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[ Overview |
History |
| Fab Five | Urban Ponds | Conway-Butler Chains | Other Water Bodies | | Promotional Events & Calendar | FISH ORLANDO! Quarterly Forecasts | | Non-FWC Fishing Programs | | FISH ORLANDO! Office | Tips for Taking a Kid Fishing ]  URBAN PONDS[ Overview | Santiago | Bear Creek | Barnett Park | Lake Island ] 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. 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.
[ To Top ] 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.
[ To Top ] 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.    
[ To Top ] 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. [ To Top ]
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