Got out for a quick trip through TN and KY this past week with a few forum members, Fritz Rohde(Fritz), Uland Thomas(Teleost), Brian and Julie Zimmerman(smbass), Dave Neely(daveneely) and Mark(itsme). Here's a list of species. I am sure that stories and pictures will follow.

Site 1

Lampetra appendix American brook lamprey
Campostoma anomalum Central stoneroller
Cyprinella spiloptera Spotfin shiner
Hybopsis amblops Bigeye chub
Luxilus chrysocephalus Striped shiner
L. coccogenis Warpaint shiner
Lythrurus lirus Mountain shiner
Nocomis micropogon River chub
Notropis leuciodus Tennessee shiner
N. spectrunculus Mirror shiner
Rhinichthys atratulus Blacknose dace
Hypentelium nigricans Northern hogsucker
Moxostoma breviceps Smallmouth redhorse
M. duquesnei Black redhorse
Cottus carolinae Banded sculpin
Lepomis auritus Redbreast
L. cyanellus Green sunfish
Ambloplites rupestris Rock bass
Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth bass
Salmo trutta Brown trout
Onchorhynchus mykiss Rainbow trout
Etheostoma blennioides Greenside darter
E. rufilineatum Redline darter
E. tennesseense Tennessee snubnose darter
E. zonale Banded darter
Percina caprodes Logperch
P. evides Gilt darter
P. tanasi Snail darter


Site 2

Ichthyomyzon castaneus Chestnut lamprey
Campostoma oligolepis Largescale stoneroller
Cyprinella caerulea Blue shiner
C. callistia Alabama shiner
C. trichroistia Tricolor shiner
C. venusta Blacktail shiner
C. spiloptera
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis asperifrons Burrhead shiner
N. stilbius Silverstripe shiner
N. xaenocephalus Coosa shiner
Phenacobius catostomus Riffle minnow
Hypentelium etowanum Alabama hogsucker
Moxostoma duquesnei
M. poecilurum Blacktail redhorse
Ameiurus natalis Yellow bullhead
Noturus leptacanthus Speckled madtom
Fundulus stellifer Southern studfish
Cottus carolinae
Ambloplites ariommus Shadow bass
Lepomis auritus
L. megalotis Longear sunfish
L. punctatus Spotted sunfish
Micropterus coosae Redeye bass
M. punctulatus Spotted bass
Etheostoma coosae Coosa darter
E. jordani Greenbreast darter
E. rupestre Rock darter
E. stigmaeum Speckled darter
Percina nigrofasciata Blackbanded darter
P. palmaris Bronze darter
P. kathae Mobile logperch
P. kusha Bridled darter
Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater drum


Site 3

Semotilus atromaculatus Creek chub
Campostoma oligolepis
Cyprinella callistia
C. trichroistia
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis chrosomus Rainbow shiner
Fundulus stellifer
Cottus carolinae
Lepomis megalotis
Micropterus coosae
Etheostoma coosae
Percina nigrofasciata


Site 4

Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella galactura Whitetail shiner
Erimystax insignis Blotched chub
Hybopsis amblops
Luxilus chrysocephalus
L. coccogenis
Lythrurus lirus
Nocomis micropogon
Notropis leuciodus
N. photogenis Silver shiner
N. micropteryx Highland shiner
N. stramineus Sand shiner
N. telescopus Telescope shiner
N. volucellus Mimic shiner
Phenacobius uranops Stargazing minnow
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma carinatum River redhorse
M. duquesnei
Fundulus catenatus Northern studfish
Cottus carolinae
Ambloplites rupestris
Micropterus punctulatus
Etheostoma blennioides
E. camurum Bluebreast darter
E. rufilineatum
E. tenneseense
E. zonale
Percina aurantiaca Tangerine darter
P. williamsi Sickle darter


Site 5

Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella galactura
Notropis telescopus
Luxilus chrysocehpalus
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma erythrurum Golden redhorse
Cottus carolinae
Etheostoma blennioides
E. tenneseense


