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June 2014 Tennessee Snorkeling Photos

Started by Isaac Szabo , Dec 26 2014 02:11 PM

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19 replies to this topic

#1 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 26 December 2014 - 02:11 PM

The downtime of winter has provided me with some free time to sort through some of my snorkeling photos from this past year. The following photos are from my travels through Tennessee in June before and after the NANFA NC convention. Thanks to those of you who helped me out with snorkeling locations, especially Casper, who took me to a couple of his favorite spots. It was a treat to get to see these species, most of them for the first time.

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Duck Darter. It posed nicely for me.

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Northern Studfish. A large group was preoccupied with spawning activity in a shallow, sandy area. This was the dominant male of the group.

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Caney Fork Darter. I was really impressed with these. It was my first time to see any in the spotted darter group. Their coloration was variable. I thought this one with red spots on green background was especially nice, and I followed it around for a while trying to get a good photo.

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Caney Fork Darter. Others, especially the large ones, had a dark brown background instead.

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Cherry Darters. Breeding pair.

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Tricolor Shiners. Sparring males.

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Loggerhead Musk Turtle. We saw several of these at the Conasauga snorkel hole.

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Freshwater Drum. It was neat to see these. Though they are in Arkansas, I had never seen them before while snorkeling.

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Coosa Crayfish. A very nicely-colored crayfish.

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Coosa Crayfish. Closeup.

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#2 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 26 December 2014 - 02:12 PM

Redbreast Sunfish. I think this TN form is nicer looking than the ones I'm used to in the FL springs. I like the orange tips on the caudal fin.

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Bronze Darter. I found the prize!

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Coosa Bass. Nicely colored for a bass.

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Mobile Logperch. The common logperch species at the snorkel hole. Though we looked, we didn't see any of the rare Conasauga Logperch.

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Spiny Softshell Turtle. This guy was buried in the gravel with only his head showing.

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Alabama Shiner. Casper and I watched a group of these that had gathered downstream of us. Males sparred in the late afternoon light. This was the most impressive male I saw all day.

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Clinch Dace. Undescribed species similar to the Laurel Dace.

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Spotfin Chub. I went to a spot looking for Tangerine Darters and was instead dazzled by these. I was not really aware of this species beforehand. For some reason, I had never heard much about them. I have never seen a fish quite like them. They really seem to be glowing. Mesmerizing.

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Snail Darter. It was neat to see this famous species. You can't really tell from this small photo, but it's pectoral fins are resting on a snail.

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Tangerine Darter. I ended up finding my high-color tangerines at another site, the Hiwassee, with Casper. A very impressive fish. Large, colorful, and very friendly. Easy to observe and photograph, they regularly allowed me to within a foot or so. I was able to get very close with a wide angle lens for this photo.

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#3 mattknepley

NANFA Member

Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.

Posted 26 December 2014 - 04:17 PM

Fantastic, Isaac. Absolutely beautiful work.

Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

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#4 trygon

NANFA Member

Knoxville, Tennessee

Posted 26 December 2014 - 05:37 PM

Very nice. One month to go.

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

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#5 Casper

NANFA Fellow

Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 26 December 2014 - 05:40 PM

It's an honor to spend time with Isaac. A master photographer indeed.
I enjoyed your captions too. Dazzled Connie and the girls.
I will send a link to the Snorkel Boss, Mr. Ed and Jeremy.
Wonderful bliss on a dull day.

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

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#6 Sean Phillips

NANFA Member

Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 26 December 2014 - 05:47 PM

Amazing pictures and great fish! Especially for someone who's only got Rhinichthys, Johjny Darters, and game fish in one of their local creeks!

Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

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#7 Josh Blaylock

Board of Directors

Central Kentucky

Posted 27 December 2014 - 08:24 AM

Amazing Isaac.....

Sent from my Nexus 5

Josh Blaylock - Central KY
NANFA on Facebook

KYCREEKS - KRWW - KWA

I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.

- Abraham Lincoln, 1861

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#8 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 27 December 2014 - 11:29 PM

Thanks guys!

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#9 Markart

NANFA Guest

Posted 28 December 2014 - 03:27 AM

Spectacular as always. The Studfish photo in particular is a peach. And that Spotfin Chub is jaw-dropping. Thanks for posting Issac.

Best regards, Mark.

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#10 NotCousteau

NANFA Guest

Minnesota

Posted 29 December 2014 - 01:35 PM

Beautiful pictures!

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#11 bbrown

Regional Rep

Posted 29 December 2014 - 02:06 PM

Stunning pictures! I especially like the studfish and snail darter. Thanks for sharing these.

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#12 Kanus

Board of Directors

Posted 29 December 2014 - 02:59 PM

I've been staring at these for a few days now and still can't think of anything to say other than "WOW" "AMAZING!" and a large variety of synonyms. That's really all that can be said about these. Spectacular work.

Derek Wheaton

On a mountain overlooking the North Fork Roanoke River on one side, the New River Valley on the other, and a few minutes away from the James River watershed...the good life...

Enchanting Ectotherms

My Personal Facebook (mostly fish related, if you'd like to add me)

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#13 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 30 December 2014 - 01:34 AM

Thanks! Tennessee is a great state for fish, and I feel fortunate to have gotten to experience some of its beautiful and unique species.

I got lucky with the studfish. I have always found the big males to be pretty wary and difficult to approach close enough for good photos. The only two times I've been able to get good photos is when they were too busy chasing females to care much about me being there.

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#14 Casper

NANFA Fellow

Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 30 December 2014 - 09:00 PM

Thanks! Tennessee is a great state for fish, and I feel fortunate to have gotten to experience some of its beautiful and unique species.

Yes Sir!

I got lucky with the studfish. I have always found the big males to be pretty wary and difficult to approach close enough for good photos. The only two times I've been able to get good photos is when they were too busy chasing females to care much about me being there.

My experience as well. I once saw 2 males all puffed up and circling one another displaying and sparring, oblivious to my presense. No images as they were my pre camera days! Snorkeling offers so much more than capture and every state i have been in i have been able to find clear water. Look for protected watersheds, dams and springs.

Fantastic images, i have been sharing them with my friends including all my non fishy ones. All are dazzled.

I am looking forward to taking you to some of my special sites! 2015 is coming soon.

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

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#15 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 31 December 2014 - 02:34 PM

Yes, I can't wait to get back over there. So much more to see. I just scratched the surface.

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#16 Chasmodes

NANFA Member

Central Maryland

Posted 28 January 2015 - 05:44 PM

I've been staring at these for a few days now and still can't think of anything to say other than "WOW" "AMAZING!" and a large variety of synonyms. That's really all that can be said about these. Spectacular work.

I couldn't say it better, only to add that I'm constantly browsing this site, and every day I find something fascinating. Your photos blow me away!

Kevin Wilson