17 replies to this topic

[gerald]

Like many states, Georgia does now allow seines or dipnets in designated Trout Streams, which are the majority of streams in northern GA.  I copied four sections of the GA-DNR trout stream maps, and added red highlighting over the NON-Trout streams to show where we CAN seine.  Looks like seiners will need to head pretty far south or west from Young Harris to do their thing.  Now I wish I'd learned to microfish! 

 

They highlighted maps are attached below, along with a list of Georgia's "RARE" fish species.  Brett's wonderful fishesofgeorgia website seems to be non-functional today.  Hope it's back up soon, before the convention!

 

If you can load this Trout Stream Map on a tablet or something, it would no doubt be useful!

 

https://gadnrwrd.map...ccd7264124fe5fd

 

 Non-Trout GA-NE-1.jpg   148.64KB   2 downloads

[gerald]

Looks like I have to post one at a time.  Above is the NE quarter; here's the NW quarter:

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•  Non-Trout GA-NW-2.jpg   152.17KB   0 downloads

[gerald]

And the SE quarter:

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•  Non-Trout GA-SE-3.jpg   163.96KB   0 downloads

[gerald]

And the SW quarter:

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•  Non-Trout GA-SW-4.jpg   195.71KB   0 downloads

[Doug_Dame]

Gerald ... very nice work. Very helpful. 

 

I couldn't get the fishesofgeorgia list/website to come up yesterday either. It was working a week or so ago. Inconvenient timing to be sure.

 

re microfishing: this just might be a fabulous time to learn ! I don't know who all is attending this year, but NANFA has some microfishers who have to be in the "best on continent" class. 

[gerald]

Excel table of aquatic rare species in GA:  fishes on 1st tab, crayfish and mollusks on 2nd tab:

 

Nope - I can't attach that file.  I can email or PM it (?) to whoever wants it, or maybe Michael or someone can post it on the NANFA webpage?

[DanielFolds]

For those going to Talking Rock Creek, the colorful Beautiful Crayfish (Cambarus speciosus) is abundant and is a must see. In the northern part of the Coosawattee drainage, there is the Coosawattee Crayfish (Cambarus coosawattae). Both are endemic to this river basin and one of the undescribed species of sculpin (cottus cf. bairdii) is abundant in both locations.

[lilyea]

FYI - the Fishes of Georgia website is accessible again.

[gerald]

Does fishesofgeorgia have a table or list of fishes by watershed?  Seems like it should, but I can't find it.  

I'm trying to make a list of rare/protected/no-take species by watershed (8-digit HUC).

 

FYI - the Fishes of Georgia website is accessible again.

 

Below is the GA endangered, threatened, and extirpated fish species list, from GA Natural Heritage Program.  3rd column is GA protection status (E, T, or Ex), 4th is Federal status (LE or LT).  Sorry I can't attach this as a file, but i think you can copy the table formatting directly from here.  If somebody can create a protected spp table by watershed, that would be great.  We dont need all GA watersheds, just those in the northern portion, listed below.  There's about 50 additional uncommon species that GA Natural Heritage Program tracks, but are not protected. 

 

Shortnose Sturgeon        Acipenser brevirostrum E              LE

Atlantic Sturgeon             Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus              E              LE

