SFC 2018 Hickory Knob, SC
NANFA Table. This year's SFC host allowed Michael and i to promote NANFA and offer NANFA goods, adding a good bit to our treasury. The 2nd day we displayed issues of American Currents on the table. A lot of students were seemingly unaware of NANFA. Next year the SFC meeting will be in Knoxville, TN about the same time in November so plans are already being made.
The view from way back. It was nice to be able to listen to the many presentations. Of particular interest to me were discussions of Snail and Amber Darters, Laurel Dace and a bit on Blackbanded Darters.
The SFC attendees... 157 at one count. About half were students, many of whom made presentations and or posters. Of these traveling students quite a few received awards and financial aid for their efforts.
We had a buffet meal Thursday night followed by a auction reminiscent but louder than NANFA's. Friday night we enjoyed a bonfire down by the lake as the rain reduced to a mist.
Fall colors, a first sunny glimpse after Friday's long rain. The view is from a bridge constructed by the SC Army National Guard's 122nd Engineers. Near the Long Cane Massacre Site.
Shock & Seine team being Michael, visiting SC Matt K, and lead shocker SC DNR's Drew and his boss Mark. Matt K keeping his distance in shorts. The water was higher than typical after a rain, but is usually a bit clear and with a firm substrate.
Ryan watching his line in the muddy water.
Too muddy and cold for me so i worked at photographing the catch. Green, Yellowfin and Redear.
Aint sure. We kept a list though. Perhaps Michael will post from his notes.
Funny nose on this one.
Ryan added a Wiper to the list. IDed by the wavy pattern beyond the gills, thus making it a Hybrid Bass.
And he added a pair of black whiskered Channel Cats. They were attractive trimmed in black.
Blackbanded Darter.
About 1 pm the DNR fellas headed home so we 3 headed east 1.5 hours to meet up with a pair of dippers, CFI's Derek and Evan working their 4th site. Note the high beaver dam in the distance, making for a very attractive site beneath a blue sky. The duo persistently worked the site for a couple more hours netting many interesting fishes, of most interest to me were the Blackbanded Sunfish. It was somewhat clear enough to snorkel but after the "Falling Back" time change, the fading afternoon mixed with a chilly wind i was somewhat content to watch from the bank. And then there is the beaver feces to consider.
Mudminnow. We had 17 species at our first site and noted 15 here, with only 2 overlapping so Michael, Ryan and i viewed 30 species this day. Ryan continued to add species to the list with nicely colored Golden Shiners. Derek and Evan perhaps had more species having netted several sites prior that morning.
But the day was not quite over...
NANFA Youtube Channel 
