Metro (drainage) Ponds

[jcfishr]

Three years ago, my company moved into new office space in one of those single story new construction buildings you see all over the metro. There are several buildings that all back up to this pond that I don't think was even there three years ago.

I decided to throw out a #13 rapala one night after work. An hour and a half later I had caught and released 20+ LM bass between 8 and 16". What a blast!! Some of them were really fat!

Here's my question. How do fish get into a pond like this and what keeps them from winter-killing every year?

[EBass]

Very good Q. Is there a culvert or little creek or something? Unless someone put in their own bass (personal stocking)

I work next to Lake Smetana which is abot 40 acres and about 12 feet deep in the middle. I haven't seen any winter kill, but there is a creek that runs through it, however it's been so low that I don't think it's moving anymore. I guess that's deep enough to not get frozen solid. I wonder what's up with your pond?

[SpikeRoberts]

I don't know about the validity of this theory, but ....

A few years ago the DNR chemically treated a lake to kill all the fish and restock it with only trout. Within a couple of years, other species had began appear in the isolated body of water. Curious about where the other species came from, an investigation was done and it was concluded that fish eggs were transported from one body of water to another by duck's feet. The ducks come into contact with a bed, eggs attached, they fly to antoher lake, and the eggs fall off. With fewer naturally predators, the transfered species re-establishes quickly into the new lake.

As I said, I'm no biologist and can't confirm the theory, but that's one way possible explanation.

[vern]

I've fished Smetana. That's 9-Mile Creek that runs through it. I think the creek originates from Bryant Lake so not surprisingly there are some decent fish in there. Lots of small-medium sized bass, northerns, panfish & probably the occasional tiger muskie from Bryant. There are some other little ponds/swamps along 9-Mile Creek that might surprise you too. I used to fish Lake Cornelius in Edina where its split by Crosstown Freeway & we'd catch carp, goldfish & the occasional small bass. One spring I was walking around it & found lots of big dead bass. It was an obvious winterkill, with lots of 15-20" bass. Who would have guessed that there were 20" inch bass in there? Pretty cool finding nice fish in spots like that. Vern

[TonyCarpBoy]

I fish almost exclusively these days in urban drainage ditches, park ponds and other urban bodies of water. The reason?

Great fishing.

I have started scouting for fish in any water deeper than a foot. I found several good ponds just a few blocks from my house.
Creeks, as was mentioned earlier, are a sure fire way to get fish into a small pond. Few barriers will stop a spring migrating carp from going upstream and the spring high water opens up routes that are not obvious in the summer dry season.

In addition to Nine Mile Creek, Minnehaha and Basset Creeks both have a lot of fish. I have caught walleye, northerns, bass, crappies, white suckers, carp, bullheads, sunnies, creek chubs and bowfin out of minnehaha in the past year. Basset has big northerns and a lot of nice big carp.

Just be aware that small bodies of water do not support much harvesting due to the small populations. (panfish are probably fine)

Tony

[MedicineMan]

TonyCarpBoy, what areas of Bassett Creek have you fished?

[TonyCarpBoy]

Theodore Wirth Park has some good areas near (not IN <g> ) the golf course. I have also been looking at city maps and there are a few small parks with big pools in them but I have not tried them yet.

Anywhere there is deep water (over 3 feet) for cover nearby, I have found fish. A guy I met as I was leaving one day said there are northerns in the pool by the archery range. It looks pretty good but I have not fished it.

I found a nice spot yesterday that has good clean riffles and 6 inch creek chubs that readily take a fly. It was like trout fishing.

Tony

[MedicineMan]

Tony, I've seen some nice pike in some of the deeper holes a little east of Wirth Lake. I also know some area's in Golden Valley were you can pick up some nice 8-10 inch Creek Chubs. I live south of Medicine Lake and over the years I've gotten to know both Medicine Lake and Bassett Creek very well. I actually do volunteer work for Bassett Creek Water Management Commission. I know some spots that are just killer when it comes to muti-species fishing. I've seen Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bluegill,Pumkinseed, White Crappie, Black Crappie, White Sucker, Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch, and Sauger. I know that there are some I'm missing.

[Tonka Boy]

Spike,

I'm no biologist either, but I've also heard that ducks transport eggs on their feet. If it is truely a pond with no inlet/outlet than most likely that is the case.

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Tonka Boy

[fishin]

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you have tried fishing Shingle Creek? I havent fished there myself but have heard there are some holes there. I may check it out tommarow. I'll let you know what I find. I did today go check out Basset creek and found a nice hole and caught some creek chubs, released all of them. I looked around for some other holes but couldnt find any. Got any suggestions? I understand if you dont want to give your spots away. I love fishing the small creeks. My uncle lives in missouri and has a small creek near his house that is a awesome place to fish cause nobody thinks there is fish there, I didnt either until he took me fishing there. Well thanks for the help!

[TonyCarpBoy]

MedicineMan - you have made me a happy man. You actually listed a couple of species I need to add to my life list. (for fly rod anyway). I heard that there are mooneyes or goldeyes in Medicine and that Basset near the lake might be a good spot to find them.

I caught a small northern out of the hole in Basset I fish regularly, it took a couple dozen presentations but he finally took. The carp have slowed down a lot.

I am a very respectful and honorable catch and release fisherman, I would be a good, safe person to share a hotspot or two with. <g> and I [email protected]

Someday we should meet on the water, sounds like we are almost neighbors.

Tony

[TonyCarpBoy]

Oh, I forgot, 10 INCH CREEK CHUBS?!, sign me up, I never use my small rod anymore and I love creek chubs. I caught a big beefy chub of some kind out of Minnehaha and he had big spikes on his head (spawning season).

Tony

[MedicineMan]

Tony, the DNR captured a Goldeye in Medicine Lake when they did a survey in 2000. There is a dam at the headwaters of Bassett Creek. In the spring numbers of different species come over the dam and spawn in the creek. Then the next heavy rain fall we have the fish jump over the dam. We have the annual "carp jump" It's really neat to see.

[jcfishr]

Thanks for the replies.

I hit the same pond again and the bass had slowed down but I caught some good sized perch, small sunfish and crappies. Go figure.

My plan is to take out a canoe and a locator and see how deep it is out in the middle.

[fishin]

Well I went and explored shingle creek on Monday and found nothing. Except at the mouth of the creek that flows out of palmer lake the bass were jumping like crazy. They were out of casting distance though. I did however catch one small crappie.