As I stumbled around in the current, getting my bearings, I saw a flash of orange downstream. A tangerine darter danced through the current effortlessly. It swam past us and around us unafraid, almost mocking our lack of coordination. This was the darter’s element, not ours.
Over the next few hours, I’d see dozens of fish species, many in the bright, iridescent colors of freshwater aquarium fish. It was mating season so even some of the dullest darters flashed brightly. Schools of shiners and minnows followed me up stream, taking shelter from the current. Lumpy sculpin, utterly confident in their rocky camouflage, let us get within inches of their hiding places. A rainbow trout darted past us, a knife through the water.
East Tennessee mountain rivers, biodiversity, fish attract snorkelers
dnj.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dnj.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Connecticut River – NECN
necn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from necn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.