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Locating Small Stream And Rivers In Florida


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#1 Guest_shawnkfl_*

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Posted 04 November 2007 - 01:01 PM

does anyone know of any resources to locate the smaller streams in florida? i've tried searching for maps and such, but had no luck. i can find the main rivers but nothing on any smaller ones.

#2 Guest_mzokan_*

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Posted 04 November 2007 - 02:31 PM

Try www.topozone.com -- online topographic maps for the entire US (probably Canada too)

#3 Guest_MScooter_*

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Posted 04 November 2007 - 02:49 PM

To the north there is the Suwanee River and Manatee Springs, Ochlockonee Creek, and the creek that makes the border between Jefferson/Madison/Taylor counties. In your area (catch me a tarpon and some redfish will ya) is the Manatee River with Gilley and Gamble Creeks accesible at Lake Manatee and Rye Wilderness State Parks, respectively. To the south is the Peace River and Lee Branch, and Prairie Creek. To your east is your choice from Lake George all the way down to Okeechobee.

As far as Resources; Delorme Mapping's State Atlas and Gazetteer is a must have. If you drive over water stop and look at it, down there with all the channelization(sp?) things can be found in the darndest places. Online is Topozone, Google earth, and Mapquest(which shows water better than the other mapping sites).

Check your laws and do not break them, Florida's men in brown are serious.

You live in fishing heaven smack dab between Bluewater, Bay flats, Bass Ponds, and Inland Marshes. I'm jealous.

Welcome to NANFA.

#4 Guest_shawnkfl_*

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Posted 04 November 2007 - 05:01 PM

i'm definately right in the middle of fishing varieties. the scuba diving is great as well. my only concern about the larger rivers, like the hillsborough, peace river and such, are the gators. manatee river is a spring and is crystal clear and 72* year round, same as crystal river. those spring rivers hold quite a few of tropical fishes. the tannin rivers hold gators. big gators. i only go down those in a canoe. i do not get out and snoop around. i'm looking for the smaller tributaries that i can wade where nobody goes to fish.

the area i'm in is nice, but don't be too jealous of me. my taxes are outragous, and it's way overcrowded! so far the only fish i've captured are two mosquito fish.

#5 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 04 November 2007 - 09:08 PM

Go to Google, click on "Maps", find the area you're interested in, then click "hybrid". That gives you satalite photos with streetss and names overlaid.
The gators won't bother you too much as long as you stay away from places where people feed them.
Along side of Loop Road in the Everglades is a pretty little brook that I really wanted to sample. Damn gators were so tame you couldn't walk up to the water without 2 or 3 coming right over expecting to be fed.
Lots of cichlids but I did see some flagfish. Wish I could have dipped those. Gators would have grabbed my net out of my hands. :sad:

#6 Guest_mzokan_*

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Posted 05 November 2007 - 01:13 PM

Along side of Loop Road in the Everglades is a pretty little brook that I really wanted to sample. Damn gators were so tame you couldn't walk up to the water without 2 or 3 coming right over expecting to be fed.
Lots of cichlids but I did see some flagfish. Wish I could have dipped those. Gators would have grabbed my net out of my hands. :sad:


Careful with law enforcement on Loop Road. Although you are allowed to dipnet in Florida the National Parks may have different rules. I was stopped several times by rangers down there (I had a collecting permit though). You may want to check the park rules before trying again, just to be safe. I know the spot you are talking about (Sweetwater Slough) and it is a really beautiful spot with lots of fish. If you go back there in spring when the water levels are lower, there are huge concentrations of fish there and at other spots along loop road, its worth going just to look at them.

#7 Guest_NateTessler13_*

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Posted 05 November 2007 - 01:29 PM

I've had great luck with "The Gazateer" (spelling?). Find one for your state. It's a great map with lots of small streams and creeks on it. Keep it in the car to navigate your fish catching trips.

#8 Guest_tglassburner_*

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Posted 05 November 2007 - 01:40 PM

I've had great luck with "The Gazateer" (spelling?). Find one for your state. It's a great map with lots of small streams and creeks on it. Keep it in the car to navigate your fish catching trips.

Jonah's has them http://jonahsaquarium.com/books.htm

#9 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 05 November 2007 - 05:25 PM

Careful with law enforcement on Loop Road. Although you are allowed to dipnet in Florida the National Parks may have different rules.


We stopped at Loop road while returning from snook fishing out of Everglades City [quite the "sampling" excursion in itself!]. All my nets were left back at the condo so it was not an issue although I really do believe the gators would have grabed anything I put in the water.
Water levels were pretty low and clear and many fish could be observed. Cichlids were by far most numerous but I also saw mosquitofish, flagfish, gar and unidentified sunfish. I don't know how any fish could survive with so many gators! Maybe all those cichlids were supporting the gator population.

