Trip to Limestone County, Alabama, for flame chubs

We went out to the northwest corner of Limestone County, Alabama, today. The destination was Sugar Creek where Highway 99 crosses it, near Mount Rozell. We found the place OK, and could park easily. But this is a big creek; water was over a meter deep only about 3 meters from shore. Steven walked out and actually stepped off a ledge while holding a pole of the seine, so that he was immersed about halfway up his face. The other two students howled with laughter, of course, even as they complained about wet underwear. In short, we found no flame chubs. We went to this site because on Sept. 29, 1968, a single flame chub was found there and is now in the University of Alabama Ichthyology Collection in Tuscaloosa. Maybe the creek was smaller or shallower then, or at least that day? I don't know.

We also tried to find Round Island Creek northwest of Athens, Alabama, on the way home along a county road. The creek seems to have disappeared... or at least to have been buried? Another mystery. When we do these trips we usually visit places I've never been before, so it can be strangely disorienting.

This was the last class trip of the semester. I'll be starting up with some summer school students by the end of May, probably primarily looking for flame chubs. I may also go out Wednesday afternoon to help some other students who need fish for their research. At least the weather is near perfect now, in the low 80s F and sunny.