When does a pond become a small lake? If you had asked me that question when I was a young boy fishing with my younger brother on our two-acre pond, I would have told you it was a lake. According to Google, a typical body of water is considered a lake at 10 acres or more. So, the 15-acre lake in Greystone Farms, where my son’s house is located, is indeed a lake.
The lake sits in a deep ravine surrounded by a couple of subdivisions to the west and east. It is spring-fed, which helps the water level remain fairly consistent throughout the year. No boats or swimming are allowed on the lake, and the only individuals permitted to fish there are the residents who live in the neighborhood. It is an excellent bank-fishing lake for spinning gear, casting reels, live bait fishermen, and, of course, fly rods.
I can count on one hand the number of fly fishermen who fish there regularly. My son and I, a couple of other guys, and one lady who is probably better than all of us—and that is saying a lot. Of course, she has been fishing the lake for years.
Fishing this lake brings back many memories of when my younger brother and I would walk the banks of our little pond using cane poles rigged with long lines the same length as the pole, usually 8 or 9 feet long. We would cast a hook rigged with a grasshopper or redworm close to the edge, fishing for anything cruising the banks looking for an easy meal. Sometimes we would wade the shallow water just to make a longer cast. Bluegill and small bass were usually the catch of the day, with an occasional shellcracker mixed in. Those memories make me wish I could go back and relive those days again, when time seemed to pass more slowly.
There is something special about fishing a small lake like Greystone Frams with a light fly rod. You don’t need a boat, expensive electronics, or heavy tackle to enjoy this 15-acre lake. My son’s house is less than a minute from the shoreline, and there are no time restrictions. Whether it is a quick 20-minute trip or an hour-long outing, the lake provides a relaxing escape and a chance to relieve the stress of the day. In fact, some of the best bass and bluegill action happens right from the bank late or early using simple flies and lightweight rods.
Using 2-, 3-, or 4-weight fly rods turns even modest fish into memorable battles. A hand-sized bluegill feels like a trophy, and a one-pound bass on a light rod can test both your nerves and your drag system. Small lakes are ideal places to slow down and experiment with flies that may have sat in your fly box for years but, for some reason, were never used.
This lake is heavily fished with traditional tackle and, as mentioned earlier, by a few fly fishermen as well. Since no boats are allowed, all the pressure comes from the bank, making the fish extremely spooky. Late afternoons and early mornings are the times I prefer to fish. I still use many of the same techniques I learned while fishing our pond years ago. Casting parallel to the banks is often far more productive than making long casts into the deeper parts of the lake. Fish cruise the shoreline early and late in the day, feeding on anything close to the bank. I use only small flies and tiny buggers instead of large patterns.
I have found my third home waters fishing the lake at Greystone Farms. I am close to the water, close to the fish, and every strike feels personal like the species that I have landed there using my 2/3 fly rods.
