My local favorite Flagfin Shiner hole is full of fish already, but only
a few big males can be seen. Most of the fish are yearlings of
indeterminate sex and grown females. The pools nearby which are usually
full of Pygmy Sunfish are overflown and muddy. I didn't see any fish,
but then I didn't really look that hard on account of the deep mud. The
creek has some plain brown darters in view and some Eurycea salamanders.
The spot where I normally find Ironcolor, Sailfin, and Weed Shiners,
along with a few endangered Okaloosa darters, is strangely completely
devoid of fish. There were plenty two weeks ago. I don't know what
happened, but I'm guessing they got washed downstream in the torrent.
They'll be back, I'm sure.
Try as I might, I can't find any Rainbow Shiners anywhere I look,
despite my finding numerous textbook perfect habitats for them. It looks
like that fishyfinger007 guy will never respond to my queries regarding
where he found the ones he had asked us to identify a couple of weeks
ago, so I wonder if I'll ever find them.
I'm also on the prowl for the new Orangetail Shiner, Pteronotropis
merlini. No luck so far, but-in-least I'm eliminating the places where
they are not to be found. I should hit paydirt ( paywater? ) soon.
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