One of seven gravel pit ponds that stretch from Union Gap to Zillah along Highway I-82. The ponds are open to fishing year-round, but parking and access is subject to seasonal closure. Internal combustion motors prohibited by county ordinance.
Ponds 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 are stocked with catchable sized rainbow trout (10--13 inches) beginning in early March. These ponds were also stocked with fingerling channel catfish in 2011 (Ponds 5 & 7 were not stocked). Anglers can now expect good fishing for channel cats by bottom fishing with bait in the spring /summer months. Other species present in the ponds include sunfish, black crappie, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Largemouth bass up to eight pounds have been caught in the I-82 Ponds.
Ponds 1 and 2, located between Mellis Road and Donald Road, also support largemouth bass, yellow perch and pumpkinseed sunfish. Expect fair fishing for small pan-sized perch and sunfish with some bass up to 3+ pounds. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout should be excellent in early spring (March, April)!
Pond 3 which is east of Donald Road, provides fair fishing for channel catfish, sunfish and yellow perch. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout should be excellent in early spring (March, April)!
Moving further east, Ponds 4 and 5 (accessed from Flint Lane) has fair fishing for sunfish, bass, black crappie and channel catfish. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout should be excellent in Pond 4 in early spring (March, April, May)! Pond 5 was not stocked with rainbow trout or channel catfish!
Buena or Pond 6 is located off Buena Loop Road, has fair fishing for sunfish, bass, black crappie and channel catfish [Note: state record channel cat, 36.2 pounds came from Pond 6 in 1999]. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout should be excellent in early spring (March, April, May)!
Pond 7 is east of Buena, has a fair population of largemouth bass & black crappie.
Access to all ponds except Ponds 4 and 6 is by walk-in. However, there is a new access road that borders Highway I-82 that allows much closer access to Ponds 1 and 2.
Two-pole fishing is allowed
Shoreline access: Good - Good shoreline access on WDFW land with parking at Pond 4 and walk in to Pond 5.
WDFW water access areas on this lakeSpecies you might catch
Lake information
County: Yakima
Acreage: 36.50 ac.
Elevation: 804 ft.
Center: 46.431928, -120.346199
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Fishing prospects calendar
Largemouth bass
Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.
Yellow perch
Yellow Perch can be caught year-round. Fishing is best in the summer after they finish spawning in April-May. Fish can be readily angled through the summer from both the shore and boat. Catch begins to decline in the fall as water temperatures cool and fish move offshore forcing anglers to pursue them in boats. Successful fishing for Yellow Perch in the winter involves either targeting schools in deep water from boats or through the ice.
Black crappie
Fishing improves throughout the Spring, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull, while Fall sees an improvement as waters cool, vegetation dies back, and prey becomes more available. During winter, the bite is slower, but anglers can have great success fishing through the ice when conditions are safe.
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish are ubiquitous in most lowland lakes and readily caught year-round. Fishing is best in the spring and summer, peaking during the spawn in June. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Winter is the most difficult season to catch Pumpkinseed, but persistent anglers can find nice-sized schools offshore.
Brown bullhead
Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.