Tennessee Dace               Chrosomus tennesseensis            E             

Blue Shiner         Cyprinella caerulea          E              LT

Bluebarred Pygmy Sunfish           Elassoma okatie E             

Blackbanded Sunfish      Enneacanthus chaetodon             E             

Blotched Chub   Erimystax insignis             E             

Holiday Darter   Etheostoma brevirostrum            E             

Lipstick Darter   Etheostoma chuckwachatte        E             

Coldwater Darter             Etheostoma ditrema       E             

Etowah Darter   Etheostoma etowahae  E              LE

Trispot Darter    Etheostoma trisella         E             

Wounded Darter              Etheostoma vulneratum               E             

Stippled Studfish              Fundulus bifax   E             

Flame Chub        Hemitremia flammea     E             

Coosa Chub        Macrhybopsis etnieri      E             

Robust Redhorse             Moxostoma robustum   E             

Sicklefin Redhorse           Moxostoma sp. 2              E             

Popeye Shiner   Notropis ariommus         E             

Silver Shiner       Notropis photogenis       E             

Mountain Madtom          Noturus eleutherus        E             

Frecklebelly Madtom     Noturus munitus              E             

Amber Darter    Percina antesella              E              LE

Tangerine Darter              Percina aurantiaca           E             

Goldline Darter Percina aurolineata         E              LT

Conasauga Logperch       Percina jenkinsi E              LE

Bridled Darter    Percina kusha    E             

Freckled Darter Percina lenticula               E             

Olive Darter        Percina squamata            E             

Snail Darter        Percina tanasi    E              LT

Fatlips Minnow Phenacobius crassilabrum            E             

Southern Cavefish           Typhlichthys subterraneus           E             

Gulf Sturgeon    Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi     Ex          

Spotfin Chub      Erimonax monachus       Ex           LT

Ashy Darter        Etheostoma cinereum   Ex          

Yellowfin Madtom           Noturus flavipinnis          Ex          

River Darter        Percina shumardi             Ex          

Alabama Shad   Alosa alabamae T             

Altamaha Shiner               Cyprinella xaenura          T             

Greenfin Darter Etheostoma chlorobranchium    T             

Cherokee Darter              Etheostoma scotti            T              LT

Burrhead Shiner               Notropis asperifrons       T             

Halloween Darter             Percina crypta   T             

Stargazing Minnow         Phenacobius uranops     T             

Bluenose Shiner               Pteronotropis welaka     T

 

 

03060102 Tugaloo (Savannah)

03060104 Broad (Savannah)

03070101 Upper Oconee (Altamaha)

03070101 Upper Ocmulgee (Altamaha)

03130001 Upper Chattahoochee

03150104 Etowah (Coosa)

03150102 Coosawattee (Coosa)

03150101 Conasauga (Coosa)

06010202 Little Tennessee (Tenn)

06020002 Hiwassee (Tenn)

06020003 Toccoa (Tenn)

06020001 Chickamauga (Tenn)

[gerald]

North GA watershed map HUC-8.  Blue A = Atlanta.  Dashed line = SC/GA border

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•  HUCmap N-GA-2.jpg   259.67KB   0 downloads

[Ken Kilby]

I doubt anybody would want to drive out of their way for this but if you should happen to be driving though Helen, GA and notice Nora Mill there next to the river.  You might like to pull in and stretch your legs.  There are some massive trout there in the tail waters of the dam.  You can put a quarter in the machine and get some fish food to give them.  : )

[gerald]

Link to USGS Stream Gauges in Georgia:  https://waterwatch.u...ov/?m=real&r=ga

 

All gauged streams up north are currently running very high - hopefully they'll come down over the next week.   Hiwassee River gauge rose from 3.5 ft (normal baseflow) up to 11.5 ft on May 30, and is now down to 5.5 ft.  I'm guessing many chub nests were obliterated, and water clarity may be less than optimal. 

[gerald]

Rough overview map of the four field trip choices on Friday:

 

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•  FieldTrips OverviewMap.jpg   592.81KB   0 downloads

[Irate Mormon]

I doubt anybody would want to drive out of their way for this but if you should happen to be driving though Helen, GA and notice Nora Mill there next to the river.  You might like to pull in and stretch your legs.  There are some massive trout there in the tail waters of the dam.  You can put a quarter in the machine and get some fish food to give them.  : )

 

Is that where that pottery place is?  I'm pretty sure I've been there - the machine is on a balcony or elevated porch or something.  I counted over 40 trout there.

[Ken Kilby]

I dont remember seeing pottery there but could be. They do (or did) have excellent stone ground grits.

There is a winery across the road. Wine makes me think of terroir. The soil in that part of the state grows uniquely flavored and very delicious vegetables.

[mattknepley]

Link to USGS Stream Gauges in Georgia:  https://waterwatch.u...ov/?m=real&r=ga
 
All gauged streams up north are currently running very high - hopefully they'll come down over the next week.   Hiwassee River gauge rose from 3.5 ft (normal baseflow) up to 11.5 ft on May 30, and is now down to 5.5 ft.  I'm guessing many chub nests were obliterated, and water clarity may be less than optimal.

I was looking at waterdata.gov and some of the gauges in and around the field trip areas were reporting anywhere from six to nine inches of rain lately! https://waterdata.us...ite_no=02389150Some places were much less than that,but rainfall was indeed prodigious over a good chunk of north Georgia. I too am hoping water levels drop quickly. But if they don't, eh, so what? Beautiful scenery, extreme collecting, and lots of stories to exaggerate with like-minded fishophiles. Can't wait for Thursday!

[gerald]

Here's the current hydrograph at Nottely River in Blairsville; closest one to Young Harris i think.  It's coming down, gradually, and no wide-scale heavy rain is expected this coming week; just local thunderstorms.   The biggest rivers may still be higher than optimal when we get there, but the med-size and smaller streams should be good. 

Attached Files

•  Hydrog Nottelly R Blairsville 3jun18.png   5.29KB   0 downloads

[Akpinion]

Having a really hard time choosing a field trip for Friday since I know next to nothing about the area, but I'm guessing that any choice will be really neat. 

 

Edit: These maps are really helpful though