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Fox and Illinois Rivers 5-17-08

Started by Guest_teleost_* , May 18 2008 05:32 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_teleost_*

Guests

Posted 18 May 2008 - 05:32 PM

Mark, Jamie and I, went out yesterday to continue work on a photo project (and have a little fun in the water). We started in a suburban park that has a very small stream near it's entry into the Fox River. This site was interesting since it had relatively large rocks and unusually fast water in sections. Last weeks rain still had the streams much above normal and turbid.

Campostoma anomalum Central Stoneroller
Cyprinella spiloptera Spotfin Shiner
Lythrurus umbratilis Redfin Shiner
Nocomis biguttatus Hornyhead Chub
Notropis stramineus Sand Shiner
Pimephales notatus Bluntnose Minnow
Phenacobius mirabilis Suckermouth Minnow
Lepomis cyanellus Green Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth Bass
Etheostoma flabellare Fantail Darter
Etheostoma zonale Banded Darter

Notropis stramineus Sand Shiner

Etheostoma zonale Banded Darter

Phenacobius mirabilis Suckermouth Minnow

The single Phenacobius mirabilis we captured, was luckily a tuberculate male. The E. zonale aren't shabby either.

We then traveled several miles west to sample a small stream that also empties into the Fox River. We decided to sample the headwaters in hopes to avoid the water conditions. We had a good time at this site despite the high water.

Campostoma anomalum Central Stoneroller
Cyprinella spiloptera Spotfin Shiner
Phoxinus erythrogaster Southern Redbelly Dace
Lythrurus umbratilis Redfin Shiner
Pimephales notatus Bluntnose Minnow
Luxilus cornutus Common Shiner
Catostomus commersonii White Sucker
Etheostoma flabellare Fantail Darter
Etheostoma spectabile Orangethroat Darter

Catostomus commersonii White Sucker

Luxilus cornutus Common Shiner

Phoxinus erythrogaster Southern Redbelly Dace

Lythrurus umbratilis Redfin Shiner

Since we were close to the Rock River system, we decided to drive over and check it out. No fish were sampled from either headwater location so we decided to travel back east and south to a medium size stream in Grundy county near it's entry to the Illinois River. We did not escape the water conditions however this site was productive.

Campostoma anomalum Central Stoneroller
Cyprinella spiloptera Spotfin Shiner
Notropis hudsonius Lakes Spottail Shiner
Notropis stramineus Sand Shiner
Luxilus chrysocephalus Striped Shiner
Lythrurus umbratilis Redfin Shiner
Notemigonus crysoleucas Golden Shiner
Pimephales notatus Bluntnose Minnow
Semotilus atromaculatus Creek Chub
Carpiodes carpio River Carpsucker
Labidesthes sicculus Brook Silverside
Lepomis cyanellus Green Sunfish
Lepomis humilis Orangespotted Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass
Etheostoma nigrum Central Johnny Darter
Etheostoma zonale Banded Darter
Percina maculata Blackside Darter
Percina phoxocephala Slenderhead Darter

Campostoma anomalum Central Stoneroller

Carpiodes carpio River Carpsucker

Labidesthes sicculus Brook Silverside

Lepomis humilis Orangespotted Sunfish

Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth Bass

Notemigonus crysoleucas Golden Shiner

Pimephales notatus Bluntnose Minnow

I had a great time and can't wait to get out again.

#2 Guest_NateTessler13_*

Guests

Posted 18 May 2008 - 07:06 PM

Those P. mirabilis pictures are awesome! I've never seen a tuberculate male in all my times seeing those fish. Really cool. Oh, and I'll be going to the Chicagoland area this upcoming weekend. Let's fish the Vermillion, okay? Also, I notice you've gotten really good at getting rid of the shadows behind the fish as well! Good stuff.

Edited by NateTessler13, 18 May 2008 - 07:07 PM.

#3 Guest_teleost_*

Guests

Posted 18 May 2008 - 07:20 PM

Thanks Nate. If you'll be in town and want to head to the Vemilion, I'm in. I'll post something in the "Midwest section".

#4 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 18 May 2008 - 08:15 PM

Luxilus cornutus Common Shiner

That's when you know you are too cool for school... when you grow tubercules not just on your head, but on your whole face, even under your lower lip... cool fish... amazing photos Uland!

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#5 Guest_teleost_*

Guests

Posted 19 May 2008 - 08:43 AM

That's when you know you are too cool for school... when you grow tubercules not just on your head, but on your whole face, even under your lower lip... cool fish... amazing photos Uland!

I'll bet Mark will get a chuckle when he reads this. I was very excited to have such a robust male for photos. When I popped him in the photo tank, I said something like "Wow you guys gotta see this.....He has tubercles on his lower jaw!" I had to take a whole mess of photos to get one right. In fact I took over 800 photos on Saturday!

#6 Guest_airbrn1187_*

Guests

Posted 19 May 2008 - 01:10 PM

Ahh to say the least...he was like a child on Christmas morning.

This was the first site we went to.

And here is Uland poking the local fauna with a piece of grass!!!

#7 Guest_jase_*

Guests

Posted 19 May 2008 - 01:13 PM

Beautiful photos, Uland! Are those fish living or preserved?

-Jase

#8 Guest_teleost_*

Guests

Posted 19 May 2008 - 01:35 PM

Hey Mark, I'll bet you're happy with the new camera. Your photos look really nice.

Jase, All of my photos are of live fish. I honestly don't preserve fish to date unless for a specific request. An exception are Alosa chrysochloris which are probably technically alive at the time of photo but not for long :tongue:

My routine is simple....capture fish, place in bucket, photo near the car (or lug equipment streamside) and let the fish go.

I've included some shots of the common shiner in hand along with a pan shot of the common shiner site.

#9 Guest_natureman187_*

Guests

Posted 20 May 2008 - 12:20 AM

Uland! These are great.
I'm in decatur - if you get within an hour or so drive let me know!

#10 Guest_teleost_*

Guests

Posted 20 May 2008 - 08:19 AM

Uland! These are great.
I'm in decatur - if you get within an hour or so drive let me know!

Keep an eye on the "Midwest Section". Looks like we might get something together this Saturday for the Vermilion River (Illinois River drainage). I hope to have some other weekend trips a little closer to you this summer.