Site 6

Phoxinus tenneseensis Tennessee dace
Rhinichthys atratulus
Semotilus atromaculatus


Site 7

Campostoma anomalum
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Cyprinella galactura
Notropis telescopus
Erimonax monacha Spotfin chub
Percina caprodes
P. aurantiaca
Etheostoma vulneratum Wounded darter
E. blennioides
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
L. auritus
L. megalotis
L. cyanellus
Micropterus dolomieu
M. punctulatus
Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad
Aplodinotus grunniens


Site 8

Campostoma anomalum
Notropis micropteryx
N. volucellus
Pimephales notatus Bluntnose minnow
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Hypentelium nigricans
Ambloplites rupestris
Lepomis megalotis
Etheostoma camurum
E. cinereum Ashy darter
E. sanguifluum Bloodfin darter
E. blennioides
Percina maculata Blackside darter


Site 9

Semotilus atromaculatus
Etheostoma kennicotti Stripetail darter
Pimephales notatus
Lepomis cyanellus
L. auritus
Percina maculata


Site 10

Campostoma anomalum
Semotilus atromaculatus
Notropis micropteryx
Hypentelium nigricans
Lepomis auritus
Ambloplites rupestris
Micropterus punctulatus
Etheostoma baileyi Emerald darter
E. kennicotti
E. sagitta Arrow darter
E. caeruleum Rainbow darter
E. blennioides


Site 11

Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella spiloptera
Semotilus atromaculatus
Erimystax dissimilis Streamline chub
Nocomis micropogon
Notropis stamineus
N. volucellus
N. rubellus Rosyface shiner
N. photogenis
N. atherinoides Emerald shiner
N. buccata Silverjaw minnow
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Hybopsis amblops
Pimephales notatus
Catostomus commersoni White sucker
Moxostoma carinatum
M. breviceps
M. duquesnei
M. erythrurum
Hypentelium nigricans
Esox masquinongy Muskellunge
Lepomis megalotis
Ambloplites rupestris
Micropterus dolomieu
M. punctulatus
Ammocrypta pallucida Eastern sand darter
Etheostoma baileyi
E. blennioides
E. camurum
E. caeruleum
E. variatum Variegate darter
E. nigrum Johnny darter
E. flabellare Fantail darter
E. tippecanoe Tippecanoe darter
E. zonale
Percina sciera Dusky darter
P. evides
P. caprodes
P. copelandi Channel darter
Noturus eleuthurus Mountain madtom


Site 12

Campostoma anomalum
Semotilus atromaculata
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis buccata
Phoxinus erythrogaster Southern redbelly dace
Pimephales notatus
Catostomus commersoni
Hypentelium nigricans
Etheostoma caeruleum
E. spilotum Kentucky arrow darter(not sure of common name)
E. flabellare


Site 13

Ichthyomyzon bdellium Ohio brook lamprey
Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella whipplei Steelcolor shiner
Hybopsis amblops
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Nocomis micropogon
Notropis rubellus
N. buccata
N. stamineus
Pimephales notatus
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma erythrurum
M. carinatum
Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish
Ambloplites rupestris
L. macrochirus
L. cyanellus
L. megalotis
L. megalotis x cyanellus
Micropterus dolomieu
M. punctulatus
Etheostoma baileyi
E. blennioides
E. caeruleum
E. zonale
E. flabellare
E. nigrum
E. variatum
Percina caprodes


Site 14

Ichthyomyzon bdellium
Campostoma cf. oligolepis
Cyprinella spiloptera
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Nocomis micropogon
Notropis rubellus
N. volucellus
N. photogenis
N. ariommus Popeye shiner
Pimephales notatus
Cottus carolinae
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma duquesnei
Labidesthes sicculus Brook silverside
Fundulus catenatus
Ambloplites rupestris
Lepomis megalotis
Micropterus dolomieu
Etheostoma sanguifluum
E. blennioides
E. camurum
E. caeruleum
E. nigrum
E. cinereum
E. zonale
E. stigmaeum
Percina caprodes


