I enjoy searching for darters almost as much as salamanders - both hunts involve exploring unique and tranquil settings. In Kentucky few activities beat snorkeling a cold, clear riffle and observing the native assemblage. Shiners and dace flicker like jewels in the water column, smallmouth bass devour invertebrates dislodged by my search and quirky darters play hide and seek between boulders and beneath cobble. Here's a few darter portraits from this year:
Etheostoma variatum – Variegate darter
Percina stictogaster - Freckle-bellied darter
Percina caprodes - Logperch
Etheostoma baileyi – Emerald darter
Etheostoma cinerum – Ashy darter
Etheostoma sanguifluum – Bloodfin darter
Etheostoma flabellare – Fantailed darter
Etheostoma nigrum – Johnny darter
Etheostoma blenoides – Greenside darter
Etheostoma saggita – Arrow darter
Percina maculata - Blackside darter
Etheostoma simoterum – Snubnose darter
Etheostoma caeruleum – Rainbow darter
As a bonus can you find all the sculpin among the pebbles? There’s ten…
Cottus bairdi
Some darters...
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Tim Borski
- Posts: 1855
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:28 am
- Location: FL Keys
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Re: Some darters...
Nice. As a kid there were "Johnnies" and Rainbows where I lived...is "Johnny Darter" a generic term? Cool pic of the sculpins.
I've got a very funny story regarding a giant (relative word) Brook trout, my Dad's Jiffy, power ice auger, a large under cut bank along a small stream and a Sculpin (Muddler) for bait. I got the Brookie but completely ruined the auger. Maybe I'll tell it sometime...
Tim
PS: I think Darters were sometimes called "stone rollers?"
I've got a very funny story regarding a giant (relative word) Brook trout, my Dad's Jiffy, power ice auger, a large under cut bank along a small stream and a Sculpin (Muddler) for bait. I got the Brookie but completely ruined the auger. Maybe I'll tell it sometime...
Tim
PS: I think Darters were sometimes called "stone rollers?"
Re: Some darters...
Thanks Tim. Johnny darter refers to Etheostoma nigrum - a small, delicate darter common in small to mid-sized streams with a large distribution in eastern North America from Canada to Alabama.
Is 'Muddler' a common name for sculpin where you're from? I've heard locals call them Mollygogs here and in Tennessee.
'Stoneroller' is the common name for minnows of the Genus Campostoma. During spawning season a male stoneroller constructs a nest by piling pebbles with his snout and mouth. Female stonerollers - and other minnow species - spawn on the nests. The structure provides protection for the eggs and larvae without the parents having to guard them.
Is 'Muddler' a common name for sculpin where you're from? I've heard locals call them Mollygogs here and in Tennessee.
'Stoneroller' is the common name for minnows of the Genus Campostoma. During spawning season a male stoneroller constructs a nest by piling pebbles with his snout and mouth. Female stonerollers - and other minnow species - spawn on the nests. The structure provides protection for the eggs and larvae without the parents having to guard them.
Re: Some darters...
Here's a few habitat shots:
- Tim Borski
- Posts: 1855
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:28 am
- Location: FL Keys
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Re: Some darters...
Jason, great hab shots! Yes, Sculpins are generally referred to as "Muddlers" where I grew up in central WI. There is even an extremely famous fishing fly called the "Muddler minnow." It has probably "spawned" thousands of variations over the years do to it's effectiveness.
Tim
Tim
Re: Some darters...
Wow, awesome. Congrats on the cinerum. I've heard they are hard to find. I can't wait to head west to TN or KY and see all those darter species...
Re: Some darters...
okay, you blew my mind,
very nice finds and pics of all
very nice finds and pics of all
Re: Some darters...
WAY COOL!!
Re: Some darters...
I'm glad you guys enjoyed the post.
Kanus - The ashy was completely unexpected. I was very lucky with that find.
Jb
Kanus - The ashy was completely unexpected. I was very lucky with that find.
Jb
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: Some darters...
Very, very nice post.
Jason B
Jason B
That's a really good point, Jason. I think that has been one of the major factors for why I prefer wild trout fishing to all other fishing.I enjoy searching for darters almost as much as salamanders - both hunts involve exploring unique and tranquil settings.
- Dell Despain
- Posts: 542
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:08 pm
- Location: Montana
Re: Some darters...
Very interesting post, I usually don't think about darters at all, other then wondering if trout are eating streamers today or not. I'd love to see you do a post on Mottled Sculpin if you could. I might even try and do a small one myself as I get to seine for insect life in rivers quite a bit and kick up Sculpin all the time in the seine.
Thanks for the post.
-Dell
Thanks for the post.
-Dell
- Andy Avram
- Posts: 897
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:37 am
- Location: NE Ohio
Re: Some darters...
You should. You live in the darter epicenter. Very cool post of some very cool fish. I keep a large aquarium full of darters and other Ohio stream fish.I enjoy searching for darters almost as much as salamanders
Andy
- Russ_Jones
- Posts: 100
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:00 am
Re: Some darters...
i love this thread Darters are fantastic, I have spend many fond hours netting and trapping them, only to be released after being ID'd. Great photography, thanks for posting this.
Cheers!
R~
Cheers!
R~
Re: Some darters...
Bill - Thanks. I love your avatar, BTW. I saw a Gyrinophilus in a cave in south central TN back in July - it escaped before I could make a proper ID. I told myself that it wasn't a big deal, probably just G. porphyriticus. A couple weeks ago a buddy told me he found two G. palleucus in that same cave...
Dell - I don't have many Sculpin pictures, but I'll try and nab some more. They're voracious little fish; I look forward to seeing your post.
Russ, Andy - Thanks. I've enjoyed 'photo and release', but I could see the appeal of having a 'native fishes' tank.
Dell - I don't have many Sculpin pictures, but I'll try and nab some more. They're voracious little fish; I look forward to seeing your post.
Russ, Andy - Thanks. I've enjoyed 'photo and release', but I could see the appeal of having a 'native fishes' tank.
- Steve Atkins
- Posts: 744
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:14 pm
- Location: Asheville NC
Re: Some darters...
I'm a little late to this party, I just found the thread, I love it
Are you taking those pics with an underwater camera or are you putting them in holding containers for the shots?
I'm planning a large native fish aquarium for a children's museum in Asheville, this thread has really peaked my interest.
Are you taking those pics with an underwater camera or are you putting them in holding containers for the shots?
I'm planning a large native fish aquarium for a children's museum in Asheville, this thread has really peaked my interest.
Re: Some darters...
That is really cool, like yourself, I often put on a mask, snorkel and fins and go fish watching. Despite the amazing biological diversity in California, our native freshwater fishes are now quite limited. We are dominated with imports, including Log Perch, which were probably accidentally introduced with small mouth or other game fish stocking efforts. Thanks for posting, underwater shots of fresh water fish are a seldom seen treat.
Vic
Vic
Re: Some darters...
Steve - Thanks, many of the shots were taken underwater with a pentax PNS. Occasionally I'll take the time to build a set in the field with a small aquarium and use my DSLR. The really crisp shots were taken with the aquarium method. I saw some gorgeous rainbow darters today - they are really coming into their breeding coloration here.
Vic - thanks. Kentucky has more miles of stream than any state except Alaska. This part of the county is blessed with incredible fish and aquatic invertebrate diversity. A new crayfish was recently described from western Kentucky / Tn, adults are the size of small lobster!
Vic - thanks. Kentucky has more miles of stream than any state except Alaska. This part of the county is blessed with incredible fish and aquatic invertebrate diversity. A new crayfish was recently described from western Kentucky / Tn, adults are the size of small lobster!