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Lake: English Ranch Park

New community garden at English Ranch Park

Post By: fishinfoco      Posted: 2/2/2014 1:45:39 PM     Points: 309    
I stopped by English Ranch during the last warm spell to see if any water had opened up, but all I found was a bunch of ice and a new community garden not 10 feet from the shore line. I'm not a biologist, but I can't help but feel like the runoff from this new garden will spell disaster for the fishery here.

I fished here when I was a kid right after they first built the park and now I get to enjoy fishing here with my fiancee and daughter. There aren't any fish of real size here, but the overpopulated crappies and bluegill never fail to cooperate. We see many families and children fishing here and it would be a real shame to see the fishery destroyed.
 Reply by: Lefty2053      Posted: 2/2/2014 1:52:57 PM     Points: 1190    
So it isn't an Organic garden you are saying? No damage to the water if no chemicals are used in the garden.
 Reply by: brookieflyfisher      Posted: 2/2/2014 2:42:35 PM     Points: 6139    
^That's only partially true. A lot of damage comes in the form of eutrophication, which comes from Phosphorus and Nitrogen (fertilizer) runoff. Organic gardens can use as much fertilizer as they want.

That being said a little community garden isn't going to use nearly enough fertilizer to affect the lake's biology. Even if it did, it doesn't seem like the fishery can get much worse, what with all the stunted gills and crappie.
 Reply by: fishinfoco      Posted: 2/2/2014 6:22:03 PM     Points: 309    
Well, it's nice to hear that fertilizer runoff isn't much of a threat, like i said I'm no biologist.

However, I must say that while it may not be a "good" fishery in terms of fish size, it is a fantastic place for a child to feel a tug on the end of their line. Kids aren't too keen on washing lures for hours at a time with no action. The kids don't care if it's a record Largemouth. They just want to have a good time and catch something, and for that purpose this pond is second to none.