URBAN PONDS

[ Overview | Santiago | Bear Creek | Barnett Park | Lake Island ]

Overview:

Lake Santiago is co-managed with the City of Orlando and has been an URBAN POND since 1991. Bear Creek is co-managed with Orange County and became an URBAN POND in 2000.  Barnett Park Frog Pond, co-managed with Orange County and Lake Island Park, co-managed with the City of Winter Park, became URBAN PONDS in summer 2005.  These parks provide angling opportunities in all quadrants surrounding greater metropolitan Orlando.

General Fishing Tips:

Try to focus fishing efforts in the morning and evening around the feeders or baited areas.  For a beginning angler looking to catch their first fish, one of the best ways to accomplish the mission is to use very small hooks (#10 - #14) under a small float and split shot.  Baiting the hook with a piece of night crawler, bread dough, bacon fat or small wiggler worm is usually all that’s necessary to catch bluegill and redear sunfish.  Channel catfish also concentrate around the feeders and a fall easily to chicken liver, night crawlers, hot dogs or stink bait fished off the bottom on a #4 or #6 hook.  With all the fishing in the URBAN PONDS, light rigs using 4 lb – 8 lb test line is recommended.

Regulations:

Boats are not allowed in any of the URBAN PONDS. Plans are in the works to make the fisheries regulations the same for all four URBAN PONDS; i.e. statewide largemouth bass size and bag limits (14 inch minimum size; 5 fish bag limit; only 1 > 22 inches), reduced panfish bag limit of 20 (no size limit) and channel catfish bag limit of six (no size limit).  Possession of cast nets will also be prohibited.  Currently (November 2005), these regulations are in place only for Santiago and Bear Creek.

Lake Santiago (4.5 acres): Located in Demetree Park, this productive “circular” water body (maximum depth 8 feet) is equipped with a fishing pier, good bank access, transplanted vegetation, an aeration system and two baited fishing areas. Annually stocked with channel catfish, the average size available to the angler usually runs between 8 and 12 inches.

Santiago’s location (within a nice sub-development and park), and its abundant small bluegill make it a good place for a kid’s first fishing trip. Largemouth bass and an occasional redear sunfish, blue tilapia or black crappie is also caught on this pond.

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Bear Creek (7 acres): Located in Bear Creek Recreational Complex, this is another great place to take the family for their first fishing trip. The FWC and Orange County has partnered to create 100% bank access by removing the nuisance vegetation (primarily torpedo grass) around the pond’s perimeter. The pond also has baited fishing areas, an aeration system and is annually stocked with channel catfish. Other fish to catch are largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and blue tilapia.

In addition to fishing, Bear Creek Recreational Complex has ball fields, an activity center and a kid’s playground.  For information on Bear Creek Park, its fishing classes or its rod loaner program, call the park at 407/254-9040.

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Barnett Park Frog Pond (4.5 acres): Located in Barnett Park, this pond has baited fishing areas, an aeration system, 100% shoreline access and is annually stocked with channel catfish.  Largemouth bass, bluegill, and an occasional redear sunfish are other fish that may be caught. 

Barnett Park  (located behind the Central Florida Fairgrounds) provides many recreational amenities besides fishing including ball fields, pavilions, basketball courts and a kid’s playground. For information on Barnett Park, its fishing classes or its rod loaner program, call the park at 407-836-6200.

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Lake Island Park (5 acres): Found just north of Orlando in the City of Winter Park, this pond is beautifully aquascaped and has 100% bank access, a water fountain, a fishing pier, baited fishing areas, an aeration system, and a wooden bridge. Channel catfish have been stocked annually  since 2004 but other stockings have been done sporadically prior to that time. 

Lake Island Park has spacious grass areas, ball fields, a recreational center, kid’s playgrounds as well as other amenities.  For more information on Lake Island Park call  407/599-3334.

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