Making A Fishscope 1. Remove the bottom of a half-gallon jug. Carefully remove the top of the jug where it begins to narrow. 2. Cut a piece of strong, clear plastic twice the size of the bottom of the jug. 3. Put the bottomless jug on the center of the plastic. Tightly pull the edges up the sides and tape securely with duct tape. 4. Put your under-water viewer in the water and look through its top. Click to Enlarge     Who's Watching Whom? by Cindy Borgwordt Fish are watching you, and you'd better step lightly because they can also "feel" you coming. Fish may be watching out for you, but it's really fun to spend some time watching them. Fish are fascinating! Some fish seem lazy and some are always on the move, Some are colorful and some are drab, but they're always interesting. You can watch fish hunt and eat. You can watch them spawn and protect their territories. You can see big fish and little fish. If you watch them long enough, you'll see that every species behaves differently, and you may learn to recognize individuals within each species. Watching fish helps you learn more about them. You can see how they take a worm or a bug, or dart to cover or hold in one spot. If you like to fish, everything you can learn by watching them will improve your fishing skills. Fish watching is also a great way to relax. Stressed-out people are advised to get an aquarium. The bubbling water and the slow movements of the fish are extremely mellowing. Aquariums are handy, but the best place to watch fish is where they live. There you can see what they eat and how they act in the wild. You can also see what makes good fish habitat. Good places to watch fish are high banks, docks, boats and bridges. Getting above the fish cuts down the amount of water you have to look through. If fish are sitting still, you may see their shadowy outlines against the bottom. If they're moving or feeding, you can sometimes see sunlight reflect off their scales. To watch fish from the bank, you have to step lightly. Fish sense vibrations and may hide or leave the area. If you find a good viewing spot on a bank, sit there quietly for about 10 minutes and the fish will resume their normal activities. Make sure you don't cast a shadow over them. In fact, it's better to always keep low so they can't see your outline against the sky. I like to lie on a grassy bank with my eyes just peeking over the edge. You don't need much equipment to watch fish. Use polarized sunglasses to reduce glare from the surface and let you see into the water better. When you put on a pair, you sometimes see fish magically appear where there didn't seem to be anything before. You can attract more fish to your watching site by putting out some bait, such as corn or fish pellets. This is called chumming. It's illegal in trout parks, but legal in most places. Fish learn about new food sources quickly. If you chum at the same time every day, the fish will soon be waiting for you. Sometimes the fish compete so fiercely for food that they make the water appear to "boil" when they come to the surface to feed. During a visit to a pond, I've attracted lots of little fish by dropping my sandwich crust on the water. They attacked it like sharks! For the most fun, jump in the water and join the fish. Try floating in a clear Missouri stream or pond with a mask and snorkel. The mask improves your vision in the water, and the snorkel makes it so you don't even have to lift your head. Swim fins will help you move around more quickly. For safety, wear a personal flotation device, and always have an adult with you. It's also a good idea to wear a light-colored T-shirt or put on waterproof sunblock to prevent sunburn. You can look at fish without getting your face wet by using a homemade viewing device. It's fun to use and easy to make. Fish are watching you, and now you can watch them, too! Fish Lookouts! One of the best places to observe fish is at a fish hatchery. The Missouri Department of Conservation has hatcheries throughout the state that are open to the public. Many private hatcheries also allow visitors. Most zoological parks, or zoos, have large aquariums, too. If you go to the state fair, make sure you visit the Conservation Department building. Many of our freshwater fish species are on display there. Hatcheries usually have fish in all stages of life. You can see them as hatchlings, fingerlings and adults. You can see a lot of fish by getting close to some of the raceways where they are raised. Some of the hatcheries will let you feed the fish. Here are some more great places to see fish up close and live: Dickerson Park Zoo, 3043 North Fort, Springfield, MO, 65803, 417/864 1800 Kansas City Zoological Gardens, 6700 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO 64132, 816/871-5700 St. Louis Zoological Park, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO. 314/781-0900 St. Louis Children's Aquarium, 314/647-9594 Conservation Nature Centers, statewide. Call your nearest office for information. MDC St. Joe Regional Office, 701 NE College Dr., St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816/271-3100 or 816/271-3100 MDC Cape Girardeau Regional Office, 2302 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, 573/290-5730 National Wonders of Wildlife Museum, 500 West Sunshine, Springfield, MO 65807. (Opening this fall.) Discovery Center, 4750 Troost, Kansas City, MO 65110. (Opening this fall or winter.