Field Trip Anyone?

[kazzy]

George and I were talking and we are wanting to go out and look for/possibly collect some native fish. I personally also want to do some field herping while I'm out For anyone who is unfamiliar with that term, it basically means searching for reptiles/amphibians in the wild. I'm wanting to know if anyone would be interested in joining in on the fun? It'll of course be once it warms up a good bit.
And, just for fun, here's a list of things I'm wanting to find (feel free to put up your wish list too!)
Shiners (Rainbows if they are native here)
Dwarf Sunfish
Sculpin
All kinds of darters
Native Crays

Reptiles:
Ringneck Snake (found a few last year, little buggers are rare though!)
Water snakes
King snakes
Skinks
Fence Lizards

Also looking to collect some Isopod ('rollie pollies') and earth worms, possibly some clams. The Isopods I'll be breeding for the dragon and any other lizards I get (they are high in calcium) plus any fish that'll eat them, along with the earth worms but not for the dragon. And if I happen to come across a Unicorn Beetle...look out...Only one I've ever seen is the carcass of one a coworker found and gave to me. GORGEOUS beetles!

[angel]

I'll be in for the fish part, if you keep the snakes far away from me!

[vladsbtch]

AWWW Tina, snakes are cool as long as you can tell the venomous ones from the nonvenomous. Ya got me I was trained in that at Grassmere park before it was the zoo. I did the reptile/touch and learn room they had. We will keep the snakes away from you. I know a few things about the native wild life we have here. I like your list Katie but we don't have dwarf sunfish or rainbows in TN.
I think that one of the best places to go in TN is the Duck River. Down close to Tina. I took this from the internet but I had read about it before, in a National Geographic.
The Duck River is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. Too cool and we live fairly close. So when it gets warmer we need to check it out. I would like to get some mussels again. They are great filters!

[angel]

It's not fear of getting poisoned so much--I just am not fond of land things without legs. Or with too many legs. And their eyes are creepy. Especially the ones with plus signs in them.

[angel]

I love to fish and I do bait my own hook even with nightcrawlers but if they wrap around my finger and grip I go mental.

[vladsbtch]

It is a common fear. My big strong father was terrified of snakes. I remember he would see one in the yard while mowing and run it over. He hit a I would say python when we lived in Africa just because it was stretched out across the road. I would play with snakes and he would yell at me from the house to "put that D@#* thing down right now!" My mom was scared of snakes too so it is a wonder I am not. I guess I wanted to play with something they didn't want me to play with. LOL. I would never pester someone with a snake as that is mean. Well I wouldn't do it to a friend. I have been known to grab a spider and scare grown men and hear them scream like little girls. I think it is funny when a big strong macho man is scared of a little spider. and boy can some of them scream. ;D LMAO Anyways Tina you are safe with me I promise. But worms? That's ok, I will bait your hook when we go fishin, I did it for one one daughter cause she loved to fish but wouldn't bait her hook or take the fish off. Now she just won't take the fish off. LOL. She baits her sons hook now. My only problem and it isn't fear as it is a loathing is ticks!!! Hate the things. Finding one on myself and I just get grossed out and have to get into the shower. YUCK!!!! But leaches don't bother me.

[angel]

I don't like ANY of that stuff! But I always bait my own hook and just try to not let the worm wrap my finger. It's a pride thing--I have to do the baiting and I taught my kids to bait their hooks when they were toddlers. If ya wanna fish ya have to bait!

[kazzy]

lol!!!
Don't worry, I won't pester you with any snakes or spiders
When I worked at Extreme Pets, it was funny, but little girls were more willing to hold snakes/tarantulas than both little boys AND grown men. Pretty funny

[jon carman]

I would try it in the spring, anyone know any good spots?

[jgentry]

Jan 18, 2011 18:44:46 GMT -6 jon carman said:

I would try it in the spring, anyone know any good spots?

Small streams are generally best. Nothing to big or deap. Any of the streams that empty into old hickory or Priest will work just fine. All will have reptiles and lots of fish. Longear amd pumpkinseed sunfish both have nice color and are good aquarium fish.

[kazzy]

I believe George knows a place, and I usually go to a creek/dam near me. Really wanting to go back out to Ashland City though to a creek near a friend's house. Caught a freakin HUGE cray there, I believe was a P. Clarkii. Awesome looking one too.

[angel]

Carter's Creek runs right by me . It looks promising.

[kazzy]

Maybe we'll plan a few trips to several different places

[jody]

I would to join yall, i am currently in an ichthyology class at western kentucky university. I am having to learn the scientific names of all the native fishes to kentucky and tennessee. Actually we took our first test today, it was over minnows and suckers. We had 30 minnows, i think. So it might help me out to go with yall. I am sure i can get my hands on the seine that we use in class to use.

[vladsbtch]

Cool, I have a throw net, hand net and minnow trap. We should be all set.