Middle Patuxent Ecology

And requirements for future field trips

Streams in Clarksville
The stream that runs in Great Star Drive, under the bridge, is the Middle Patuxent.
This river is located in Howard county Maryland , and is tributary of the patuxent river, which flows into the chesapeake bay. Many
species of fish inhabit this river such as chub, sunfish, bluegill, crappie, smallmouth bass, and small trout.

Species of fish in the Middle Patuxent

Semotilus atromaculatus, known as the creek chub or the common creek chub, is a small minnow, a freshwater fish found in the eastern
US and Canada. Differing in size and color depending on origin of development, the creek chub can usually be defined by a dark brown body
with a white lateral line spanning horizontally across the body. It lives primarily within streams and rivers. Creek Chubs attain lengths of 2-6
inches with larger specimens of up to 12 inches possible.
The creek chub is described as an opportunist and a carnivore, and consumes many different foods to survive, including fish, insect remains
and vegetation, amphipods, adult Coleoptera, Ephemeroptera nymphs, Odonata larvae. They will attack nightcrawlers and alsmost all live
baits. As a juvenile, it actively feeds throughout the early morning on organisms within the water. As an adult, the creek chub does not feed
until the afternoon, being documented to never feed before 1100 hours. Thriving in small stream environments, the creek chub gravitates
toward areas of weeds to appear secure and avoid predation. wikipedia.org

Species of fish in the Middle Patuxent

The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order
Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the black basses, it is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the
temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stock to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so
introduced in the United States.
The smallmouth bass is found in clearer water than the largemouth, especially streams, rivers, and the rocky areas and stumps and also
sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs. The smallmouth prefers cooler water temperatures than its cousin the Largemouth bass, and may be
found in both still and running water. Because it is intolerant of pollution, the smallmouth bass is a good natural indicator of a healthy
environment, though it can better adjust to changes in water condition than most trout species. Carnivorous, its diet comprises crayfish,
insects, and smaller fish; the young also feeding on zooplankton.

Species of fish in the Middle Patuxent

The Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of
the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes. It is native to North America and lives in streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. It is
commonly found east of the Rockies. It usually hides around, and inside, old tree stumps and other underwater structures. It can live in either
deep or very shallow water, and will often move back and forth, depending on the time of day or season. Bluegills also like to find shelter
among water plants and in the shade of trees along banks. Young bluegills' diet consists of rotifers and water fleas. The adult diet consists of
aquatic insect larvae (mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies), but can also include crayfish, leeches, snails, and other small fish. [9] Their diet can
also include the waxworm and nightcrawler that can be provided for them by anglers. If food is scarce, bluegill will also feed on aquatic
vegetation, and if scarce enough, will even feed on their own eggs or offspring. As bluegill spend a great deal of time near the surface of
water, they can also feed on popping bugs and dry flies. wikipedia.org

Species of fish in the Middle Patuxent

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and
North America. Wild-caught and hatchery-reared forms of this species have been transplanted and introduced for food or sport in at least 45
countries and every continent except Antarctica.
Rainbow trout are predators with a varied diet and will eat nearly anything they can capture. They are not as piscivorous or aggressive as
brown trout or chars. Rainbow trout, including juvenile steelhead in freshwater, routinely feed on larval, pupal and adult forms of aquatic
insects (typically caddisflies, stoneflies, mayflies and aquatic diptera). They also eat fish eggs and adult forms of terrestrial insects (typically
ants, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets) that fall into the water. Other prey include small fish up to one-third of their length, crayfish, shrimp,
and other crustaceans. As rainbow trout grow, the proportion of fish consumed increases in most populations. wikipedia.org

Food items of the fish

Caddisfly Larva - Although caddisflies may be found in waterbodies of varying qualities, species-rich caddisfly assemblages are
generally thought to indicate clean water. Together with stoneflies and mayflies, caddisflies feature importantly in bioassessment
surveys of streams and other water bodies. Caddisfly species can be found in all feeding guilds in stream habitats, with some species
being predators, leaf shredders, algal grazers, and collectors of particles from the water column and benthos. They are
most commonly eaten by trout, chub, and other

commonly eaten by trout, sometimes sunfish, and chub. Many lures imitate them, such as wet flies.

Food items of the fish

Assorted minnows - Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or
for fishing bait. They eat zooplankton, aquatic insects, fish fry, insects that fall into the water, tadpoles, fish eggs. ect. Small fish will eat
vegetation. They are more fattening than insects. Minnows are small fish, often schooling, are the food items of larger fish. Smallmouth
bass, large chub and trout, will commonly eat minnows. Many lures imitate a wounded minnow, which is not only high in calories, but
easy prey. Minnow can also be trapped in homemade bottle taps and used as live bait.
They hide in aquatic structure, such as fallen logs, and water grasses, which large fish lurk to ambush.

Food items of the fish

Insects on the water - Many aquatic insects, such as caddisflies, and stoneflies, as well as flying insects in the water, attract trout,
chub, and sometimes bass. By struggling on the surface of the water, they attract fish, hence dry fly fishing. In small streams, flying
insects that fall into the water are a major portion of the diets of fish, which makes fishing with their imitations very effectively. In fact,
that has spawned the sport of fly fishing. Other land insects, such as large ants, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, and grasshoppers,
may may into the water and become food for fish.
Stone flies, and caddisflies begin their lives in the water as larvae. They evolve into flying adults, which pupate in hatches. These
hatches occur during the ear, and are a major portion of the diets of trout in large rivers.

Items and new policy

The new policy dictates that if you want to fish during a field trip, you need your own gear, or somehow get it from a friend. If
you dont have a rod and go to the trip, it's perfectly fine. There are other things you can do. Also, nets are fair game, and
since we are going to mostly go to streams, rivers, and marshes in the future, nets are much more useful than they would
be in a lake, because the fish have little place to go, and you can easily wade in shorts. The only things really needed are a
rod, and a pack of small lures (around 1 or so) of your choice.

Since sometimes only lures are allowed, and since lures are just as
effective as bait, versatile, and no mess, you should consider getting
a pack of lures. A good idea is to buy a pack, and share with friends,
since most lures come in packs. Curly tailed grubs, tubes, marabou
jigs are recommended. They are cheap ($1 for a pack), and if you
know a friend who would share, you can ask he or she for a some
lures.

If you buy curly tailed, grubs (center), you need to buy

jigheads, (left). You need to then rig it, like shown on the
right, which is quite simple. Another way is to buy your grubs
rigged. Both jigheads and marabou jigs and tubes should be
in the 1/32 (for brook trout and other smaller fish) to 1/16 (for
rainbow trout and others). These lures could be used for
other fish. If you buy a kit instead, that saves you the trouble.
Marabou jigs and grubs are considered the two best lures for
beginner fisherman because of their effectiveness, ability to
catch many types of fish, and simple use. They are included
in all fishing starter kits.

Lures to use
Micro Crankbaits, (1) small curly tailed grubs (2), inline spinners (3), flies (4), micro poons, (5), Miceo jigs, (6) all work for targeting fish
in the Middle Patuxent River.

Baits to use
Live baits can be used. Crickets are good in the summer to attract large panfish and trout. Corn can be used for river carp and chub. Nightcrawlers
are a good all around bait, and mealworms are deadly on trout and chub.

Processed baits, such as Berkley Trout Dough, which is very effective and can be easily bought at Walmart, are very good on Trout and other fish.
They are very good for beginners. Salmon eggs, such as Pautzkes, are used by more experienced fishermen, and can be sometimes bought in
Walmart.

For more information

Go to clarksvillefisheries.weebly.com for updates, scheduling, and new articles
being written every week.