Snail Darters ?

[Brian37075]

I was walking on the walking trail over Drakes creek yesterday and seen several fish that look just like the snail darter. Some of these were probably about a foot long. Are darters common to the creek?

[bfish]

Snail darters are a large river species, mostly found in the upper TN river (and larger tribs):

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=827

Fishes of TN (Etnier and Starnes) is a great book. See if you can get a copy loaned to your library, if it is not already on the shelf.

There is over 300 species of fish in TN. Many of them are darters and are common and live in creeks.

More than likely you probably saw central stonerollers, a very common creek inhabitant.

[Brian37075]

Thanks for info, looked up the stone roller on the web. Positive they weren't those. They had stripes just like the snail darter. Their two bottom fins were lighter brown and they would just sit on those resting on the bottom. They were hanging out with a couple bass, and a few sunfish. There was probably about 20 or thirty of them in this one area.

[bfish]

how long were they? Also I assume the creek flows into the Cumberland, not the TN river right?

[tnduxcaller]

They are probably, I think, called brown suckers.

[MickT]

Northern Hogsucker-
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/northern_hog_sucker.htm
Very common to the gravel-bottomed streams of TN

[Saltwaterwalt]

Log perch are pretty common ... when you're looking for them :D

http://www.twra4streams.org/warmreports.html

[Brian37075]

The log perch looks kinda like them. There in Drakes creek. If you go to where the inline hockey rinks and softball fields are there is a bridge over a Drakes Creek for the walking trail. I seen them three yesterday and went back this afternoon to get pictures. They were still right under the bridge. I'll to attach a picture. The ranged from 12" to 8" probably the smallest I seen. They are hard to see, but they are the middle of the picture two right next to each other. The stripes are what set them apart from the bottom. Look right above the white spot on the water.