I went out Saturday morning to the West Prong Little Pigeon. The water was cold, fast, and deep however it was a decent trip. At this location I found:
1. Warpaint Shiner
2. Saffron Shiner
3. TN Snubnose Darter
4. Swannanoa Darter
5. Female Redline Darter
This wasn't the great find I was hoping for, but I guess it's not bad considering the deep fast moving water.
I left there and hit Walden Creek, that runs behind Kroger. At this location I found:
1. Several female Redlines
2. Two male Redlines
After I collected here, I ran in Kroger for something and when I came back out there was a hunter green SUV parked next to me with a light bar on top. I thought for sure somebody call the game wardon. The man had a police type uniform on, but he never said anything to me. Once I got in my car, I realized the SUV didn't have any markings or stickers of anything on it. But I thought for sure somebody call The Man.
The next day I sampled the West Prong again, further downstream behind our hotel. I didn't find much here, just TN Snubnoses. However, it was at this location that I nearly drowned. I crossed the main flow of the river onto a raised rock bed. Where I crossed was about 2 1/2 feet deep and very very fast. When I crossed back over to go back to the hotel I decided to cross at a deeper but slower moving part of the river. I got into the middle of it, roughly 4 feet deep (the water was at the bottom of my stomach and I'm 6'1) and I realized that the water was much faster than it looked. I lost my footing and was swept away for about 15-20 feet down the river underwater. I managed to come up and leap to the bank. Anyways, don't always take the water for what it is, and it's a good idea to have a friend with you in deep water.
To conclude, it was a decent trip. I wish that the water was down and the collecting would have been better, but I'm satisfied with the trip. I hope to go back this fall when the water is down. Okay, time for the pics.
Redline Darter (the best looking one I've ever seen)




Snubnose Darter



Swannanoa Darter

