Fritz pausing for a photo while performing some research

Fritz Rohde is a biologist with the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Division where he splits his time among several saltwater ventures. His real research interests, however, lie in the freshwater realm. He has co-authored a book on the freshwater fishes of the eastern seaboard and is the primary author and photographer for "Freshwater Fishes of South Carolina" released in 2009. In his spare time, he has described a few species and co-hosted the 2007 NANFA convention in Greensboro, NC. His interests in NANFA include seeing the high quality of AC maintained, keep continuing good relations with local DNRs and academia, opening dialogue with members, and keeping up the standards set at the annual meetings.

Brian with his daughter on the Kokosing River, March 20, 2011

Michael at a past NANFA convention about to snorkel some clear water

Josh doing some NANFA outreach

Josh Blaylock
Richmond, KY

Growing up in Southeastern Kentucky, I spent a lot of time in creeks, streams, and mountains.  Fishing in the waterways and hiking the mountains gave me a great love for my state.  My enjoyment of nature and Kentucky came together around 2008 when I found NANFA while researching native fish aquariums.  My love for natives has grown over the years.  The more I read and researched the deeper appreciation I have for our native fishes.  Outreach, education, and protection have been a priority for me.  These priorities lead me to the Kentucky Regional Representative for NANFA in 2012, and now to the board of directors.  I am also a member of Kentucky Waterways Alliance & Kentucky River Watershed Watch.  In 2011 I started my own webpage, www.kycreeks.com, which is dedicated to the beauty, diversity, and conservation of the waterways within Kentucky.  I strive to continue outreach and education about native fishes, as this is the way to get others to care and get involved in their protection.

Like a lot of families, mine had a lot of pets; dogs, parakeets, gerbils, hamsters and FISH. My Mom and Dad were busy so a lot of the care for the pets, were the responsibility of me and my two siblings. As I recall, it was mostly my brother and I who fed the fish. Eventually, we got aquariums in other rooms and I became more and more fascinated by fish, and especially small fast-moving fish, like zebra danios.

This fascination continued, so by my college years when I moved away, I was setting up a 20 and a 10 gal. in my own apartment. I was learning about water chemistry and treating for chlorine (we had well water at my family home)..

In the years that followed, I married and had a couple kids, but I continued to maintain my two fish tanks. I was looking for something "for me" and saw a fish show flier. The show was at the Como Zoo, but was sponsored by the Minnesota Aquarium Society. After attending, I signed up immediately to become a member. In 1993, I had already been bitten by the "you can catch fish in your own backyard bug" I joined a small group of MASers and went to the Cannon River to collect darters. I've been organizing the Darter Hunts for 30 plus years now!.

Also in 1993, I met Konrad and a small handful of people at the first NANFA convention I attended in St. Paul. We didn't connect together again till many years later, but all along, I was obtaining permits and doing the Darter Hunts, every Spring. My interest in native fish was always there. I think even when I was really little looking at my zebra danios, I was seeing shiners, I just didn't know it!

Jenny on a "Darter Hunt" in Prairie Lake