I would be interested in this. I just need to look at my map and refresh myself again with the ponds i have found to be good fishing. Trust me, I have tried a lot of them. I will look at my map and get back with you, it's a good idea. Love that place!

 

I'd be happy to share too.

 

Ok, I will finish cleaning up the map and send the link to those interested so that you can see and share. I will probably have it out wednesday or so.

 

I'm def interested in sharing! Would love to see your map. I do the same thing with local rivers in Central Ohio

 

Do any of you know if they have drained any more ponds this year? I was really bummed out last year to see a couple of ponds I liked fishing and did well in were drained.

 

Any idea why they drain these ponds? I hiked about a mile last year pulling ice gear only to find a pond drained. I don't understand it but I guess there must be some reason for it.

 

Do any of you know if they have drained any more ponds this year? I was really bummed out last year to see a couple of ponds I liked fishing and did well in were drained.

I just noticed over the weekend after checking maps that they drained a pit sometime in 2013 that I had looked forward to hitting up again. It was a huge pit with dreamlike cover. I first checked it out during a winter hike. There was a dead coyote frozen into the ice, so I named it coyote lake (every lake probably has thousands of names). I first fished it with a buddy of mine who was a first-time AEP tuber. He never complained after I marched him over a mile and a half to the lake, fully inflated tubes on our backs, including a strait shot up mount doom, and in pouring rain. The whole area was blown out with rain that year, I think it was Spring 2011. We waited out thunder on the edge of the lake, and the haul road near it was a flowing river that cascaded over the dam and into the next series of pits (probably not the best purpose for a dam, which was later bulldozed in 2013). Then we fished for hours in the rain. I figured most people were too lazy to hit that lake, until I found beer cans hung on tree branches in a back arm of the lake. Someone else was so un-lazy that they carried beer in with them (but apparently not their trash back out). Man you stirred my AEP lust. I too hope that they stop draining the big pits with the large earth dams, or at least rebuild the dams.


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

 

I just noticed over the weekend after checking maps that they drained a pit sometime in 2013 that I had looked forward to hitting up again. It was a huge pit with dreamlike cover. I first checked it out during a winter hike. There was a dead coyote frozen into the ice, so I named it coyote lake (every lake probably has thousands of names). I first fished it with a buddy of mine who was a first-time AEP tuber. He never complained after I marched him over a mile and a half to the lake, fully inflated tubes on our backs, including a strait shot up mount doom, and in pouring rain. The whole area was blown out with rain that year, I think it was Spring 2011. We waited out thunder on the edge of the lake, and the haul road near it was a flowing river that cascaded over the dam and into the next series of pits (probably not the best purpose for a dam, which was later bulldozed in 2013). Then we fished for hours in the rain. I figured most people were too lazy to hit that lake, until I found beer cans hung on tree branches in a back arm of the lake. Someone else was so un-lazy that they carried beer in with them (but apparently not their trash back out). Man you stirred my AEP lust. I too hope that they stop draining the big pits with the large earth dams, or at least rebuild the dams.


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

It would be great if Google Earth was updated enough that it showed the drained ponds. I'll actually check on that right now. I was planning a trip or two this spring up there and now I'm a little scared that I'll get my yak up there to a pond and it will have no water.

 

The newest images I'm seeing in Google Earth are from October 2013.

 

The newest images I'm seeing in Google Earth are from October 2013.

Yep, I just checked the ponds I found to be drained and the images show them with water.

 

A few years ago i was reading a post that talked about the draining of ponds was due to dam erosion. I guess instead of fixing a dam back in the boonies they would just drain them. Pond 52 was one i think that was mentioned that was drained. Anyone know about that?? Cost effective for them.

 

Does anyone know if the maps on the AEP website are updated?

 

A few years ago i was reading a post that talked about the draining of ponds was due to dam erosion. I guess instead of fixing a dam back in the boonies they would just drain them. Pond 52 was one i think that was mentioned that was drained. Anyone know about that?? Cost effective for them.

Pond 52 was still full as of the latest imagery update (oct 2013). Looks like some work may have been done on the spillway. I noticed another pond back in 2013 that wasn't drained but was lowered a few feet after spillway work. I was bummed about that one for sure. In 2013 I noticed a bunch of roads were reopened to vehicles and gravel launch ramps were added to a number of ponds, which was also a bummer. I didn't make it last year at all so I'm interested in what else has changed.

 

Does anyone know if the maps on the AEP website are updated?

There is a newer map on the website that doesn't have any pond numbers but shows the latest boundaries for open versus restricted area.

