Here is my Spring /Summer Regional Report from Virginia.

Latest Collecting Trips to Sycolin Run, Loudon County, VA :

Other Collectors: Mark Cook (Tank Doctor), Paul Coppola and Tom Alberti.

1 June 1997: Besides the common species (i.e., Spotfin Shiners, Blacknose Dace, Longnose Dace, Greenside Darters, Fantail Darters and Mottled Sculpins) collected back in April 97, Sycolin Run also provided a 6" Bluehead Chub and a 5" Central Stoneroller. To my dismay positive identification of both was difficult due to the fact that both fish were covered with redish purple lesions which called for a no-handed identification. Possibly damage from the storm earlier that week. I have not noticed these lesions on any other of the common species from Sycolin Run. Also a 2 1/2" Pumpkinseed turned up while seining one of the deeper pools on the run, probably an introduced species. It was returned due to the manner in which it was caught. The guilt would have given me an ulcer had I kept the fish.

13 July 1997: On this particular trip, a multitude of juveniles of the common species listed above were collected and returned except for a 1" Mottled Sculpin. It seems that the Sycolin Run is healthy and almost overflowing with life after the Spring spawning. I hope it continues.

In the past I have had trouble feeding larger sculpins but this little trooper relishes frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp as long as the food items are moving. As the Sculpin grows, I will attempt to feed earthworms and feeder Guppies. The water temperature is currently 68 degrees. Luckily I live in a basement apartment.

First and Latest Collecting Trip to Lake Barcroft. Fall Church, VA:

Other Collectors: Mark Cook

29 June 1997: This trip basically started as a fishing adventure which turned into a collecting trip once I hooked into a 2 1/2" Largemouth Bass with a 3" Mepps Minnow Spinner with a single treble hook. I couldn't believe it, but I returned the bass and turned to the barbless hook, bobber and earthworm method. This method was extremely productive for Bluegill and Pumpkinseed.

At the time, the only tank I had space in was a 10 gallon tank so I kept the smallest most colorful Bluegill and 2 gallons of lake water. Needless to say the Bluegill did not do too well overnight and I found it on its side the next day missing a lot of his slime coat. The tank had been previously cycled with feeder and filter material from an established tank. I feel that the lack of lake water and the handling of the fish during hook removal may have played a role.

I will have to improve my notifications for collecting trips in the future.

16 July 1997: On a bad note, a local sewer pipe in Northern Fairfax County, VA ruptured and spill raw sewage into Scotts Run. Apparently there is no way to determine how much sewage spilled into the Run. The Runs' water is being tested today and the pipe is being repaired.

So Long from Virginia