02-21-2004, 11:45 PM
On a map, my favorite bass water doesn't look like much. A 28-acre ponds that lies just 10 miles from an urban zone of 3 million people usually won't. But therein lies its power. While hordes of urbanites pound the water of a large lake less than a quarter-mile away (or drive hundreds of miles to their lake cabins), I launch my float tube and pull largemouth after hefty largemouth, with no one to crowd me but a noisy loon.
Untouched urban bass lakes like mine--it'll have to remain nameless--are more common than most anglers think, and some offer excellent fishing. Even if such lakes have a boat launch, there are often restrictions on outboard size. The difficult access keeps fishing pressure to a minimum, especially if the lake is near a larger, more popular water.
Another plus is the fact that since many of these smaller urban lakes are within parks, most have undeveloped shorelines--or at least less developed than many remote, so-called pristine waters.
To find these overlooked spots, check out ponds in city, county and state parks, or other "greenspace" areas. Topo maps can help locate waters that might be hidden from walking trails and roads. When you find a promising urban pond, check out your state fisheries agency website. Many have detailed bottom contour maps of these small waters.--Ryan Gilligan
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