Community pond fun 6/22

[Jig-fisher]

I noticed that the DWR had started stocking catfish in the community fisheries. So I took my daughter out this evening to one of our local ponds. She had a great time catching 5 cats to my 1. Three were between 21 and 22 inches, the other two were probably around 14 or 15 inches. My loner was about 19". The poor kids on the other side of the pond weren't too happy. They sent the youngest member all the way around the pond to ask what we were using for bait. Then yelled across to his buddies what we were using. We got a good laugh out of it. He could have just yelled across in the first place and we would have told him. The best part was seeing my daughters face light up when she would hook a fish. She also reminded me several times how she outfished me. Best Dad moment ever!
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[EyLayo]

Good catchin. Ha its easy enough to just toss your rig up on their shore so they can have a look, then they can drop it back in for ya.[cool] Lot easier than walking around. Sometimes its too hard to yell over the duck noise. Did you see any of the wipers being caught?
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[Jig-fisher]

The kids were using the same bait we were, just not catching anything. I tried pitching a small jig for a while hoping to catch a wiper, but came up empty. The ducks left us alone for the most part. It was pulling the fish through the weed line to get them to the bank that was tough.

This was the first time we have fished this particular pond. We've fished the others in the area, Meadow Creek, Mabey, Steed and Jensen and this one is by far the shallowest.
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[catchinon]

For me the absolutely best part of being on these boards is seeing the s on the kids' faces. Your daughter has a very self-satisfied one, as well she should have. After all, beating the guy who is leading the catfish contest is quite a feat! And I bet there was a proud behind the camera, too.
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[Jig-fisher]

Couldn't wipe that off my face. Having her give the play by play to mom when we got home was great as well. I think I was just as excited re-living the evening as she was.
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[Jig-fisher]

And we followed it up with a stop for an ice cream cone on the way home.[cool]
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[EyLayo]

Yep the weeds look like they are coming in thick. Not a bad first trip. Your fish are a bit bigger than the average stocked length, wonder if you got some hold overs from last year.
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[Jig-fisher]

I thought the same thing. A bit bigger than the published stocking length. One was very fat, looks like it might have eggs.
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[Tin-Can]

Nice going Paul. You have the best luck. I fished that pond several times in the 4 years I lived just down the road, just off of 1800. Never caught anything but grass
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Have you tried Smith Family Pond, just across the road from Smith & Edwards ? We caught a bunch of just planted young Wiper there last year. Hopefully, they haven't been all "Harvested" out .
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[Jig-fisher]

Thanks Forest. I have never been to the Smith pond. That bigger pond down the street (Willard) always pulls me past the turnoff. Those community ponds get hit pretty hard and the fish usually don't last too long.
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[Tin-Can]

That's true. Smith Pond just opened about a year ago, and so far it has been nice. The folks that manage it keep it well maintained, has nice bathrooms, and if the kids get bored fishing, there is a really nice playground there also.

Attached are just some of the fish we have caught there.
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