Stonerollers have an interesting history in several of the eastern Tennessee counties, as Newt mentioned above. Local people prefer catching and eating them to trout, and are very protective of good stoneroller streams. In particular there were some problems with commercial bait collectors overharvesting stonerollers for bait, which I think is what lead to very specific mention of stonerollers in those counties.

You are exactly correct Bruce.

They don't taste that bad from the plateau, not as good as sclupin though

The ambiguity isn't the only problem and that is big enough in it's own right, the fact is many TWRA field officers (and this is countrywide) can't identify the more imperiled non-game fish in their region. It's just not their top priorities; gamefish, deer, turkey, in no particular order, is what they are worried about. I can't say for certain but my understanding is that most in-state schools curricula for a fish and wildlife degree or management position also does not require them to take ichthyology. One of the more friendly officers I met down in Sequatchie County along the Sequatchie River was insistant that he had never heard snail darters were in the river or were ever in the river. I found one the day before and was at a spot Dave Neely had collected them on two seperate occassions recently. I even happened to have the USFWS recovery plan in the vehicle that day and showed him and he might have then been 98% sure I was correct.

Bottom line. Do not even think about pulling out a net in the National park. I have seen the rangers there harrass a fisherman that was simply lifting rocks to look at caddis. The ranger was certain he was collecting live bait. You would have a heck of a time explaining an 8 foot seine.

Skipjack's advice is best... Don't even think about it in the National Park. I think the Little River is still a trout stream too, until the 321 bridge at Townsend. You should check into that as well. When I'm going into an area that has potential for trout, I highlight the stream segments that are trout waters. It helps you see where is off-limits, and if someone confronts you, you can show them the map.

Well that is one of the newer sites where they've popped up, so I wouldn't hold them to it like they're ignorant about that.

But seriously... What's in the State Code is made for abuses of wildlife, so they can prosecute someone who's running an illegal game farm, poaching operation, etc. AND they want people who are selling wildlife to have dealer liscences and be regulated. I think this is the sum total of the "discrepantcy".

If you're worried about getting in trouble... Please. Don't do anything. I'm not trying to encourage people to get themselves in trouble. But so far as I know, the only states you can get yourself in trouble for removing fish in a live condition from a body of water is Wisconsin and the Draconian Western States.

Todd

In the GSMNP you cannot collect any living thing.

Technically you can be arrested for leaving the park with a leaf on your windshield of your motorized conveyance.

Be sure to clean any plants or plant parts off any vehicle before you leave the park.

In the GSMNP you cannot collect any living thing.

Well, unless it's a trout. Which is a shame, really; more damage has been done to the park's waterways (up to and including mass rotenoning of large stream segments) for the sake of trout than could be caused by all the native fish enthusiasts in the country raiding those streams.

I believe there are also boar hunts (more like organized extermination attempts) within the park, but I'm not sure how one becomes involved with that.

Well, unless it's a trout. Which is a shame, really; more damage has been done to the park's waterways (up to and including mass rotenoning of large stream segments) for the sake of trout than could be caused by all the native fish enthusiasts in the country raiding those streams.

I believe there are also boar hunts (more like organized extermination attempts) within the park, but I'm not sure how one becomes involved with that.

Okay I forgot you can harvest:

Trout
Rock Bass
Smallmouth bass

Well the collections were mostly a bust. Being pressed for time on the last day of my trip, I was only able to go to one location in Pigeon Forge. Due to the torrential rain a few days before, the bigger creeks were too flooded, and the smaller one smelled like poo. I did get some Northern Studfish samples I'm passing on to Marc K. for genetic comparison with the invasive population near Xenia. Got a couple of Tennessee Snubnose Darters which I had never seen, and a couple of other things. Really nothing to write home about. The hiking and camping however were outstanding. Beautiful area!