#10 Guest_mzokan_*

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Posted 05 November 2007 - 06:04 PM

I really do believe the gators would have grabed anything I put in the water.

Its amazing how things have changed, I worked there from 2002 to 2004 spending nearly every day in the water and rarely had any issues with alligators. But when I visited again this summer I saw the same thing you did -- gators that have obviously been fed. At that spot you mention I've been in that water past waist deep and waded down the main channel of the slough as far as you could go -- no way I would do that now!

Yeah, the cichlids (mayan cichlids mostly) tend to school near the culverts that run under the road which makes them really easy to see, but there are still plenty of natives there. That spot is loaded with dollar sunfish, spotted sunfish, and warmouth. And when the prairies dry out all the little stuff like flagfish, mollies and killifsh really start to show up. When it really gets dry you'll see big schools of bullhead --- anyway great spot

Hope the snook fishing was good!

#11 Guest_shawnkfl_*

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Posted 06 November 2007 - 08:30 PM

thanks for the info guys. that gazetteer looks promising. i will definately get one of those. what this about a collecting permit? i've never heard of that before? i guess i better find out before i get too crazy collecting native fishes.

#12 Guest_nativecajun_*

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Posted 09 November 2007 - 08:07 PM

I would just drive around. We are talking Florida here and water is everywhere and good things are found all over down there.

#13 Guest_shawnkfl_*

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Posted 10 November 2007 - 10:08 AM

the problem i run into just driving around is people. the houses are so close together so access to a stream is void. some run through gated communities, some through restricted areas, others are on private property. it's a hassle just to see the streams. others have been diverted through concrete channels, which are full of rusted junk and tires. it's sad.

#14 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 11 November 2007 - 06:41 PM

the problem i run into just driving around is people. the houses are so close together so access to a stream is void. some run through gated communities, some through restricted areas, others are on private property. it's a hassle just to see the streams. others have been diverted through concrete channels, which are full of rusted junk and tires. it's sad.

Are there any national forests nearby?

#15 Guest_shawnkfl_*

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Posted 13 November 2007 - 09:56 PM

the closest national forests are about an hour and a half away. there are state parks everywhere but they have their own restrictions. i see some streams while driving around, you just cannot get to them. most people i've talked to are worried that i'll catch the mosquito fish and they want those around. i really miss the pennsylvania mountains sometimes. i could walk in a stream for days without seeing so much as a cigarette butt!

#16 Guest_mzokan_*

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Posted 13 November 2007 - 10:46 PM

the closest national forests are about an hour and a half away. there are state parks everywhere but they have their own restrictions. i see some streams while driving around, you just cannot get to them. most people i've talked to are worried that i'll catch the mosquito fish and they want those around. i really miss the pennsylvania mountains sometimes. i could walk in a stream for days without seeing so much as a cigarette butt!


I used to be a Floridian, so I know exactly what you mean. However, there are some great natural areas nearby to you. Check out the Hillborough River - it has populations of Pteronotropis metallicus, which are the Florida version of sailfin shiner. Also, check out Withlacoochee State Forest, there should be plenty of creeks and swamps up there to keep you busy, and restrictions aren't as tight as state parks. Also check out Southwest Florida water management lands at the following link: http://www.swfwmd.st...s/rec_guide.pdf
These include some great public land, that isn't widely known about by the public - so they can be great places to get away from crowds. Also, you can always toss out a minnow trap overnight near your home (like in Lake Tarpon), even highly developed areas hold native fish.

Marcus

#17 Guest_Sal_*

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Posted 27 November 2007 - 04:46 PM

i'm definately right in the middle of fishing varieties. the scuba diving is great as well. my only concern about the larger rivers, like the hillsborough, peace river and such, are the gators. manatee river is a spring and is crystal clear and 72* year round, same as crystal river. those spring rivers hold quite a few of tropical fishes. the tannin rivers hold gators. big gators. i only go down those in a canoe. i do not get out and snoop around. i'm looking for the smaller tributaries that i can wade where nobody goes to fish.

the area i'm in is nice, but don't be too jealous of me. my taxes are outragous, and it's way overcrowded! so far the only fish i've captured are two mosquito fish.



Lol I just moved here and agree its crowded but by moving here I contributed to it . The traffic during rush hour is worse than NY (not NY city but rest of NY) and the taxes are unreal but my area is ideal for wildlife .
I have nice canals in my area and few cow farms with streams and overgrown land . The canals are clean and full of fish but I have no idea what they are know they are not sunfish .
I have yet to see a gator but have seen lots turtles . I live in gated community and no one here is interested in collecting or 'exploring" :( I asked in last meeting and they looked at me like I was crazy .



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