social skills.

[Isaac Szabo]

Yeah, I don't know if that was supposed to be a joke or something, but Michael definitely doesn't lack social skills (quite the opposite, I'd say).

[James]

Sometimes things can be misconstrued in a text form. I stand corrected.

[Dustin]

Not to beat a dead horse, but Michael is one of the most active, thus social, members of NANFA.  I think I understand your post now that I have re-read it a couple of times and you were stating that if he were socially awkward, he should still be able to host a convention.  

 

As someone that has hosted a convention and helped with a couple others, I can say that it is not always easy, even with the great social network that Michael has in place in GA.  There are many things to consider when contemplating whether to host or not.  The most important ones are:

 

- Time away from work and family.  Most of us have full time jobs that require more than full time hours on occasion.  In addition, many have kids and the related activities of said kids which reduces free time to nearly none.  NANFA is an all volunteer organization.  Michael already volunteers FAR(!!) more than nearly every other NANFA member.  

 

-  Local regulations and restrictions.  While Michael has cultivated excellent relationships with the fisheries professionals in his state, this does not mean that he can do whatever he likes.  Relationships with professionals take years to foster, and require the development of trust and respect.  Michael has the luxury of spending time with his local group and knows that they share his ethical standards, but this is more difficult to control in a convention setting.  In addition, some states simply don't allow the types of activities that we typically conduct.

[Josh Blaylock]

I agree with Dustin.  While I'd love a GA convention, it doesn't matter for what reason Michael doesn't want to do it.  He's under no obligation to host a convention.  I was planning on doing another West KY convention, but maybe I'll organize one in GA instead.  

 

Plus, I keep hearing about this eager member for 2017, but don't see anybody coming forward.  Other than one person repeatedly saying it on FB.

[Michael Wolfe]

We usually try to keep talk of 'the next' convention down a bit while we are still prepping for the current convention.

I'm very excited about New Hampshire. Are you registered? Do you have your travel plans set?

[smbass]

Well I'm feeling kind of bad here now, didn't mean for people to start bringing up Michael's character and really meant it as a joke, I and a few other board members have been bugging Michael to host a convention but I was probably a little out of place bringing it up onthe forum. Sorry Michael, this took a path I did not expect! If you do decide to host in the future I'll be glad to help you make plans.

 

I have registered for New Hampshire and bringing the whole family!

 

Now to get this a little more back on topic...

 

When I was out with Michael in GA last week the Yellowfin Shiners were just starting to get some color but I found it really interesting how the ones in the site I went to with Michael, McNutt Creek, had bright yellow fins and those I caught in the upper Broad River basin and upper Chattahoochee River basin to the north had orange to almost red/orange fins. I find these sorts of variations across distributions fascinating. I had already kept a group of these before I met up with Michael but decided to keep one with the yellow fins from this site and it really stands out in the tank with the rest of the group. It will be interesting to see over time if that fish continues to look different or if after a while of being in the same conditions it blends in with the group. Basically is this difference environmental or is it genetic... Fun to think about and observe.

[UncleWillie]

Brian, I know this has been brought up elsewhere on the forum, but the yellowfins will have fins colored yellow, orange, or white.  If you go to a small stream on my folks' property just a few miles away from McNutt Creek (both are tributaries to the Middle Oconee), the yellowfins there have milky white fins.  It is certainly interesting to ponder!

Edited by UncleWillie, 07 April 2016 - 07:47 AM.

[smbass]

Took a couple of photos of my Bandfin Shiners I kept from the trip. Doing well in my stream tank...