Anyone know what the name of this fish?

[Ken Smith]

I've been fishing on Fightingtown creek and have been catching dozens of the little silver fish,long and slender, with orange markings along the gills and fins. They're really a pain in the BUTT. They have been hitting both drys and nymphs. Smallest was about 3" largest about 6".
Are they harmful in anyway to the trout population? Are they trash fish? If so, should I be discarding them on the bank?

Ken

[Hooker]

Ken,
It sounds like they are probably a variety of creek chub which are native to the mountain streams. They form part of the food base for the larger trout, so don't throw them on the bank. They are an important part of the stream ecosystem.

Hooker

[Ken Smith]

Thanks for the info.
Ken

[Jim]

I think the fish you are referring to is commonly called a "Warpaint Shiner". You can also 'catch' them on the Chattoga.

[Erik]

I concur with Jim's identification. I am curious as to what constitutes a "trash fish" in the opinion of the readers of this board. Maybe this topic should be relegated to the Env. Issues/Conservation forum, as a related topic was recently discussed there.
Anyway, native fish species that are incidentally caught should never be thrown on the bank to perish. It would be more ecologically sound to instead chunk the introduced rainbows and browns (or keep them for the frying pan Mr. T previously stated).

Erik

[Ken Smith]

Eric,
I did not mean to offend you by the term "Trash Fish". What I meant by the term, is a fish that is not native to the streams of north Georgia. A fish that was introduced by someone using live minnows as bait, for example. I have read many articles in various fishing and outdoor magazines about such examples of non-native species being introduced into areas, and it having a very adverse affect on the native species. I don't claim to be an expert in stream ecology, that is why I asked for advice. As for trout fishing goes, I am a beginner at best. I have received a lot of good advice on this board, and would welcome any advice you may have. I have been coming up to these mountains all my life, and would never do anything that I thought was harmful to the environment.

Ken

[Ken Smith]

Eric,
I just read your recent post in the Enviro. / Conservation section. It seems your very knowledgeable on the subject of introducing foreign species into streams. If you have any other questions about this topic, please feel free to e-mail me.

Just kidding, looks like I made quite the fool of myself.

Could you recommend any good books on "Stream Ecosystems", it could only help in pursuit of the almighty trout.

Thanks
Ken

[Erik]

Ken,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. It just seems that the term "trash fish" is usually associated with native, non-game species around here. The chunking of these fish on the bank is an all to common practice. It seems that the misguided practitioners of this activity think that elimination of these species will free up resources for trout and other "desirable" species. If trout aren't competing with these fishes to begin with (which they aren't), then their elimination may do more harm than good. You see that I don't favor this practice.

However, as you said, some rivers do have introduced species of baitfish, such as red shiners and white suckers in the Chattahoochee. Populations of introduced species usually either boom or bust in most cases. Removal of a few won't do much either way. The best cure is prevention of their introduction.

I ramble... If you really want to read a good book, try Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters by J. David Allan.
I've seen it at Border's before. Among other things, it has a good chapter on anthropogenic modifications of streams and rivers, including species introductions. It also has a good chapter on macroinvertebrate (aquatic bugs) drift, a subject which should be of interest to any trout fisherman.

Erik

[Ken Smith]

Eric,
Thanks for the info.
Ken