If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is

I am always keeping my eye out for potential fishing spots no matter where I am, and recently I noticed a nice looking spot on my way to work. It is near a local park that I frequent on my mountain bike. Sure enough, after studying maps and satellite images I confirmed it is actually part of the park.

I estimate the size of this pond may be 1 acre, which is sufficient to hold some decent bass and bluegills. So I figured I would go check it out one night right about sunset. My plan was to hit the water about the time the bugs would be setting in and the fish would be busting the surface.

When I arrived at the trail head I was surprised there were no signs condoning or condemning anglers, so without hesitation I grabbed my rods and tackle box. It was probably half a mile hike from the car through some beautiful flat land peppered with pine and spruce trees.

Typically good fishing holes are littered with bait containers and the grass is all trampled down.This was not the case. In fact I was amazed at how pristine this area was. I felt as if I was the first person to have ever set eyes on this place. This meant either there were no fish or I wasn’t supposed to be there. Either way, I was a bit anxious about the situation.

Having cut my teeth on a mossy farm pond, I knew to bring a rod rigged with something that wouldn’t get hung up in the moss. I tossed my Texas-rigged bass-colored creature out and started dragging it across the mat of moss. As I worked my way around the pond I noticed there was absolutely no signs of any fish.

After about 20 minutes I gave up and started my hike back to the truck. I wanted to get out of there as quickly and inconspicuously as possible just in case I was up to something illegal. Too stubborn to give up on a good thing, I gave a call to the local conservation office. Not to give myself away, I played dumb and didn’t let on that I had already been there.

My suspicions were confirmed, this was simply a wetland and there were no fish in that body of water. Even though the fishing was a dead end, I still enjoyed the walk in God’s country on a spectacular spring evening. The lesson to be learned here is that even though things aren’t always what they appear, you still can enjoy the ride.