NANFA-- Collecting on Feb 29 in PA!

Shinerscoop_at_aol.com (damarkley at earthlink.net)
Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:32:11 -0500

Hello all! I thought I'd post a quick summary of my earliest ever collecting
expedition. Yep, it's Feb 29 and there's still ice on the ponds and snow in
the fields here in SE PA. I went out about 9 AM this morning and visited the
Susquehanna just north of Marietta. Lot's of shallow, cold water with one
problem: Ice! There was a thin layer of ice that although easily broken,
interfered with my dip net. After an hour of chasing I had captured two
shiners (Comely I believe?) and about a dozen amphipods. Oh, my feet were
frozen too!

On the way back, I stopped at the Chickies Creek near Landisville. The water
was clear and a bit low so I was hopeful. However hopeful was not with me as
all I managed was a single Tessellated Darter that more or less caught
himself. The poor fish saw me and swam right out onto a mudbank!

So there's my first trip of the year. Three fish and frozen feet although I
was glad to get out! By the way, air temp was a balmy 55 F although water was
a bit cooler at 44F.

Dean Markley
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org