I live and work in Jefferson County. Near my office building, in the middle of an office park, is a pond -- pretty good size, about 2 acres, I think, maybe more. A few years ago I asked a lady at a neighboring real estate office if it was ok to fish there, and she said yes, she sees people fishing there occasionally.

I fished there once on lunch break, and caught nothing.

After a few years without a license, I got a fishing license for Father's Day. Trying to think of places to explore for fishing, I remembered this pond. I went and looked at it again yesterday, in the middle of the hot daytime.

I saw no fish. I saw no one fishing. I did see some old fishing line half-buried in mud...but that was the only sign of anglers I saw. No lines or lures in trees, no lost bobbers, no dead fish, no discarded bait containers.

I did see frogs, turtles, geese, and ducks.

So...think there are any fish there? Could be fished out and everyone else knows it. Or maybe it was fished out, and everyone knew it, but there is something there now. Or maybe everyone thinks it's a bad place to fish but the common wisdom is wrong because no one challenges it. Or maybe there are conditions (eutrophication or something) that make it bad. Or maybe people do fish there successfully but I never see them. Maybe all the people in the office park are non-anglers. Maybe there are huge catfish and schools of decent bluegill, wondering why no one bothers them.

One way to find out, right?