NANFA-- DP: Grass Pike, collecting report

CEFCHURCH_at_aol.com
Sun, 16 Jul 2000 13:15:31 EDT

I finally found some Grass Pike yesterday. Haven't found in about a dozen
years. I was on Brandywine Creek, just south of Greenfield, Indiana. (Home
of the poet James Whitcomb Riley - "The Old Swimming Hole," "Little Orphan
Annie"). I had never collected that part before. I went upstream to where
some shallow weeds ended and looked over fast flowing, open water. The
second dip of the seine netted one very healthy looking specimen about 8".
About 5 dips later, I captured another. After working the area for about 30
minutes, I observed only one minnow in the area, numerous crayfish and what
was probably another Grass Pike that got away.

1) Interesting that there were no other fish observed. Makes you wonder if
they know where the Pike are and stay away from the area for the most part.

2) Any tips on best ways to set up a Grass Pike aquarium? Last time I
caught several and learned the hard way they must be kept well fed with
feeder fish or they will quickly cannibalize their siblings. Well, they try;
they can't really swallow something their own size but will kill the other
fish in the attempt.

3) Anyone have any breeding tips?

Also checked out the Blue River near Shelbyville, Indiana. (Same area where
the fiction book "Bears of the Blue River" pioneer era setting was.) Nothing
interesting to report.

Chuck Church
Indianapolis, Indiana USA

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