Site 15

Campostoma cf. oligolepis
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis buccata
Pimephales notatus
Semotilus atromaculatus
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma erythrurum
Fundulus catenatus
Cottus carolinae
Lepomis megalotis
Ambloplites rupestris
Etheostoma caeruleum
E. blennioides
E. virgatum Striped darter
E. stigmaeum
Percina maculata


Site 16

Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella spiloptera
Lythrurus fasciolaris
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Hybopsis amblops
Nocomis micropogon
Notropis rubellus
N. volucellus
Pimephales notatus
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma erythrurum
M. duquesnei
Minytrema melanops Spotted sucker
Ameiurus natalis
A. melas Black bullhead
Cottus carolinae
Fundulus catenatus
Ambloplites rupestris
Lepomis megalotis
L. macrochirus
Micropterus salmoides Largemouth bass
M. dolomieu
Etheostoma bellum Orangefin darter
E. rafinesquei Kentucky snubnose darter
E. blennioides
E. zonale
E. cf. stigmaeum Bluegrass darter
E. caeruleum
Percina macrocephala Longhead darter
P. stictogaster Frecklebelly darter
P. caprodes
Snapping turtle


Site 17

Cyprinus carpio Common carp
Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella spiloptera
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis rubellus
N. photogenis
Pimephales notatus
Semotilus atromaculatus
Lythrurus fasciolaris Scarlet shiner
Hypentelium nigricans
Moxostoma erythrurum
Thoburnia atripinne Blackfin sucker
Ameiurus natalis
A. melas
Fundulus catenatus
Onchorhynchus mykiss
Cottus carolinae
Ambloplites rupestris
Lepomis megalotis
L. macrochirus
L. cyanellus
Micropterus punctulatus
M. salmoides
Etheostoma bellum
E. caeruleum
E. barrenense Splendid darter
E. blennioides
E. zonale
Percina caprodes


Site 18

Forbesichthys agassizi Spring cave fish
Campostoma anomalum
Semotilus atromaculatus
Lepomis cyanellus
L. megalotis


Site 19

Campostoma anomalum
Cyprinella spiloptera
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis rubellus
Pimephales notatus
Lythrurus fasciolaris
Hypentelium nigricans
Noturus elegans Elegant madtom
Fundulus catenatus
Cottus carolinae
Ambloplites rupestris
Micropterus dolomieu
Etheostoma bellum
E. caeruleum
E. lawrencei
E. barrenense
E. blennioides
E. zonale
Percina stictogaster
Map turtle



Site 20

Campostoma anomalum
Pimephales notatus
Gambusia affinis Western mosquitofish
Lepomis cyanellus
L. macrochirus
Etheostoma nigripinne Blackfin darter
E. luteovinctum Redband darter
E. blennioides
Cottus carolinae
Micropterus punctulatus


Site 21

Campostoma cf. oligolepis
Cyprinella galactura
Hybopsis amblops
Lythrurus lirus
Notropis volucellus
Pimephales notatus
Fundulus olivaceous
Lepomis macrochirus
L. megalotis
Micropterus dolomieu
M. punculatus
Labidesthes sicculus
Etheostoma aquali Coppercheek darter
E. blennioides
E. zonale
E. denoncourti Golden darter
E. flavum Saffron darter


Site 22

Lepisosteus osseus Longnose gar
Campostoma cf. oligolepis
Cyprinella glactura
Hybopsis amblops
Erimystax insignis
Lythrurus lirus
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Notropis ariommus
N. micropteryx
N. sp. Sawfin shiner
N. telescopus
N. volucellus
Pimephales notatus
Moxostoma carinatum
Hypentelium nigricans
Lepomis megalotis
L. macrochirus
Micropterus punctulatus
Labidesthes sicculus
Etheostoma aquali
E. blennioides
E. flavum
E. denoncourti
E. zonale
E. cf. stigmaeum Clown darter
E. blennius Blenny darter
E. rufilineatum
Percina caprodes


