Collecting Fish

• Adinia xenica - Diamond Killifish
• Lucania parva - Rainwater Killifish
• Cyprinodon variegatus - Sheepshead Minnow
• Fundulus blairae - Western Starhead Topminnow
• Fundulus chrysotus - Golden Topminnow
• Fundulus dispar - Northern Starhead Topminnow
• Fundulus grandis - Gulf Killifish
• Fundulus jenkinsii - Saltmarsh Topminnow
• Fundulus similis - Longnose Killifish
• Fundulus euryzonus - Broadstripe topminnow
• Fundulus notti - Southern Starhead Topminnow
• Fundulus olivaceus - Blackspotted Topminnow
• Fundulus notatus - Blackstripe Topminnow
• Fundulus pulvareus - Bayou Killifish

According to some publications, Floridicthys carpio (Goldspotted killifish) may also be found here, but I've yet to see them.

Simply stand on the shore or bank, toss the net out into you creek, stream, river or lake and be surprised at the aquarium specimens that you may catch! (Think of it as a "handle-less" dip-net, that is easily stored and transported!) Most of the time, you don't even need to get your feet wet to catch minnows, shiners, killifish, etc.!

The Shiner Scoop was originally made to sample the bluenose shiner in specific habitats, ie: a deep-water "pool" area immediately downstream from a narrow, shallow riffle. The fish naturally collect in the immediate outflow from the shallow riffle, in deeper water. In most cases, similar species will exhibit the same behavior and since the water is clear, can be easily observed from a vantage point overlooking the stream/creek. After the desired species are found, you're ready to go into action.

First, you should thoroughly wet the netting while placing the loop of the hand-line over your non-throwing hand/wrist. Secondly, gather at least some of the wet netting and the Shiner Scoop steel hoop into your other hand. Have you ever tossed a "Hula_Hoop" to make it "walk" back to you? It's an easy back-handed toss that imparts a slight "backwards" spin using an under-handed motion! You don't need to use so much force as a Moon launch, easy does it! (Be careful not to be standing on the loose hand-line laying at your feet.)

When the net contacts the water, pause just a second or two until the net becomes at least 1/2 way submerged, then give the hand-line a quick jerk to position the mouth of the net until it's oriented towards you. Pause and let your intended prey settle down before hauling in the net with the hand-line! Sometimes, they even swim into the net while you're waiting to visually locate the species! Then, haul in the net as quickly as you can and place them into your transport container!

In other habitats, when target species aren't easily seen, just find a likely area, say a heavily-vegetated shoreline area. Use the same procedure of tossing out the net, position the net towards you, pause for a few seconds and quickly haul in your catch! You'll be surprised at what you may find in your net!

When you're returned home, don't forget to thoroughly rinse the netting, galvanized steel hoop and hand-line! Hang it in a dry place to "drip-dry" before storing it for your next collecting trip! You'll find that the apparatus doesn't take much space as does an equally effective dip-net because there is no long handle to take up additional space in your closet, travel bags, garage, vehicle, etc.! When completely dry, the entire Shiner Scoop or Swamp Wolff weighs less than 3 pounds.