Daddy-daughter day trip
#1
Posted 27 November 2016 - 12:11 PM
But the very low water allowed me to work the river a little more thoroughly than in the past, and I was happy to find many smallish, but healthy fish. Found a few nice Turquoise Darters, a couple Mottled Sculpin, some young chubs, a couple definite Blueheads but maybe a River mixed in; Longnose Dace, y.o.y. Yellowfin Shiners, and a couple Darned Ifiknows. The highlight in the finny parade was my first Warpaint Shiner! We only had an hour or so to play, goof off, and photo before dark started to set in and we had to schlepp back through prime time Clemson game traffic, but it was a really good day. My usual lame photos follow...
The droughted Chattooga...
A fairly causal look at the steeper shore (Georgia side)will reveal the more usual water line for late summer through mid-fall. The flatter, rocky side (SC side) also shows the lower water level. The grass tussocks are usually in water. These pics are from just above the swimming hole.
Some new friends...
Warpaint! Even though the last pic is horrible for clarity, it's the only one that hints at the paradoxical brilliance of its subtle blue/purple/silver hues when it left the water.
The Longnosed Dace in these parts have beautiful orange color all year round, not just in the fall.
Always love to find me some sculpins!
Help me out on this guy, please. The same fish but it looks all chub in one photo and all dace in the other...
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."
#2
Posted 28 November 2016 - 11:14 AM
The drought is due for a nice relief over the next few days. I have been in the Chattooga several times, there is a nice snorkel hole it get respite in from my long drive to the Oconee State Park. Good day to enjoy the Holidays. Warpaints are spreading. You will see more and more as the years pass.
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.
#7
Posted 29 November 2016 - 10:55 AM
I was at the game, so you're welcome for the traffic. And yeah, they close the CEF to vehicles during the winter months I believe.
Where on the Chattooga were you? Every time we go up to collect, we only get a few species...Whitetails, warpaints, mirrors & tennessee shiners, along with some hogsuckers. Never gotten sculpin, turquoise, or dace up there. Interesting.
The unknowns look like the dace to me. But I'm likely wrong.
Freshwater Aquarist
South Carolina Aquarium
Charleston, SC
#8
Posted 29 November 2016 - 09:39 PM
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."
Reply to this topic
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users