Site 23

Campostoma cf. oligolepis
Hybopsis amblops
Luxilus chrysocephlus
Lythrurus fasciolaris
Pimephales notatus
Fundulus catenatus
Lepomis macrochirus
L. megalotis
L. cyanellus
Cottus carolinae
E. blennioides
E. crossopterum Fringed darter
E. planisaxatile Duck darter
E. striatulum Striated darter
E. caeruleum
E. flavum
Spiny softshell turtle


Site 24

Phoxinus erythrogaster
Rhinichthys atratulum
Cottus carolinae

What a trip! I don't think I'll ever be able to top the number of fishes I was able to see for the first time or the number of photos I was able to take. I've already deleted some mediocre photos and still have over 5000 to sort through. I'll begin posting them next week.

I'm deeply indebted to all who attended and allowed me to photo so many fishes. I really enjoyed the time in and out of the water with such nice people.

I forgot to add. I think we ended the trip with about 136 total species, 104 of those were in TN.

How big of a nerd does it make me that I know most of your general locations/drainages if not within a few miles based on the fish you caught. Well and that I've probably been to some of those sites or they may have been info I gave Fritz. Awesome list. You basically summed up the greatest two years of my aquatic life in a week. Man do I miss it...gotta get back or on a trip sometime soon.

Hope you guys enjoyed that cold cold water at site 1

What the heck is E. planisaxatile?

Hope you guys enjoyed that cold cold water at site 1

What the heck is E. planisaxatile?

Yeah, I wish I could have stood to snorkel it. Wonderful diversity but freezing cold.

planisaxatile is the Duck darter, one of the new snubnose splits. And thanks for the spots. They were great.

Ah okay...haven't committed that one to memory but I remeber that troublesome little devil. Todd and I kept going this isn't a snub, its not a black, it's both, but it can't be either!

I had to wear a two seperate 7 mm pieces and a hood to bear it during June and Even after an hour or so I was definately hypothermic and needed a good 15 minute bask on the rocks before I went back under. In the heat of late August I needed my knee length 7 mm top and hood. But the visibility is awesome and you see some great things (like 50+ logperch rolling rocks like a heard of cattle) or those nice mixed schools of colored up minnows. Glad you guys and gal could enjoy the experience.

It took a northerner like me to brave that cold water for a snorkel! It was crazy how you could actually see a wall unerwater from sitting inside the mouth of the much warmer trib... Almost like it just wouldn't mix because of the huge change in temps, it was cold but well worth the breif swim out into the crystal clear freeze! those guilt darters were absolutely everywhere!

See us Ohio boys can take it. I broke Brian in with those mussel dives with 3 inches of visibility. Yeah it's pretty great how abundant the gilts are there, all beefy and fired up! Doesn't sound like you guys got upstream enough to see any burtoni but interesting you were still seeing trout because I can't remeber seeing more than a few.

Awesome trip guys. I had a lot of fun guessing the sites (if not, just the stream). I look forward to the pictures!

No P. jenkinsi at Site 2?

Did you guys shock too? Or was this all seines and snorkels?

I need to spend a whole week there in the area of Site 4 (or Site 2 for that matter lol). I could spend that entire time at 4 just looking at mussels. I hope you guys at least stopped for a moment and paid homage to the richest unionid mussel bed in the world

Todd

I'm envious!
I hope someday I'll find a way to get down there for a trip like that.

Um, I probably shouldn't bring this up, I hate to "dumb down" the forum, but I only recognize maybe 25% of the scientific names. Photos might give me another 25 - 50%. I know it would be a lot of typing in such a long list, but is it possible in future posts to add a common name?
Go easy on me, I'm just an undeducated shmuck.

Edited by mikez, 20 June 2008 - 08:45 PM.

Was Site 3 in the Conasauga drainage, with both Notropis chrosomus and Fundulus stellifer? A big clue for guessing the sites' locations is whether F. stellifer or F. catenatus is present. And the one species I looked closely for that wasn't there is the flame chub, Hemitremia flammea. But yeah, that's a pretty wide-ranging trip.

