""They had two brands, both painted black. Which would be best for trying to catch SFS, BNM, etc. in the creek as well as for assessing the small fish population in my pond?""
Neither one, unless as Canyon says the black is just paint and not rubberized coating. Paint can be repainted camouflage or green with brown. Many minnows/shiners don't seem to like the rubber coated traps for some reason - catch rate is lower. Bare metal painted galvanized traps catch about twice as many minnows in my creek sets than the rubber coated ones. I got rid of my rubber coated traps and replaced them with Gee style minnow traps. I have about 10 older Gee traps plus homemade ones.
http://www.easternmarineoutlet.com/gees-galvanized-minnow-trap-g-40http://www.memphisnet.net/product/3804/t...ivLnxoCh2Dw_wcB Look for 6 pack free shipping offers on eBay. Here is a pretty good deal.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIX-6-Gees-G40-G...=item25938802ee 
