CAMP SHERMAN, OR -- Central Oregon’s newest youth fishing pond opens Wednesday. Jennifer Luke, with Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife, says Metolius Pond is at the site of an old fish hatchery that hadn’t been used since the 1960s. "We had this 15 acres and we decided this was a great location to put a youth fishing pond. It’s a very scenic spot; a good water source, right there on the property."
She admits the project took a long time, because they had to remove some of the equipment left over from the hatchery and create a whole new pond, "We had to dig the pond out, we had to get the water source for the pond; even the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had to do all sorts of permitting for the pond, as well. It’s been in the works for probably five years, now." She says it’s very similar to Shevlin Pond, in Bend, "Kids 11 and under do not need a license, but if they’re 12 and older they’re going to need a youth license for $10. You can buy those online or the Camp Sherman Store." Adults with a disabled fishing license are also allowed to fish the pond. "We have a two-fish limit. We’ll keep an eye on it and stock it, I’m guessing it’ll be once a month, depending on how much gets fished."