Bill,
It works in Southern ponds also. The gardening example is most appropriate.
This weekend I was lucky to catch the CNBG of my lifetime...but had no camera, no tape measure, no scales, and no way of transporting the fish safely back to those tools. I had to decide whether to kill the fish for measurement and pictures or release to fight another day. The fish lives to fight another day.
It was caught on a crazy charlie fly (#4) used for bonefish in saltwater. Estimated weight about 3 pounds but will never know for sure. The fish attacked the fly in shallow water (about 2 feet deep) like a shark leaving a wake. I thought it was a nice LMB, but instead it was the BG of a lifetime...but maybe it will grow more and be caught again someday. It haunts my thoughts today.
