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Photographs and text by Todd Crail I took advantage of a day off. While it was 25 degrees with a windchill to 20, the riffles were still open on Ten Mile Creek in northern Lucas County. This didn't prove very productive in terms of specimens, but it was definately nice to get outside, and, well, know you were alive... It was cold! :) Under the advice and encouragement from various NANFA email listmembers that Central Stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) were suitable aquarium fish, I wanted to pick up a couple. Good thing I only wanted a couple. Fish were just not found on the riffles. I'd never been out when it was this cold (literally breaking ice to get from riffle to riffle). Once I'd found a couple specimens to photograph, I realized that 1) I didn't need to pick up the seine very fast and 2) no fish in it's right mind in such a lethargic state would try hanging out in a riffle. This limited potential habitat quickly. I had to find cover that was along side a riffle to limit the amount of ice on edge, which was basically a couple of root systems and a series of snagged logs and forest/human litter. This hindered me to only sampling four species, but I got what I came looking for, so I was happy :) Knowing that the fish would be a bit more calm today, I also wanted to try and get used to photographing them in a container. I was unable to find a 2 1/2 gallon glass aquarium (seems that's what everyone bought somewhere else when I had my shop) so I grabbed one of those plastic "Critter Keepers". I was disappointed with the results (my camera picked up every little last scratch, fiber, flaw in the plastic) but it served it's purposes. The photographs are found below the text. I also learned a few things today about cold weather collection:
B) Plastic is very very brittle in the cold, especially once exposed to water and consequently covered in ice. C) Metal handles on dip nets and previously "plastic handled" buckets tend to get covered in ice and stick to the skin. D) If A and B is true, C is quite painful, especially for extended walks through fields of shattered ice. E) If D is true, when walking out of the tree shielded ravine, you will quickly discover what is meant by "Wind Chill". Lessons learned the hard way, I guess. I had a blast tho. I don't know how soon I'll be up for it again though :) Thought for the day: If the "Flagellants" of a certain Monty Python Film happened to be Ichthyologists... Would they have chanted the scientific name of the Walleye? (think about it ;) The Gallery |
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| Creek Chub
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Orangethroat Female 1
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Orangethroat Female 2
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Orangethroat Male 1
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| Orangethroat Male 2
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Orangethroat Male 3
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Orangethroat Male 4
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Orangethroat Male 5
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| Stoneroller 1
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Stoneroller 2
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Stoneroller 3
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Stoneroller 4
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| StripedShiner 1
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StripedShiner 2
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StripedShiner 3
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