 

Allright... I have some more information to add to the map, and it will be added as the season goes on. Please feel free to add information to the map. Please be respectful, and add information if you can. I have made it open to all, for now. If there are problems, I will take it down and restrict access via email address. Thanks all and I look forward to seeing some information that others have.

Link to the map...

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z9i8mHptw2vQ.kazEc7mqiXm4

 

I

Allright... I have some more information to add to the map, and it will be added as the season goes on. Please feel free to add information to the map. Please be respectful, and add information if you can. I have made it open to all, for now. If there are problems, I will take it down and restrict access via email address. Thanks all and I look forward to seeing some information that others have.

Link to the map...

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z9i8mHptw2vQ.kazEc7mqiXm4

 

That's awesome share with the world where your favorite ponds are. I prefer not to have everyone and their brother fishing my favorite spots. That's part of the fun is exploring and finding that hot pond. Sharing with people that want to share back is one thing but posting it for every lurker to see is crazy.

 

Yep, that will make your favorite fishing spot not so favorite when hundreds of people know the location. That would be like advertising a party at your place and you can't imagine how everyone found out. If you don't think the not so ethical so called fisherman won't be looking for a good place to fish, think.... Huh Don't forget to put extra trash bags in your pack!!

 

The goal was to post this up for people to see, then I am going to lock it down to be viewable to those that contribute via sign in. I wanted people to see what they would be contributing to.. These ponds are in a public area, are pretty remote, even need a 4wd to get to, and the good areas cannot be accessed unless the fisherman has a kayak or belly boat.. It is not like they are in the middle of a metropolitan area that someone can pull right up to and start fishing. I'm not too worried. Most people that are not too ethical are also pretty lazy. If someone wants to use the info, then put in the work to get there.. more power to them.

 

Just added 6 or 7 pins. I agree you should lock it up to those who are actually going to share. Thanks for setting this up!

 

Ok, I will lock it up. Please PM me the email address that you would like to use to "sign in" to the map and I will add to the users that can view/edit the map.

 

The goal was to post this up for people to see, then I am going to lock it down to be viewable to those that contribute via sign in. I wanted people to see what they would be contributing to.. These ponds are in a public area, are pretty remote, even need a 4wd to get to, and the good areas cannot be accessed unless the fisherman has a kayak or belly boat.. It is not like they are in the middle of a metropolitan area that someone can pull right up to and start fishing. I'm not too worried. Most people that are not too ethical are also pretty lazy. If someone wants to use the info, then put in the work to get there.. more power to them.

I understand you want to share with some. The ponds that are remote are the ones those "lazy" people will drive over and around no vehicle signs to get in. These people go in when no one is around and that is sometimes at night. One section of ponds I fish is no vehicle access but, after walking in, I looked up on the hill and there was a truck parked and two guys had a boat in the pond. Those guys had to go through no vehicle access for a mile where an ATV would have trouble.... I have seen and witnessed where people have driven across dams and through the fields to get to a shortcut to another pond. I have seen where they left their trash and built fires over a mile from any road. Maybe you have not seen this but, I imagine a lot of folks have. Have you ever heard someone say: No one ever fishes or hunts here?? Done here.

 

It's awesome to see people contributing. I can't wait to see how this turns out through the season this year.

 

I understand you want to share with some. The ponds that are remote are the ones those "lazy" people will drive over and around no vehicle signs to get in. These people go in when no one is around and that is sometimes at night. One section of ponds I fish is no vehicle access but, after walking in, I looked up on the hill and there was a truck parked and two guys had a boat in the pond. Those guys had to go through no vehicle access for a mile where an ATV would have trouble.... I have seen and witnessed where people have driven across dams and through the fields to get to a shortcut to another pond. I have seen where they left their trash and built fires over a mile from any road. Maybe you have not seen this but, I imagine a lot of folks have. Have you ever heard someone say: No one ever fishes or hunts here?? Done here.

I agree, talking general about a lake or river is great. Posting small fragile ponds on the internet? I had to do a double take to see if you were joking?! Don't let the idiots find the acre pond with giant gills and bass in it???

 

Yikes. This is a good time to reiterate limits. Don't forget that there is a 20 fish limit for sunfish now at AEP and a 3 bass limit, 2 less than 14" and one greater than 20".

 

It seems that we have fished the same areas with shared sentiments about most of the ponds. Since my health has prevented me from bushwack fishing AEP, I would love to contribute to the map with my findings and maybe share a honey hole , so that more folks can enjoy this great area.
I do have some challenges in how to go about contributing my findings any help would be appreciated.