16 replies to this topic

[Casper]

I did not post any of my trips this season.  My 8th leading snorkeling trips for the Cherokee National Forest.

However this was passed on to me and some my find it of interest...

 

The Dynamic Darters...

 

http://nrcs.maps.arc...3b7a8fe41dd5bfe

[ShadetreeIchthyologist]

I still want to catch a shadow bass down there. Really interesting read.

[Casper]

Stomp on a brush pile. There they be.  I do not see them while snorkeling much, but as twilight descends out they come, a blood red eye watching you.

[mattknepley]

Pretty cool presentation.

[Chasmodes]

Nice presentation!  I still would like to see your reports in the future, Casper

[Casper]

My 4th trip for Conasoggy CNF season 2018 just got washed out for tomorrow Saturday 8/11/18.  We have had so many cancellations this year due to ongoing flooding.  The water rose up to the bottom of the sign a couple 3 weeks ago.  The snorkel hole was scoured and Jim tells me the Darters get thrashed and ground up by the tumbling stones.  Big rocks get moved further down stream reformatting the substrate and watery crawl canyons.  Im eager to get back and see the results but the rains keep coming.  I have 3 days in a row scheduled late August and plan on camping if it cools from sweltering to tolerable.  A Chattanooga School returning, 3 groups of middle graders.

 

 

Some of the scouts and Halley my new co-assistant and lifeguard.  Imagine the water up to the bottom of the sign panel and flooding reaching the parking lot.  Broken branches stuck high in the trees along the river

 

 

 

Some of the boys spotted this watersnake.  A copperhead was seen sunning few weeks before.

 

 

 

A new addition to the snorkel hole.  About 4'... i wonder it it is the same 50 incher from a few years back?  My guess is he was probably blasted well downstream.  Snorkel Boss Jim tells me these torrent floods are really hard on fish.

 

 

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

I really dig that water snake photo. 

 

I always figured that floods were challenging for fish, but never really thought about how it affects smaller bottom dwelling species. Makes sense. I imagine it also affects their food supply.

[Casper]

 

A few photos from the first 2 outing of season 2018.

2 scout troops, 2 days.

 

 

 

Listening to safety concerns.

 

 

 

Geared up.

 

 

 

Turtle talk.

 

 

 

Blue Shiner.

 

 

 

Tricolor Shiner.

 

 

 

Loggie, Mobile.

 

 

 

Slow go.  More snails as the Drum did not return in mass.

 

 

 

Lots of Quartz Veins in this boulder.

 

 

 

Sill not ready to pick and put in your pocket.

 

 

 

Graffiti of minimal note.

 

 

 

 

 

[Casper]

Our GA Convention host J. Davis brought a group of his Young Harris students to the Conasauga River.  They arrived about noon so i brought Connie along to make it a full day.

 

 

The professor and youngsters from Young Harris.

 

 

 

We checked out the plunge pools downstream of the snorkel hole and took a few turns diving the 10 or 12 feet deep.

 

 

 

Gotta watch for ear aches when you go deep.

 

 

 

Wolf on the bank.

 

 

 

After the students left i wanted Connie to see the late Summer beauty of the forest so we took a long slow drive.

That is Ironweed, the purple, such a rich contrast to the yellows of the field.

 

 

 

Wet areas are favored by the velvety red Cardinal Flower.

 

 

 

A nice flutterfly on the Joe Pye.

 

 

 

 

 

[Casper]

My last group for 2018.  So many sessions got rained out and in addition a 3 in a row classes of middle schoolers were cancelled because they were too wee tiny for our wetsuits.

I had planned on camping for the 2 nights of the 3 days they would be in the river.  Bonus time for me which is always valued and offers extended adventures, walks, wanders, night sounds and night snorkels.

 

This group, my 5th and last, was my favorite, an attentive group of wide eyed home students with 4 of their Moms along.  Everyone was happy, excited and enjoyed the day fully.  Amanda, Hollie and i stayed an extra hour giving them bonus time on such a beautiful blue sky day.

 

 

 

The fella on the left is a new snorkel friend who drove down from Knoxville.  Bradley is a fishy student at UTK, I met him at an Optimist Club meeting a few weeks back.  If you frown you must leave.

 

 

 

We finally found a couple Musk Turtles whom never smell musky.  So very cute.  Years ago i would see maybe 50 each day.  Only a few nowadays.  Hum.

 

 

 

The crayfish were out with minimal concerns.  Many were just going about their business, crawling in the open.  Maybe because the Drum are gone?

 

 

 

Some of the girls were diving down trying to get the nerve to recapture a Stripeneck.  I had them hold on for a moment.  What a great group of youngsters and Moms today.

 

 

 

This guy lost an eye.

 

 

 

An odd bug i do not know we encountered while gently moving stones.

 

 

 

Bradley provided a nice shot of the ever scurring Stone Fly.

 

 

 

I never get tired of observing those Bama Hogs with their orange pectorials.

 

 

 

Mr. Holiday offered several close poses.

 

 

 

Interesting view.  Fresh beaver activity upstream, green leaved branches scattered about.  Plenty of gnawed clean, white Beaver sticks too.  They make great pointing sticks when snorkeling.

 

 

 

Ripples.

 

 

 

Mysteries.

 

 

Another great year.  My 9th.  I'm glad i got to the Conasauga a few more times beyond the CNF 5 with Tim's micro fish camp, Mushroom walks and the Young Harris students.

 

 

 

[Chasmodes]

Great report and pics Casper!  Thanks again for sharing! I always look forward to your reports.

[Casper]

Yesterday's Chattanooga newspaper, January 23, 2019 had a front page article about the Conasauga Snorkel Hole and the diversity found within and through out the SouthEast in general.  They quoted Bernie Kuhajda of TNACI along with Pat and JR of CFI.  The article's author expressed the concern regarding the lack of federal funding for the aquatic species of the SouthEast.  A fact that Bernie uncovered is appalling... that fish species outside of the SouthEast receive 46.6 X the funding as those within the SE.  That can be translated to $50. compared to $1. for the SE fish species.  As NANFans we know about the incredible diversity in the SE yet near all the federal money is spent outside the region.

 

The article goes into a lot of detail for those so interested...

 

https://www.pressrea...190123/textview

Edited by Casper, 24 January 2019 - 07:08 PM.

[Doug_Dame]

Casper, thanks for sharing. That almost 50:1 funding mismatch is astounding.

[Casper]

2019. August.

 

Jeremy was visiting the region while screening the film at various agencies and events so we took a trip to the cool Conasauga where his daughter could take a dip into the Snorkel Hole.

 

 

 

Ssss was all kinky and stretched out on the Cherokee National Forest gravel road unconcerned with vehicles.  I do not know what kind of beautiful rust colored snake this is.

?

 

 

 

The Summer flowers are in bloom.  This is one of the most velvet reds in nature and so named after our native parrot.

 

 

 

Tennessee's native flower.  Bumble bees like it.

 

 

 

I caught this Stripe-Necked Musk Turtle and it had a long piece of fishing line coming from its throat, hook set deep and unseen.  I tried gently pulling but finally snipped the line just inside its mouth and released it with a prayer.  Do you think he will recover?  How long does a hook last?

 

 

 

Sunshine.

 

 

 

We saved a piece of bread and teased in the minnows.  TriColors and Blues still had decent color, both visible here.

 

 

 

Percina Palmaris.

 

 

 

Holiday.

 

 

 

Oregon visitors for the day.

 

A car was parked at MY spot and featured Brook Trout tags and a dive decal.  Inside were fins.  Wading into the water i spotted a bright red head downstream and snorkeled quick for an unsuspecting snapper grab ankle asked him what he was looking at.  

New to Chattanooga and fresh from Australia but raised in Virginia.  The next day we jumped in North Chick and gathered trash.

Life is good.

 

 

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Corn snake or red rat snake. Pantherophis guttatus 

[Casper]

Thank you Matt... it sure had a pretty coloration.  I have longer photos of it.

I'm hoping some FaceBook friends can tighten it up.

[Michmass]

Definitely P. guttatus.  Nice pic.