Fishn' Close to Home

Woody cover looks inviting!

I must say, just the other night I figured out that I have about 2 dozen private lakes and ponds to fish within a 30 minute drive of my home...what a blessing! I'm gonna' post a few of them I enjoyed this year, along with some decent fish we got from them. The scene above is another 'new' pond from the summer...bass, gills and pumpkinseeds...

Big and beautiful pimpkinseed sunfish from one of the 'new' ponds.

A great spot for kids of all ages. We caught big seeds up to 9.5 inches, along with some near ten-inch bluegills and some bass to 1.5 pounds. Gotta' hit this place in the spring when the panfish are spawning!

This gem was reclaimed about 8 years ago...nice!

We fished this secluded pond in southern Pennsylvania three times this season, catching bass, gills, channel cats and redear sunfish. Pond was reclaimed and dug out and stocked about 8 years ago. The fishing is good here...

My friend Loren with a fine channel cat!

One of the bigger bass I caught this year!

At yet another small lake, we encountered a lot of quality largemouth bass on plastic worms and surface frogs. No surprise here...we had fished this gem for almost a decade and had always caught and released big bass during the summer. And big gills to boot! Here's the lake and a few bigguns'...

Our old standby pond has produced many big bass over the years. Cool!

Jake shows his beautifully marked 5 pounder!

This one's about four...nice fish!

From an earlier post, Linda with our 'his-and-her' near five pounders!

Then we hit a 'far away' lake...a good 8 miles from the house, for massive bluegills and redbreast sunnies...

10.25 inches.

My best gill so far in 2012...11.25 inches!

Most recently, I got an in to a pair of lakes less than a mile from the house. Variety was the word here, with crappie, channel cats, bass, bullheads , sunfish and more. I even caught my first ever black-nosed crappie! Plus, I managed some excellent bass up to nearly 5 pounds on, of all things, frozen shrimp intended for catfish! Go figure! Oh, we caught some nice channels, too...

Crowded parking lot at the local fishing hole.

My first ever black-nosed crappie!

A big bass on frozen shrimp...are you kidding me?

Lean cattie could have used another meal or two.

Yes...small ponds and lakes, all close to home, all providing excellent fishing for a variety of species. No parking or boating hassles, no entry fees and no really sophisticated equipment needs to have fun and catch fish. Real close to home, blue collar enjoyable fishing.

Way too often, I have been guilty of persuing more than I actually needed, thinking it would make me happy and prosperous. But God always provided me with plenty, and in every way and need. I don't need the big boats, the expensive electronics or the fancy stuff. And in all other aspects of life, He has provided me ...'all that I needed, His hand has provided'. Check out Psalm 128: 1-2...

'Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labor:, blessings and prosperity will be yours.'

Thank you Lord! As I get older I hope to embrace this truth all the more!