Dustin, Fritz, Laura, Derek, and myself headed out Saturday to sample the Virginia section of the Roanoke drainage. All sampling in the VA section was done with seines or dipnets. Thanks to Fritz and Dustin for maintaining the fish list.

Dustin and Fritz were early and we were late to the first site, so the first list is all them...

Banister River - site 1
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - abundant
Nocomis species - common
Notropis hudsonius, Spottail shiner - one
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - several
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - one
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Lepomis cyanellus, Green sunfish - several
Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill - several
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - common
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - abundant

Since we were late, we just moved on to another spot. Our target for this area was Roanoke bass, but we had no such luck.

Banister River - site 2
Campostoma anomalum pullum, Central stoneroller - one
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - common
Nocomis species - common
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - several
Esox niger, Chain pickerel - one
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - common
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill - one
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - several
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - abundant
Percina nevisense, Chainback darter - two

We made one more stop before heading southwest towards the Dan River sections.

Pigg River
Campostoma anomalum pullum, Central stoneroller - several
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - common
Nocomis species - common
Notropis hudsonius, Spottail shiner - common
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - several
Moxostoma cervinum, Blacktip jumprock - two
Moxostoma erythrurum, Golden redhorse - several
Moxostoma pappillosum, V-lip redhorse - several
Hypentelium nigricans, Northern hog sucker - several
Catostomus commersonii, White sucker - one
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - common
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Micropterus salmoides, Largemouth bass - one
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - common
Etheostoma podostemone, Riverweed darter - common
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - abundant
Percina nevisense, Chainback darter - two

We then took off and drove down to the South Fork Mayo River.

South Fork Mayo River
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - several
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - abundant
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - abundant
Micropterus dolomieu, Smallmouth bass - one
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - common

With enough sunlight left, we located another spot...

Anglin Branch and South Fork Mayo River
Clinostomus funduloides, Rosyside dace - abundant
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - common
Nocomis species - common
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - several
Notropis chiliticus, Redlip shiner - common
Phoxinus oreas, Mountain redbelly dace - common
Semotilus atromaculatus, Creek chub - one
Percina roanoka, Roanoke hog sucker - two
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - several
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - several
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - several

Laura had to head back home Saturday night and had a looong drive home. Thanks Laura for coming out with us. Work on getting that tank setup.

We crashed in Martinsville, VA for the night and head out early the next morning to hit a spot before joining the NC group.

Little Dan River
Campostoma anomalum pullum, Central stoneroller - several
Clinostomus funduloides, Rosyside dace - abundant
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - abundant
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - abundant
Nocomis leptocephalus, Bluehead chub - several
Notropis chiliticus, Redlip shiner - abundant
Phoxinus oreas, Mountain redbelly dace - several
Percina roanoka, Roanoke hog sucker - several
Cottus caeruleomentum, Blue ridge sculpin - several
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - two
Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill - two
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - several
Etheostoma podostemone, Riverweed darter - common
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter- several
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - several

We hit the road, crossed the border and headed to Danbury, NC. Here we met John Patterson and son, Gerald and daughter, Jeff Mette, Diana Walstad, and Valley. As Gerald stated here, Dan River drainage trip, a group of us worked with a backpack shocker while the others seined. The following results were obtained with the shocker.

Dan River at Danbury
Campostoma anomalum pullum, Central stoneroller - several
Clinostomus funduloides, Rosyside dace - common
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner shiner - abundant
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - abundant
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - abundant
Nocomis leptocephalus, Bluehead chub - common
Nocomis species - common
Moxostoma cervinum, Blacktip jumprock - two
Hypentelium nigricans, Northern hog sucker - several
Moxostoma pappillosum, V-lip redhorse - several
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - common
Ameiurus brunneus, Snail bullhead - several
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - several
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - abundant
Percina nevisense, Chainback darter - two

Dan River at NC 704
Campostoma anomalum pullum, Central stoneroller - several
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner shiner - abundant
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - abundant
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - common
Nocomis species - common
Notropis chiliticus, Redlip shiner - common
Exoglossum maxillingua, Cutlips minnow - one
Percina roanoka, Roanoke hog sucker - several
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - common (spotted form)
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma podostemone, Riverweed darter - several
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - abundant
Percina nevisense, Chainback darter - one

Mayo River at Anglin Mill Road
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner shiner - common
Luxilus albeolus, White shiner - common
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - common
Nocomis raneyi, Bull chub - common
Notropis procne, Swallowtail shiner - common
Moxostoma erythrurum, Golden redhorse - one
Moxostoma pappillosum, V-lip redhorse - several
Hypentelium nigricans, Northern hog sucker - several
Percina roanoka, Roanoke hog sucker - several
Noturus insignis, Margined madtom - several
Ameiurus brunneus, Snail bullhead - several
Ambloplites rupestris, Rock bass - one
Lepomis auritus, Redbreast sunfish - several
Micropterus dolomieu, Smallmouth bass - several
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - common
Etheostoma flabellare humerale, Chesapeake fantail darter - common
Etheostoma podostemone, Riverweed darter - common
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common
Percina roanoka, Roanoke darter - common

On the way out of town, we made a quick stop at another location. John P and son, Dustin and Derek used a seine here.

Pawpaw Creek
Clinostomus funduloides, Rosyside dace- common
Cyprinella analostana, Satinfin shiner - common
Luxilus cerasinus, Crescent shiner - abundant
Lythrurus ardens, Rosefin shiner - abundant
Nocomis species - common
Notemigonus crysoleucas, Golden shiner - one
Notropis chiliticus, Redlip shiner - abundant
Phoxinus oreas, Mountain redbelly dace - several
Semotilus atromaculatus, Creek chub - one
Percina roanoka, Roanoke hog sucker - several
Moxostoma pappillosum, V-lip redhorse - several
Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny darter - common
Etheostoma vitreum, Glassy darter - common

We all headed our separate ways after here. Thanks to everyone for a great weekend even if we did get rained on a couple of times.

What an impressive species list. You guys must have had a really great time catching all these fish. I recently drove through Virgina and North Carolina and was looking at all the rivers that ran under the interstate and told myself I need to plan my trips to the Outer Banks so that I can stop and fish these rivers a little bit. Thanks for fueling that fire

We forgot to mention the large number of Hispanics that we collected at the park in Danbury. One young man was impressed with the el gato we gave him (margined madtom). Quite a festive place.

Great list! Its sounds like that was one nice, long, fun day in the water.

one heck of a list. is that a record?

Actually kind of puny list compared to last years trip through TN and KY - 136 species/104 in TN alone.

It was disappointing that we did not get three of our target endemic fishes: bigeye jumprock, rustyside sucker and orangefin madtom. The latter two are rare but I'm bummed about the bigeye since I've always been able to collect it.

We caught a lot of fishes in terms of quantity but not diversity. If we had jumped drainages, say the New and/or Tennessee, it would have greatly increased our species count. We could have also picked up a few more species if we had gone further east.

We were stubborn and wanted to find those endemics. Maybe next time Fritz.