Farm Pond Bluegills

[Jarrett Michael Semon]

I know for a fact that there are alot of farm ponds all over the country. If you want to fish these ponds, all you have to do is ask the farmer or land owner, the most the person can say is, no, I don't want anybody to fish. I have been told no by alot of people, but sometimes you will ask to fish, and the person will say, yeah go ahead or sure I don't care.

If you take care of the ponds you are aloud to fish, the potential of the fish will increase with the right amount of predators, stocking, and habitat. I have a pond I am aloud to fish that no-one has fished in a long time, so the pond is full of fish, but no monster fish. I go out to this pond about once or twice a week now, and the fish seem to be increasing in size, not alot but just a little.

Farm ponds are truely a good private place to go fish, and be alone instead of trying to fight waves and boat traffic, like you do on a big lake or reservoir.

 

 

This is the first time i have contributed to Discussions and would like if you would respond back, and tell me how I did.

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Good Job, You hit the nail on the head, as a landowner myself ,showing respect in asking will get you farther than being a poacher, you never know , it might fit the plans of the management style of the wildlife resource to improve the quanity or quality of the resource, and like you said the worst thing they could say would be No the first time, but that might not mean forever if your actions improve the quality of the assets instead of just emptying the pond, bass might be fun to catch but they are bluegill population control management tools, so in a small enviroment they need to be able to do their job. If you can reassure the owner that his best interest is respected,you might find the answer might often be yes. One word of caution, just because you get a yes,dosent mean you get to invite all your friend without the owners permission.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

This is a great reminder. Every pond owner I've spoke to has the same concern - that you will overstep your limits and take advantage of the situation.

 

Either you are going to invite all your friends for a tailgate party at his pond, or random people will start showing up and setting up camp. My friend Ronnie, who has a fine pond, came home one day to find several families had pitched tents, built fires and were actually camping beside his pond.

And why? Because they found out - or where told - that Ronnie had given permission to someone THEY also knew and assumed the favor extended to them.

 

The pond owners I know are specific about how they want you to fish and where the welcome line is drawn. They already know about pond management and are usually only mildly impressed that you might care about that. That you might make a difference in that is not high on their list of concerns, since they can handle that as a rule.

But, what they almost always want to know, is when you will be coming - in advance. It is one thing that comes up before any other. They also want to know that you respect them as much as the fish. In essence, THEY have worked and paid their dues to have the pond. If they allow you to be there on their good graces, can you be trusted?

 

It is the core question we all want to know about others.

 

At the same time, some of the best fishing around are in these ponds, and they usually know that, too. They are doing you a favor, whether they act like it's no big deal or not. And they will be taking notice. It is a given that you to behave accordingly.

 

Two things tend to affect my decision to fish in private ponds:

1. I don't want to wear out my welcome...

2. I don't really like people looking over my shoulder.

So, even though I have permission to fish some very nice private ponds, they aren't first on my 'honey hole' list.

 

BTW you did fine at your first post. I appreciate your philosophy and you sound like a decent chap. I look forward to more from you.

[Anthony Jones]

U truly inspire me thats all ive been wanting to do for ever now but just never had the guts