Help to ID this fish

xizzy · 06-03-02, 09:44 PM

I've been fishing Stamp Creek, and have noticed lots of small fish swimming around and occasionally poking my fly. Deciding to investigate, I have swapped my fly gear for an ultralight spinning rod, tied on the smallest hook I could find, dug up some worms, and explored a small section of the stream, tossing the tiny bait wherever I've seen something in the water. Most of the catch was familiar: chub, redeye bass, bream, logperch, but there was one fish I've never seen before. It was 2.5in or so long. The general body shape similar to a bass: round in cross-section and chunky; brownish-colored back with lots of dark specs & streaks. Its mouth was small, facing forward. Tail was round; not forked. It had only one dorsal fin, which was set close to the tail (almost like pike), approximately in the same place a bass or perch has its second (soft) dorsal fin.
Does anyone here have an idea what kind of fish is (or might be) than?

The Owl · 06-03-02, 10:37 PM

Xizzy. I have no idea. Probably a member of the minnow family? I do know it's not a brook trout. haha( just kidding).

Owl

maybe Jeff Durniak knows...contact the DNR.

Major Wader · 06-04-02, 10:29 AM

Probably a sculpin (trout candy).
They are the reason brown streamers work so well.

GUTHOOKED · 06-05-02, 07:21 PM

I have seen a few like that, but I can't remember what they are. (It seems like I used to know

) I don't believe it was a sculpin, though. Sculpins have both spiny and soft dorsal fins, similar to perch and bass.

Ted · 06-06-02, 07:00 PM

OK - xizzy, I am taking a guess here but based on your description it may be something like a Central Mudminnow (Umbra limi).

Cenral mudminnow picture

They are closely related to Esocids (pike and pickerel). The tip-off was your description of the placement of the dorsal fin and the rounded tail fin. Although not really visible in above drawing, a picture in "The Fishes of Tennessee" shows the coloration that you spoke of.

Another Picture of Mudminnows

Why might it be in a GA stream? Well, according to what I found on this fish, it is occasionally shipped to the Southeast along with bait fish like fathead minnows from the Midwest. It may have been used as bait in Allatoona and made its way upstream to Stamp Creek. They have been introduced into places in TN in this manner. Anything is possible with "bait bucket introductions".

Again, this is just a guess.

TH

[This message has been edited by Ted (edited 06-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Ted (edited 06-06-2002).]

xizzy · 06-06-02, 07:22 PM

I think it could have been a mudminnow. The fish looked very much like the ones on these pictures.

Thanks for the info. Never hurts to learn something

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06-03-02, 09:44 PM	#1
xizzy Native Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sandy Springs, GA, Fulton Posts: 74	I've been fishing Stamp Creek, and have noticed lots of small fish swimming around and occasionally poking my fly. Deciding to investigate, I have swapped my fly gear for an ultralight spinning rod, tied on the smallest hook I could find, dug up some worms, and explored a small section of the stream, tossing the tiny bait wherever I've seen something in the water. Most of the catch was familiar: chub, redeye bass, bream, logperch, but there was one fish I've never seen before. It was 2.5in or so long. The general body shape similar to a bass: round in cross-section and chunky; brownish-colored back with lots of dark specs & streaks. Its mouth was small, facing forward. Tail was round; not forked. It had only one dorsal fin, which was set close to the tail (almost like pike), approximately in the same place a bass or perch has its second (soft) dorsal fin. Does anyone here have an idea what kind of fish is (or might be) than?

06-03-02, 10:37 PM	#2
The Owl Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,178	Xizzy. I have no idea. Probably a member of the minnow family? I do know it's not a brook trout. haha( just kidding). Owl maybe Jeff Durniak knows...contact the DNR.

06-04-02, 10:29 AM	#3
Major Wader Native Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 187	Probably a sculpin (trout candy). They are the reason brown streamers work so well.

06-05-02, 07:21 PM	#4
GUTHOOKED Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Shady Dale, GA Posts: 1,462	I have seen a few like that, but I can't remember what they are. (It seems like I used to know ) I don't believe it was a sculpin, though. Sculpins have both spiny and soft dorsal fins, similar to perch and bass.

06-06-02, 07:00 PM	#5
Ted Native Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Representin' Blvrd Heights in the ATL Posts: 1,736	OK - xizzy, I am taking a guess here but based on your description it may be something like a Central Mudminnow (Umbra limi). Cenral mudminnow picture They are closely related to Esocids (pike and pickerel). The tip-off was your description of the placement of the dorsal fin and the rounded tail fin. Although not really visible in above drawing, a picture in "The Fishes of Tennessee" shows the coloration that you spoke of. Another Picture of Mudminnows Why might it be in a GA stream? Well, according to what I found on this fish, it is occasionally shipped to the Southeast along with bait fish like fathead minnows from the Midwest. It may have been used as bait in Allatoona and made its way upstream to Stamp Creek. They have been introduced into places in TN in this manner. Anything is possible with "bait bucket introductions". Again, this is just a guess. TH [This message has been edited by Ted (edited 06-06-2002).] [This message has been edited by Ted (edited 06-06-2002).]

06-06-02, 07:22 PM	#6
xizzy Native Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sandy Springs, GA, Fulton Posts: 74	I think it could have been a mudminnow. The fish looked very much like the ones on these pictures. Thanks for the info. Never hurts to learn something