TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Best Bet This Week: Urban Ponds

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mark Cook.

When freshwater fishing is in a transition pattern, as it is now, the urban ponds scattered locally are an excellent place to score a quick supper. Stocked frequently and tightly managed, the ponds have some of the highest catch ratios in the state, easily out-producing the larger natural waterways.

One of my favorites is in Dover just off Gallagher Road. Though small in size, the Dover pond has an excellent bass, panfish and catfish population. The largemouth bass are most frequently caught in the early morning or late evening - just work an artificial near the grass lines. My best catches are along the southeastern cat-tails and the dollar weed and water grasses on the northeast side. With the excellent panfish population, crankbaits in bluegill patterns also work well.

Shellcracker and bluegill are an easy catch from a boat or from shore. Wiggler worms and crickets fished near the bottom produce the best catches.

Catfish can be caught all over the pond. Timing your visit with the fish feeders releasing fish pellets will increase your chances. Chicken livers will almost always attract catfish, but frozen shrimp and even squid will also help fill your buckets with tasty fillets.

Other urban pond locations that have a similar fish population and catch ratios are at Al Lopez Park in Tampa and Bobby Hicks Park near MacDill Air Force Base.

For more information on the FWCC's urban ponds, visit myfwc.com or call the Lakeland office at (863) 648-3203.

For charter trips or more

information, contact Mark Cook at (813) 846-9277 or

tribfishing@aol.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT