Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Hello from Canada's oldest private fishing club

Hi there everyone. Steve here.

I'm a club member of Canada's oldest private fishing club (est. 1875 - website is: www.wofgpa.org) located in London, Ontario. The club owns a 14 acre property which includes a 13,000 to 14,000 year old 9 acre Kettle Lake which we stock with Rainbow for our members. Under our Provincial laws, we are a "fish farm" (aquaculture license from Ministry of Natural Resources).

Our club subscribed to the Pond Boss magazine few years ago. Many club members read your magazine. You have lots of very interesting ideas and give excellent advice. We have used your articles for research and to convince Club members that a small windmill (non-electric air pump) would benefit fish in winter ice-over. Works real well at very low cost.

Kettle Lake - Our "pond" (formally known as "Tumbleson's Pond" or, Lukings' Pond if club member twin bros Herb & Harry Luking have any say) is a very unique body of water (1 of 5 in local area) and it cannot be "adjusted" in many of the ways that your articles suggest for man-made ponds. Our pond is a Provincially Significant Wetland protected area (actually, it is part of a 600 acre PSW and Conservation area know as Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills C.A.) and is in a largely developed area of city. Chemical controls are out, so is weed raking and most active management techniques are not options for our approach to pond management.

I also own land "up north", as Canadians like to say, (way north of my home in a very wild area). The "pond" up north is a much bigger 30-mile long body of water and our remote camp is fully serviced and off-the-grid.

Anyway, just introducing myself and I was wondering that since my fishing club has over 250 members, is there a way that any of our younger members (we have lots of older fishermen who refuse to use computers) could actively participate in this forum but not have to be Pond Boss subscribers? Much appreciated.

Steve C.

Welcome Steve.

The forum is free. Anybody can use it.

Thanks Chris. I'll pass the msg to Club members.

Hi Steve.
If I located the correct pond (below), the open water measures closer to 13 acres (5.2 ha); not including the inundated trees - which adds another 4.5 acres (2 ha).
The pond really looks "fishy".

Close-up view....

Besides rainbow trout, what other species are present and/or managed fishing?

Hi Howard here. I'm just going to hijack Steve's intro. Am a member of same club. I think I am the number one reader of the clubs subscription.

A true gem in the city. Our memberships rates are very low enabling seniors on fixed incomes and families to enjoy the club. Lots of migratory birds stop in. The club is surrounded by the Westminster Ponds conservation area. We love it.

Pond issues are: invasive plant species, winter kills and water levels.

The pond in question has largemouth bass, black crappie and sunfish as normally occurring species. Other kettle ponds in immediate area have same species.

Due to a straightening of property lines our deeds says 14 acres. The ends of the south and west bays are city property. So is the inundated area.

Welcome. I am just north if London (Lucan) and know the ponds you guys speak of.

Cheers Don.

Welcome to the forum. Very nice looking BOW.

As you have time, some pictures and further description of your "up north" property would be interesting.

Many, many years ago as a younger man, used to vacation in Canada every summer for several years. Usually in Ontario or Manitoba. Always very friendly people.