Henry W. Coe State Park is a place of marked contrasts. During
the winter wet season the landscape turns green and water seems to
flow everywhere. In the summer dry season, the grasses turn brown
and much of the water seems to disappear. Yet there are many
locations in the park where water can reliably be found any time of
year. To trap water for their cattle, the early ranchers dammed up
whatever water sources they could, forming small lakes and ponds.
At one time there were nearly 100 of these within the Park.
Henry W. Coe State Park is a place of marked contrasts. During the winter wet season the landscape turns green and water seems to flow everywhere. In the summer dry season, the grasses turn brown and much of the water seems to disappear. Yet there are many locations in the park where water can reliably be found any time of year. To trap water for their cattle, the early ranchers dammed up whatever water sources they could, forming small lakes and ponds. At one time there were nearly 100 of these within the Park.
Occasionally, the early owners stocked these ponds and lakes with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, green sunfish and even a few catfish to provide a source of recreation. Several of these bodies of water still have thriving populations of fish that have descended from these original plants. The most well-known of these are Frog Lake, Bass Pond, Kelley Lake, Coit Lake and Mississippi Lake, in addition to Kingbird Pond and Mustang Pond, to name just a few.
Over the years there have been reports of exceptional fishing in the park. For instance, until the 1980’s, mile-long Mississippi Lake had a fine population of very large rainbow trout. The minimum size that was legal to keep was 18 inches, and the average size caught was reported to be in the 20 to 24-inch range. One fisherman claimed to have caught a trout 28 inches long. Because of an unusual food supply, these fish could grow to 10 inches in length in their first year and reached very large sizes in only one or two more years. Unfortunately, the 1980’s had several drought years in a row. The fish were unable to spawn, and so disappeared from the lake. Mississippi Lake was essentially fishless for awhile. Then, all of a sudden, largemouth bass appeared. Evidently, some unknown person or persons had packed in some fish and planted them there. These fish have thrived and multiplied. Now the fishing is again excellent, but this time largemouth bass are the ones being caught.
Coit Lake is sometimes called “Bass-a-cast Lake.” Coit Lake is seemingly teeming with largemouth bass and green sunfish. When the timing (in the spring or fall, usually) and technique are right, it’s easily possible to hook a fish on nearly every cast. Then it’s a matter of counting how many times a cast did not produce a fish instead of counting how many fish get caught. Typically the bass average only about nine inches in length, but many are larger. Just hooking a fish does not guarantee that it will be landed, however. Coit, like most of the lakes in the park, is ringed by a dense growth of water weeds. When hooked, the fish usually dive for the safety of these plants and so escape.
It is said that the owner of the Redfern addition to the park stocked Phegley Pond so that his grandchildren could enjoy good fishing. One wonders how this small pond can exist, since it is perched on top of a ridge and has hardly any visible water flowing into it. It may be small, but the fishing there has sometimes been exceptional. While fishing this pond, I tied into a largemouth bass that nearly bent my pole in half when it hit. After putting up a great fight, this fish was brought to the shore where it could be examined. I had no tapes or scales available to measure its exact size, but it certainly weighed several pounds. Its mouth was so big that my very large fist could easily fit into it.
Following the policy of catch-and-release, I put the fish back to be caught again. And caught it again it was. Other reports have come in from fishermen who describe catching a similar very large bass. Perhaps there are other large bass in the pond, but it’s more likely that the same not-too-bright fish is being caught again and again.
Once while fishing in Paradise Lake I tied into another very large bass but, unfortunately, never landed him. Like Coit, this lake has a large number of bass which are about nine inches in length. I had tired of catching average-sized fish and was hoping for something larger. With some disappointment, I again hooked another one of these small ones and was reeling it in. All of a sudden the tip of my rod was jerked down into the water. A much larger bass had swallowed the fish that I was pulling in. I fought that bass for quite some time and every once in a while I would see reflections of its shiny sides as it turned this way and that. The sides of the fish, it seemed to me in my excitement, to be nearly a foot high. It’s more likely they were only eight or nine inches. Nonetheless, this was an extremely large bass. Eventually the fish tired of the game and dived for the pond weeds. The line snapped and he was gone. Nobody has reported catching that fish since, so maybe he’s still there.
Even the most unlikely ponds can produce good fish. Frog Lake and Bass Pond are both located within easy walking distance of Park headquarters and so receive intense fishing pressure. You would think that all the fish would be gone by now. Yet every once in awhile impressive fish are pulled out. Last spring a jubilant fisherman came into headquarters with a largemouth bass weighing several pounds that he had just caught from Bass Pond. Just by looking at this unimpressive shallow murky pond, you wouldn’t think this would be possible.
The stories we’ve shared have mentioned only a few of the lakes and ponds in the park. There are many more out there, just waiting to be tested by anglers. Not only is Henry Coe State Park a great place to hike, camp and explore, it offers wonderful opportunities for fishing.
Bill Frazer is a Henry Coe State Park volunteer. This column is part of a series by park employees and volunteers.
