ASHLAND – Local residents will once again be able to go fishing at Brookside West Pond, thanks to a donation from the Ashland County Wildlife Conservation League.
The league donated $1,500 worth of fish in an effort to support the city and give back to the community.
Approximately 600 fish– mostly pure bluegills but also some shellcrackers– were released into the pond Friday by Fender’s Fish Hatchery as well as representatives of both the league and the city. The fish were, on average, four to six inches long.
The fish are expected to spawn this year and to quickly re-populate the pond, which had been drained and therefore had no fish, according to Wildlife Conservation League President Ed Britton.
“We thank the Ashland County Wildlife Conservation league for providing the fish and helping us stock Brookside West Pond,” City Parks and Recreation Director Jason Counts said. “This is just the start, as we will be adding more breeds of fish.”
Mayor Matt Miller also praised the league for the donation and said the city’s recent efforts to stock the ponds have been based on demand from residents.
Last year, the city stocked the pond at the main Brookside Park with help from another donation from the league.
Counts said he is considering adding catfish to the Brookside West pond, as he has received several requests from the community to stock with catfish. The larger size of the Brookside West Pond should be more conducive to catfish than the pond at the main Brookside Park, he added.