Was Site 3 in the Conasauga drainage, with both Notropis chrosomus and Fundulus stellifer? A big clue for guessing the sites' locations is whether F. stellifer or F. catenatus is present. And the one species I looked closely for that wasn't there is the flame chub, Hemitremia flammea. But yeah, that's a pretty wide-ranging trip.

Yes, it was. We looked for the flame chub on the last day, but were unsuccessful. We frankly didn't give it much of a try since we were a little tired and had a long ride ahead of us.

Yes, it was. We looked for the flame chub on the last day, but were unsuccessful. We frankly didn't give it much of a try since we were a little tired and had a long ride ahead of us.

I don't know why, but often when we've found flame chubs it's after two hours of seining at a site and one or two individuals appear. That's one aspect of being rare, I guess.

Awesome trip guys. I had a lot of fun guessing the sites (if not, just the stream). I look forward to the pictures!

No P. jenkinsi at Site 2?

Did you guys shock too? Or was this all seines and snorkels?

I need to spend a whole week there in the area of Site 4 (or Site 2 for that matter lol). I could spend that entire time at 4 just looking at mussels. I hope you guys at least stopped for a moment and paid homage to the richest unionid mussel bed in the world

Todd

We didn't see any P. jenkinsi. I'm not sure how abundant they are and we were only on a relatively small stretch of river. We did shock for most of the trip as well as snorkel and seine.

Um, I probably shouldn't bring this up, I hate to "dumb down" the forum, but I only recognize maybe 25% of the scientific names. Photos might give me another 25 - 50%. I know it would be a lot of typing in such a long list, but is it possible in future posts to add a common name?

Filled this in for you Mike. It was a long list and a work in progress. Hope this helps.

We didn't see any P. jenkinsi. I'm not sure how abundant they are and we were only on a relatively small stretch of river. We did shock for most of the trip as well as snorkel and seine.

They're extremely rare, best seen snorkelling or using a view bucket, which the clarity of the water allows for. But you were in a good place to run into them. Casper has seen them about every 4th trip, but the Feds have said their numbers are diminishing even still.

I just noticed you didn't pick up any P. burtoni either. That's another I haven't run across, but they tell me they're thick as mud in the lower Duck and Buffalo.

Too cool you got to see Thoburnia (another missing from my life list). I expect a picture Uland!

Good stuff.

Todd

They're extremely rare, best seen snorkelling or using a view bucket, which the clarity of the water allows for. But you were in a good place to run into them. Casper has seen them about every 4th trip, but the Feds have said their numbers are diminishing even still.

I just noticed you didn't pick up any P. burtoni either. That's another I haven't run across, but they tell me they're thick as mud in the lower Duck and Buffalo.

Too cool you got to see Thoburnia (another missing from my life list). I expect a picture Uland!

Good stuff.

Todd

Dustin called it a quick trip but that's not how I remember it. After the first day we covered a lot of ground (I drove over 2000 miles overall). Since I'm vain and egotistical, I want to point out that the Stud Collector (Neely) and the gang of 3 (Dustin, Uland, and Mark) were unable to get a Thoburnia. BUT the Old Guy did.

Edited by fritz, 22 June 2008 - 04:44 PM.

Awesome trip guys. I had a lot of fun guessing the sites (if not, just the stream). I look forward to the pictures!

No P. jenkinsi at Site 2?

Did you guys shock too? Or was this all seines and snorkels?

I need to spend a whole week there in the area of Site 4 (or Site 2 for that matter lol). I could spend that entire time at 4 just looking at mussels. I hope you guys at least stopped for a moment and paid homage to the richest unionid mussel bed in the world

Todd

We did not shock at every site, especially 7 (snorkel only) and 21 and 22. At 21, the Nature Conservancy was filming a segment on the aquatic diversity in that river, esp the mussels, to be shown in chain motels in the area. They were quite excited to see the cool fish that we got there. We only worked (seined) from the dam down towards the launch area.

BUT the Old Guy did.

There's a lot of Old Guys. There's only one Mr. "We're wasting day-light."

Here's a teaser: