Login
Join Now!
Membership Info
Sections
Home
Articles
The Darter - Newsletter
NFC Forum
NFC TV
Photo Gallery
NFC Store
Joe Tomelleri Store
Grants & Programs
Adopt a Tank
Blue Pike
Exotics Fish Tourny
Grant History
Sustainable Aquaculture
Web Fund
|
Dipping For Darters
Konrad Schmidt
 I remember my first experience with darters was seeing them in a friends aquarium and wondering why anyone would be interested in keeping crippled minnows for a hobby. Darters have since become one of my favorite species to collect and photograph. I began collecting darters soley by seining which worked well in lakes and rivers where there were no logs or rocks to snag the seine. Unfortunately, this type of habitat did not offer a great diversity in species and tended to be dominated by the ever present Johnny darter. I have tried seining boulder strewn streams, but found the seine could not be maneuvered in crevices where I have watched darters smugly staying put as the seine passed over them. I have also tried collecting with two people holding the seine stationary as one person upstream poked into crevices and turned over boulders. This would sometimes produce a rainbow darter, but I did not care for the "dredging effect" inflicted upon the stream. I eventually learned a very simple method (See Photo) from a friend who happened to be even more fanatical about darters than I was. He found that the same dip nets used to catch fish in an aquarium also worked very well on darters living in stream riffles. We have since pooled our efforts and have learned through trial and error that other aspects should also be considered such as: stream and weather conditions, collecting equipment, and a little patience to master the technique. The proper stream and weather conditions are very important and we have found they can make a trip a success or a failure. We have preferred to collect from streams that are crystal clear because any silt suspended in the water helps camouflage the darter. We generally collect in water less than 18 inches deep because of problems with visual distortion that occur when anything ripples the surface such as net handles and boulders. The skies should be completely clear because ever ray of light is needed to keep the darter in sight at all times. We have collected on partly cloudy days, but found it very difficult because darters would literally blend into the bottom every time a cloud covered the sun. We have learned from experience to postpone a trip if heavy rains have occurred recently because streams in our area will frequently flood and be laden with silt for several days after a storm. The only equipment required for this method is two 8-10 inch dip nets which can be found at pet stores that sell tropical fish. Waders are optional, but we have used them for collecting in the spring and fall. Polarized sunglasses are also not required but they do reduce the glare off the water's surface making the bottom easier to see. The actual method consists of walking slowing through the relatively flat surface areas below rapids and closely watching the bottom for any darters flushing from their cover. We have found that darters will generally stay put until our feet come within a few inches of their position. The darter usually moves only a foot or two and stops. Now the darters exact location is known and can be slowly surrounded with one net below and the other above. The upstream net is pulled downstream while gently tapping the bottom at the same time. This normally herds the darter into the downstream net. In very tight places such as narrow crevices, the upstream net can be turned sideways and "probed" in the direction of the downstream net that covers the exit. The exact positioning and maneuvering of the nets can be difficult in the beginning, but should quickly improve with practice. We have used dip nets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri. The method has also proven very effective on other non-darter bottom dwelling fishes and has so far produced the following species list.
If anyone is interested in trying this method, I suggest they first learn their state's laws and regulations governing this type of collecting. In the four states that I have collected from only Wisconsin does not require a fishing license, however, all have areas closed to seining and dip netting such as designated trout streams that unfortunately contain many interesting darters. Some states will issue special permits for collecting in trout streams. Don and I both have permits for streams in Minnesota, but Wisconsin has informed us they would only grant special permits to public institutions such as schools and museums. I have one final word of caution to add for anyone who manages to get a special permit. Beware of all trout fishermen! They are very possessive of their streams and will "interrogate" anyone who is doing anything out of the ordinary like wielding dip nets. I once made a big mistake when I told a concerned fisherman I was collecting rainbow darters for my aquarium and of course the only word he keyed into was "rainbow". I now select my words very carefully when in the presence of trout fishermen. |
© 2005-2008 The Native Fish Conservancy