I have a canoe, it's a Bell morningstar 16' - 6". I just got back from a
canoe/camping trip to the sierras, somewhat below Lake Tahoe. I enjoy most
taking my canoe out-in-the crack of dawn when the water almost like glass -
- - you get the picture.
I used to dream of exploring the Amazon too, still do sometimes.
Welcome!! Best Regards, James
************************
Patti and James Sanchez
chez_sanchez-in-hotmail.com
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Doug" <dougsharp-in-channelzilch.com>
Reply-To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
To: <nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org>
Subject: NANFA-L-- New Member from NW Wisconsin
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:39:58 -0500
Hi, all!
I am a new member and very eager to learn about observing, collecting,
identifying, and keeping our native fish.
I am lucky enough to live on a gorgeous 40 acre lake in NW Wisconsin, Martel
Lake, here:
http://www.lake-link.com/lakes/displaymap.cfm?LakeID=3679
I moved here a year ago from Seattle, WA.
There are only 3 year-round residents on the lake and 5 summer cabins. No
one uses motors on the lake. I spend a lot of time canoeing and 98% of the
time I'm the only one out there. The lake has a marsh area, is 20' deep at
most, tea-colored, somewhat turbid waters, great for swimming. We've got
loons, beaver galore, and a family of 7 otter.
The area I live in has a huge variety of waters within a short drive - deep
lakes, really deep lakes - Lake Superior 70 miles away, big rivers - the St.
Croix, slow small rivers, sandy creeks, rocky creeks, cranberry bogs.
I got sucked into native fish by spending time on my lake looking into the
water this Summer. Along the shore I noticed small fish swimming back and
forth over cleared nests underneath shallow underwater branches. After
wading in and observing quite a few I saw that the male, guarding the nest,
was about 4" long, narrow but blunt, dark with 2 light vertical smudges. The
females flitted among the males' nests and had a strong horizontal stripe. I
looked all over the internet to identify that fish with no luck. Maybe I had
discovered a rare fish! I was a little crestfallen when I finally IDed my
rarity as the elusive flathead minnow, but I was hooked.
I kept aquariums as a youth - freshwater tropical, of course. I had a
subscription to TFH (still have the mags from '63) and even bred bettas. I
dreamed about being expedition up the Amazon with Axelrod and Vorderwinkler.
I am thrilled to live out a childhood fantasy in my own neighborhood.
I'm in no hurry to start an aquarium. I have a lot to learn.
I'm a book person so I've got a small library started and am saving up to
get Becker's Fishes of Wisconsin. Until then I am reading the online
version:
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/becker.html
I'd love to get in touch with Wisconsin and Minnesota members to soak up
some knowledge and go on collecting trips.
I'm glad I found NANFA!
Doug Sharp
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/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
/ http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml