2015 NANFA Convention Broken Bow, Oklahoma June 4 - 7, 2015 Although most people don’t think of Oklahoma as a fishy state, it’s actually home to about 175 species of fish, including golden topminnows, bluehead shiners, two genetically distinct smallmouth bass strains, pupfish, cardinal shiners, banded pygmy sunfish, and alligator gar.  This relatively high species number is due largely to Oklahoma’s varied climate, geology and topography, all of which contribute to habitat diversity.  Though few people realize it, Oklahoma is one of only four states with more than 10 ecoregions (or broad habitat types) and per square mile is the most habitat diverse state in the contiguous United States. The NANFA 2015 Convention will be held in in far southeast OK where the Ouachita Mountains meet the gulf coastal plain.  This area holds the states most diverse fish assemblage and both upland and lowland species can be collected within a short drive of each other.  A few of the species of interest likely to be encountered include orangethroat, orangebelly, slough, cypress, dusky, channel, harlequin and creole darters, western starhead and golden top minnows, banded pygmy and bantam sunfish,  flier, and redfin pickerel. Where: Beavers Bend State Park, Hochatown OK, approximately 8 mi N of Broken Bow.   Cabins approximately $90 – 150 and can hold multiple guests.  Lodge $111.  Cheaper off site rooms are available in Broken Bow.  There also a chance that a limited number of low costs (maybe even free) rooms will be available approximately a half hour away.  When:  June 4 – 7, 2015 Tentative Schedule (If there is enough interest “ladies only” seining, fishing, snorkeling or kayaking trips will be offered each day.) Day 1 (Thu.  June 4) 12:00 – 4:00 Arrival (lunch provided), collecting on own.  The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) will provide local maps and Fishes of Oklahoma Field Guide.  The ODWC will also conduct electrofishing on the Lower Mountain Fork River, have an otolith and pharyngeal teeth removal and reading demo, and set up a large native fish aquarium (also if conditions allow, a round tank with juvenile paddlefish).  Day 2 (Fri June 5) Speakers and Presentations                          9:00 to 9:20 Welcome to Oklahoma and Overview of Streams Program and Diversity (B. Brown ODWC)      9:25 to 9:45 Oklahoma Paddlefish Research and Caviar Program (J. Schooley ODWC)      9:45 to 10:05 Shovelnose Sturgeon Project (J. Johnston ODWC)      10:05 to 10:25 Kiamichi River Diversity and Stream Work  (C. Porter ODWC)      10:25 to 10:45 Break      10:45 to 11:05 Alligator Gar Age and Growth, Spawning Project (R. Snow ODWC)      11:05 to 11:25 Red Slough (R. BasterachUSFS)      11:30 to 1:00  Lunch      1:00 to 1:25 Helminth Parasites of Oklahoma Fishes (C. McAllister EOSC)      1:25 to 2:05 Aquarium Suitable Freshwater Fishes and Aquatic Life of Texas (K. McWest NANFA)      2:05 to 2:25 Break      2:25 to 2:45 Pecos River Fish Sampling (T. Patton SEOSU)      2:45 to 3:05 Overview of Oklahoma’s sucker gigging fishery (B. Brown ODWC)      3:05 to 7:00 Break      7:00 - ? Banquet (Fish Collecting in the Amazon; F. Rohde NANFA) Day 3 (Sat June 6) Field trips Leaving at 8:30 Upland sites:  Upper Mountain Fork, Little, Glover and Kiamichi rivers.  Possibly Upper Little Missouri and Cossatot rivers in AR.  Boktuklo, Big Eagle, Cucumber, Iron Fork, Coon and Carpenters Branch creeks. Transition sites:  Yashua, lukfata, Boktuklo (different creek, same name), Yanubbe, Clear, Cypress, Sand Springs Branch and Rock creeks.  Rolling Fork, Mountain Fork, Little and Glover River. Lowland Sites:  Rolling Fork Bar Pits, Little River Sloughs and Little River Refuge, Forked Lake, Lower Rock Creek (AR), Red Slough Wetland Management Unit, Push and Norwood creeks, various bar ditches. Snorkeling Sites:  Little Missouri and Cossatot Rivers – AR.  (streams are normally clear, provided no recent heavy rains)  The Cossatot River is home to one of the better populations of the Federally Endangered Leopard Darter. Day 4 (Sun June 7)  Field trips to the same sites as listed above for those wishing to stop on the way home leaving at 8:30.  Directions available for those interested in staying and extra day to independently visit Ozark sites or western OK sites Sunday or Monday.