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Up top of Armstrong Woods — A redwood forest park that should be anybody’s destination traveling Northern California — Is Bullfrog Pond. This pond was stocked years ago with Bass and bluegill, perhaps a few catfish  too. This time of year it is shallow and basically looks like a swamp. But knowing there were no fish die offs, my brother and I took the taxi and gave it a few hours of our time.

BullFrog Pond before rain fall.

Using top water lures this time of year is the way to go because the pond is so thick with algae. I used an imitation frog and got 2 strikes. Counted my seconds on the third strike to set the hook and pulled this one in:

Bass caught on floating frog

One of the great fishing things about this pond is that you can use barbs and bait. There’s plenty of bluegill, that we could see but weren’t hitting the earthworm I left out in a simple sinker hook set up . Maybe because this bass my brother caught on the worm was guarding it for a snack:

Bro finally caught one

In 2 hours two fish. Not great but not bad considering we were there with full sun. I want to try again in may when the pond has more water and it’s just warming up. I wouldn’t my going out early evening for a few hours too. Just remember if there’s water and it’s not completely toxic, there’s probably fish. Listen to local suggestions and don’t dismiss it just because it doesn’t look right.

Just like when a local says there’s nice Largemouth on the Russian River (lower), even if the game wardens says otherwise:

1lbs 12 oz largemouth off of shale-side Villa Grande beach mouth closed

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