Crankbaits are not allowed. The only artifical baits allowed are plastics that are rigged weedless. Reason being is the Crystal Garden Lakes provide purification for Avondale's drinking water. Each lake has a rubber lining to help hold the water in. A treble hook or other exposed hook that catches this lining can tear the lining. Several lakes have had to have repairs done to them and it's not cheap. Resident's had to fight hard to convince the city council to continue to allow fishing. We've come close several times to losing our fishing priveleges. Please assist us in keeping the lakes open for fishing by using plastics, rigged weedless. Note: although the rules don't allow top-water baits such as buzzbaits or pop'rs, Park Rangers don't seem to mind since there really is no danger to the lining.

The fishing is very good. I've found the Yamamoto twin tail grub, watermelon with black fleck up into the grass works great. Those can be fished weightless and worked back like a topwater bait. 3in Bass Assassins will also catch alot of fish, and dropshoting purple worms seems to always work.

 

Where is crystal gardens?

 

107th Ave & Thomas

 

My son and I have fished there many times and have caught numerous fish! I have found the best luck with a 1/4 oz white buzzbait and a brush hog in watermelon red. We are actually going tonight. I didn't know about the crankbait rules. Is that posted anywhere? I would actually like to read the rules. We have also caught some decent sized bluegills/redears, catfish, carp and koi there also. I think the only thing that we haven't caught there was talapia.
I found it.......here it is for those of you that want to know.

http://www.avondale.org/Archive.asp?ADID=390

 

According to the rules you can use a crank bait if you sub out the trebles for a single barbless hook, just put a straight shank on the back. Same with buzzbaits or spinnerbaits, just file the barb off. BUT you would also need to do that to your hooks for soft plastics as well.

 

Went from 5 pm till 9 pm caught 10 fish 6 on cranks 3 on dropshot and some kind of fish that was possibly a koi on corn. good lake to fish at in town not to many people

You caught someone's ancestor (Koi)???? There goes your good kharma, and mojo juju!!!! :Iconrotfl

 

Went from 5 pm till 9 pm caught 10 fish 6 on cranks 3 on dropshot and some kind of fish that was possibly a koi on corn. good lake to fish at in town not to many people

According to the sign that G&F has posted out there by the ponds fishing is only allowed from sunrise to sunset, if these are the same ones I think your talking about!!

 

Yes, sunrise to sunset. And the fishing can be phenominal. Great place to escape after work without having to drag the boat out on a one hour journey.

 

I have caught many fish out of there but none of any size? I would say the bigges was 2 lbs. I have heard that there were bigger ones in there but they drew down the water and they died a year or so ago. Is there any truth to that? I'll be there tonight with my son. If anyone is out there stop by and say hi.

 

Their are I believe 13 lakes. About 3 years ago they added dye to the water to keep algae down. They added to much die to some of the lakes and consequently much of the grass died in some of the lakes. To complicate the issue the company managing the lakes hired some people to remove some of the grass as there was to much over growth. These people went to far and butchered much of the grass and disrupted the eco-system in some of the lakes. Bass fishing was much better before, but is still very good today. In the 4 plus years I've lived here I've caught 3 fish over 7, too many to count over 3. There are alot of "rats", but it's like any lake...certain baits will catch alot of fish and certain baits will catch less fish but quality fish.

 

Their are I believe 13 lakes. About 3 years ago they added dye to the water to keep algae down. They added to much die to some of the lakes and consequently much of the grass died in some of the lakes. To complicate the issue the company managing the lakes hired some people to remove some of the grass as there was to much over growth. These people went to far and butchered much of the grass and disrupted the eco-system in some of the lakes. Bass fishing was much better before, but is still very good today. In the 4 plus years I've lived here I've caught 3 fish over 7, too many to count over 3. There are alot of "rats", but it's like any lake...certain baits will catch alot of fish and certain baits will catch less fish but quality fish. Carolina rigging will generally catch bigger fish, althought I have caught some very nice fish dropshotting. Buzzbaits will catch less fish BUT the ones you catch are generally always nice. Another gauge to pay attention to is when you see the Koi active (swimming around) this generally means bass fishing will be atleast decent. If you don't see any Koi movement it will probably be slow. The beauty of the lakes is there are 13 or so and if fishing is slow in one, try another. Please pay attention to the rules so we can continue fishing these lakes. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

I would like to go down and check these lakes out since they are right down the 101 from me. would you suggest starting out in the lakes to the south or north part of the development? What about parking?

Thank you,
SteveM

 

I just sold a client's house in there and was wondering if the fishing was any good. I'll have to bring some tackle when I drop off the keys.

 

Well it is called fishing and not catching...but it's as close to catching that fishing will ever be. I use to fish these lakes everyday of the week. I would start in the middle of the development. That's just me. I haven't fished on the north or south ends much. Those lakes don't have the grassy islands and to me have the fun is fishing the grassy islands. As far as parking goes, park on one of the sides roads off Crystal Gardens Parkway. State fishing license is required. Check the rules out in the above link and please abide by them. Park Rangers do make their rounds daily. Each lake has a walking path that circles each lake. Your allowed to fish from anyplace on the walking path. Matter of fact I never just sit and fish. I walk the entire circumference of each lake. Beware of barking dogs. If one just keeps barking and won't shut up please keep moving to another spot. We don't need angry homeowners complaining about a guest in our neighborhood parking their butt and creating a distrubance. Also If you choose fishing in the morning this is particularly important as people do work late shifts and like to sleep in the late morning. I had the uncomfortable task of approaching some really nice gentlemen who were not only causing a neighbors dog to create a ruckus, but were talking to each other at the top of their lungs. They were so excited to be catching fish after fish. I can't say I blame em' I've been there. I politely asked them to keep it down that it was only 7am in the morning. They were alittle embarssassed and realized they had gotten carried away. Bottom line, have fun but please be respectful...we don't want the privelege taken away. Good luck and have fun. I'm usually wearing a Miami Dolphins cap so say hello if you see me in your bass hunting trek!

 

Well it is called fishing and not catching...but it's as close to catching that fishing will ever be. I use to fish these lakes everyday of the week. I would start in the middle of the development. That's just me. I haven't fished on the north or south ends much. Those lakes don't have the grassy islands and to me have the fun is fishing the grassy islands. As far as parking goes, park on one of the sides roads off Crystal Gardens Parkway. State fishing license is required. Check the rules out in the above link and please abide by them. Park Rangers do make their rounds daily. Each lake has a walking path that circles each lake. Your allowed to fish from anyplace on the walking path. Matter of fact I never just sit and fish. I walk the entire circumference of each lake. Beware of barking dogs. If one just keeps barking and won't shut up please keep moving to another spot. We don't need angry homeowners complaining about a guest in our neighborhood parking their butt and creating a distrubance. Also If you choose fishing in the morning this is particularly important as people do work late shifts and like to sleep in the late morning. I had the uncomfortable task of approaching some really nice gentlemen who were not only causing a neighbors dog to create a ruckus, but were talking to each other at the top of their lungs. They were so excited to be catching fish after fish. I can't say I blame em' I've been there. I politely asked them to keep it down that it was only 7am in the morning. They were alittle embarssassed and realized they had gotten carried away. Bottom line, have fun but please be respectful...we don't want the privelege taken away. Good luck and have fun. I'm usually wearing a Miami Dolphins cap so say hello if you see me in your bass hunting trek!

The they are actually doing away with public fishing due to many guests keeping the fish and making a mess, I know good anglers know better, but some people ruin it for everyone, honestly it’s residents that usually do worst from what I’ve seen.