G-Man Fishing

The neighborhood pond. Only about 3 acres or so. Choked with lily pads and weeds in the summer. A popular place for Canadian geese and toddlers playing in the nearby playground. This is the same pond where I first became interested in fishing. My dad hauled a 3 lb catfish out of this pond when I was about 7 years old but never caught anything that large after that. I spent many days after school catching bluegills and bullheads out of this pond; some even caught using a fishing line wrapped around soda can contraption. Fast forward almost 30 years later to Christmas Day, 2007. It was a sunny 45 degrees and we decided to take a walk from my parents’ house to the neighborhood pond. I showed my wife my favorite childhood fishing spots on the pond. The trails through the brush to the shore were still in tact. We circled around to a more open place where I could cast a small jig. This was just a way to pass the time during a relaxing holiday. I really wasn’t expecting to catch anything. But, on the third cast, I hooked something and reeled in an 11 inch largemouth bass! Not bad for a tiny neighborhood pond. I ran home and showed my parents who had doubted any life in that pond. Then after releasing it back into the water, I got thinking… With the complete lack of fishing pressure, what else could be lurking in this pond? Could it be my very own secret fishing hole? Will be sure to hit it up again when visiting the folks next time. Stay tuned…