Well, I got a permit to do some collecting in the only clear, riffley, shallow river I can find in my area. It is the only place I have ever seen darters around here. I used to catch them and toss them back, because I was always after other things. Not this time. For the first time ever, I am setting up a darter tank. So this weekend is hopefully going to be my lucky break.

Here is a list of targeted species:

Iowa Darter (E. caeruleum)
Johnny Darter (E. nigrum)
Blackside Darter (P. maculata)
River Darter (P. shumardi)

Those are the only darters in manitoba (except logperch, but I doubt they will be this far west)
I know I have really drab darters out here, but they are a real neat fish, so wish me luck!

Attention other forum Members from Manitoba: If you know of darter locations, I'm open for trading.

Look for pictures after the weekend!

awesome!!!! good luck!

Good luck, Burbot!

Brian

Good luck in your effort, I hope you catch some. Also, good luck not getting addicted to collecting darters.

Pictures to come...

Alrighty, I found some small johnny darters, and a nice size blackside. I chased a big darter for the longest time but he disappeared before I could ID him. Dang. Wow, I am hooked! I want more darters! And I need a bigger darter tank, hopefully a 25 long this week! I will talk more about the trip once I upload the pictures. It was awesome. I tried my new seine and WOW! what was I using a dipnet for all my life???? I seriously had about 30 yellow perch in one pass with it!

stay tuned...

looking forward to it

Congratulations! Darters have such great personalities, it's okay if they aren't brightly colored. Blacksides especially are some of my favorites.

Well first off the bad news: I forgot my camera when I went collecting. That means no pictures of my seine writhing with vast amounts of perch and common shiners (hundreds), nor a common carp that we saw that had 3 lampreys attached to it, all around 12 inches. I didn't catch the carp, but it was quite a sight. My friend also found a big ol' snapper on the bottom.

Species:

Perca flavescens - hundreds 3-6 inch range
Ambloplites rupestris - a few yoy, and some large ones by angling, nothing like what the spot usually has
Esox lucius - numerous from 5-12 inches, several big ones in the shallows including one that took a shiner from right in front of me!
Catostomus commersonii - a few around the 3 inch mark
Notropis cornutus - hundreds netted, some were (to borrow bumpylemon's line) HUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGEE!
Percopsis omiscomaycus - a nice surprise to find these guys schooling with the common shiners, my first encounter with them
[attachment=9277:Troutperch 1.JPG]
[attachment=9278:Troutperch 3.JPG]
[attachment=9279:Troutperch 4.JPG]
Etheostoma nigrum - a few little guys
Percina maculata - a few (i believe the big one I was chasing was one of these)

I plan on returning again and getting photos of the area and of the fish. The pictures I posted now are the fish I brought home. I love my blackside! He is like a little lizard creeping around and turning his head. I wish I lived in an area with more than 4 species of darters. Lucky americans. I have to say that I am going to set up a new darter tank ASAP and get more! I only brought back 2 as a test drive, in case it wouldn't work out.

my darters...
[attachment=9280:Blackside Darter 2.JPG]
[attachment=9281:Blackside Darter 3.JPG]
[attachment=9282:Johnny Darter.JPG]

awesome story. im glad you got to see HHHHUUUGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE shiners! that must have been some sight seeing the lampreys on the carp. i like the blackside darter.

Looks like you did well out there with a decent variety, Nice going!