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Blue shiner in full breeding color, does one exist


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#1 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 23 August 2021 - 02:34 PM

Back in the 1980's I did some sampling in the Conasauga river I believe,  The blue shiners were in full spawning mode and I can't find a photo even close to the color and intensity of those specimens.  The males entire bodies were  a deep sky blue so intense the commonly seen pink line didn't even show,  all fins were  vivid yellow. They were not near as deep bodied as fieryblacks or Alabama shiners and many of the males were 5 - 6 inches long.  They were fast, literally blue streaks but then again they are Cyprinella.  I'm preparing a presentation on Cyprinella and would like to include a photo or video worthy of this species beauty.  Is there any out there?  If not I'd be glad to join in an expedition next spring to get some...photos or videos that is (federally protected).  I'd be the guy that runs for the drinks, snacks or towels for you talented ones.   Seriously let me know on either front. 


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#2 trygon

trygon
  • NANFA Member
  • Knoxville, Tennessee

Posted 24 August 2021 - 09:07 AM

Mike,

I saw a couple of post spawn individuals there this past spring, but didn't get any photos.  I'm up for an expedition next spring, just let me know when.


Bryce Gibson
There are sharks in every ocean...except Billy Ocean.

#3 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 24 August 2021 - 01:05 PM

5 -6 inches is an exaggeration in my experience.  3 to 4" more typical.

People are now wary about photo tank shots as they are listed.

I have some shots i used in the Snorkel Guide where i baited them in.  I think you have a guide.

Not as intense coloration as you describe.  They are a beautiful, elegant fish no doubt.

They send to associate with calmer flow areas up and down the Conasauga, Snorkel Hole to 411.  Not rare at all in their home waters.


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#4 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 24 August 2021 - 03:07 PM

Mike,

I saw a couple of post spawn individuals there this past spring, but didn't get any photos.  I'm up for an expedition next spring, just let me know when.

Sounds good just prepare a list of preferred beverages, snacks and an assistant might be required to do.


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#5 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 24 August 2021 - 03:24 PM

5 -6 inches is an exaggeration in my experience.  3 to 4" more typical.

People are now wary about photo tank shots as they are listed.

I have some shots i used in the Snorkel Guide where i baited them in.  I think you have a guide.

Not as intense coloration as you describe.  They are a beautiful, elegant fish no doubt.

They send to associate with calmer flow areas up and down the Conasauga, Snorkel Hole to 411.  Not rare at all in their home waters. 

I suppose my memory could have magnified their glory over the years but the big males were quite a bit larger then the full size tricolors at the same site.  Videos might be the way to go can't imagine getting a photo underwater.  Might have to commission The Great Szabo he can command some to hold still for his shots


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#6 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 24 August 2021 - 07:06 PM

Do you remember exactly where you were on the Conasauga?

In my experience they are always about the same size as TriColors.

However Alabamas get pretty big.  As are Venustas at 411.

Venustas can be late spawners too.  Beautiful with their white tipped fins.


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#7 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 24 August 2021 - 09:29 PM

Do you remember exactly where you were on the Conasauga?

In my experience they are always about the same size as TriColors.

However Alabamas get pretty big.  As are Venustas at 411.

Venustas can be late spawners too.  Beautiful with their white tipped fins.

No don't remember and lost most of my old records.  It's been a while, could be confusing the size with the other Cyprinella.


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#8 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 04 September 2021 - 08:58 PM

Mike,

I saw a couple of post spawn individuals there this past spring, but didn't get any photos.  I'm up for an expedition next spring, just let me know when.

I wanna go with y'all... I am not able to act as a photographer of your level, but I would be game for participating and maybe taking some gopro video or badly focused snaps...


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

#9 Josh Blaylock

Josh Blaylock
  • Board of Directors
  • Central Kentucky

Posted 29 December 2021 - 03:55 PM

I wanna go with y'all... I am not able to act as a photographer of your level, but I would be game for participating and maybe taking some gopro video or badly focused snaps...

 

When is this trip, I might be up for it.


Josh Blaylock - Central KY
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#10 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 29 December 2021 - 04:04 PM

This would be a good time to start planning the expedition.  Need to find the preferred natural spawning conditions like temps, spawning triggers etc. and likely season as well as sites. Anyone with the knowledge of such feel free to chime in. 


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#11 L Link

L Link
  • NANFA Member
  • Atlantic Slope of VA

Posted 30 December 2021 - 12:34 PM

They sound like wonderful photo subjects, can't wait to visit the Conasauga. My home area (upper James River watershed, VA) is sorely lacking in Cyprinella...


Loughran (Lock) Cabe


#12 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 30 December 2021 - 02:09 PM

https://trace.tennes...=sfcproceedings  to: Johnston, C. E. and J. R. Shute., Spawning behavior of the blue shiner (Cyprinella caerulea) and the holiday darter (Etheostoma brevirostrum), two rare fishes of the Conasauga River, Georgia and Tennessee. Proc. Southeast. Fish. Count. 35 (1997): l-2.    Appears spawning was observed June 1, 1996 water temp. 19C.  See article for more details.  I'd assume different sites might be different.  Plus year to year temperature variation would be a factor s to likely spawning dates.


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#13 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 30 December 2021 - 02:25 PM

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc4467.pdf to:  Blue Shiner (Cyprinella caerulea) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation.  This has a lot of info especially sites.  This was from 2014 so may be more current data available.


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#14 L Link

L Link
  • NANFA Member
  • Atlantic Slope of VA

Posted 30 December 2021 - 03:32 PM

Back in the 1980's I did some sampling in the Conasauga river I believe,  The blue shiners were in full spawning mode and I can't find a photo even close to the color and intensity of those specimens.  The males entire bodies were  a deep sky blue so intense the commonly seen pink line didn't even show,  all fins were  vivid yellow. They were not near as deep bodied as fieryblacks or Alabama shiners and many of the males were 5 - 6 inches long.  They were fast, literally blue streaks but then again they are Cyprinella.  I'm preparing a presentation on Cyprinella and would like to include a photo or video worthy of this species beauty.  Is there any out there?  If not I'd be glad to join in an expedition next spring to get some...photos or videos that is (federally protected).  I'd be the guy that runs for the drinks, snacks or towels for you talented ones.   Seriously let me know on either front. 

I'm hoping to visit the Conasauga at some point this spring, whether or when it actually happens is up in the air, but I'd love to try and photograph these underwater. If I think I can be of any help to this project I'll let you know.


Loughran (Lock) Cabe





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