I woke up this morning to clear skies and calm winds and decided to take the rugrat fishing. I didn’t think we would do very well because of the weather yesterday, but I let my daughter be the guide and decide where to go. I gave her the choice of bass, bluegill, or rainbow trout. She chose rainbow trout so we packed up and went to my two favorite pay lakes that she usually hammers them on and low and behold neither one of them have trout fishing this year (Sangiland and the smaller of the two lakes by the drive-in theater). She then decided we would have to try for bluegill. We drove out to Idong and was going to try the north shore. I didn’t think that I could make it up the hill in my Daewoo Prince on the north side, so we tried the south west side near the dam. No bites. To my astonishment, there were about 40 to 50 boats on Idong by 9:30 a.m. Must have been a club or tournament going on. My daughter decided we should go try the Hwy 82 lake. She likes it there because the dude lets her fish there for free and brings her ice cream. We caught about a dozen nice gills, but it is still a little too cold and there wasn’t enough sun to give them any energy. She did hook into a nice 4.5 lb mirrored carp though and got another good photo for the album.
Dave
By the way, isn’t all fishing FUN? 
Nice fish, and it’s even nicer that you’re getting your daughter involved in outdoor activities at such a young age. I have always liked the guy at the small lake on 82. He’s let us take his boat out a few times in the past for bass fishing, and he’s always smiling and has something nice to say. Cool dude.
By the way, they were in fact having a tournament out at Idong today, with a 3 million Won first prize.
Rob, She’s been my fishing partner since age 2. She’s outfished me on several occasions and she’s not afraid to remind me of that either.
I figured there must have been something going on there at Idong. Never seen it that crowded before.
I was looking on Google Maps and noticed they updated their map database for Korea. Much more detailed info now. The satellite photo is updated as well and now extends well east of Osan AB and covers Idong now. It is fairly recent because it shows the two towers on base. They have also updated their road map and it is very detailed and shows many very small bodies of water I did not know about. It now has a little fishing Icon that appears near fishing lakes when you zoom in on them. I found two near my home I didn’t even know were there. The best thing is that it shows fishing charter locations on the coast now. I was planning a trip to Taean soon to scout for locations for some trips this summer. Now I know exactly where to look. If you haven’t used it lately, check it out.
That’s way cool Dave.
Reference Idong, you can supposedly launch boats there now (trolling motor only) for a small fee. I was told 10,000 Won, but have not verified that.
Will have to check out the new Google Earth. Thanks….
Hi, I was just searching around for information about fishing in Korea and stumbled across your blog. Was just wondering if you had any more info on those pay lakes you are talking about? Directions anything. I’m desperate to find some fishing, have done a little bass fishing here, but just searching for as much info as I can. Thanks.
Mikael, when I get home from work today I will post some Google Earth links to some of the pay lakes in the area. I assume that you’re in the Pyongtaek area….
By the way Dave, is your Daewoo Prince blue by chance? If so I think I passed you guys as you were pulling out of the bait shop on Sunday morning.
Good deal, Dave. My daughter loved to go fishing with me when she was real young, then went through a phase where she had real no interest but suddenly, she’s back into it. I’m not sure how much of that is a genuine love for the sport and how much is that she wants to hang out with Dad but either way, I’ll take it
Rob, very dark blue almost black. We were there, so it probably was us.
Nomad, fishin with the kids is always better, even if they can’t hear you because of the ipod earphones.
Mikael, there are tons of pay lakes around here. Most of them are geared toward carp fishing and require you to fish Korean style with a long fiberglass cane poles and allow no casting. There are some that have bass and will let you bass fish, often for a lower cost. Hwy 82 lake and Sangiland are two. Last year Sangiland produced good numbers of bass for us, but no real size, maybe it will be better this year. Hwy 82 lake has got some great bluegills in it and will be easy to catch over the next few weeks. It also has some HUGE carp, but they are extremely finicky. There are some lakes nearby stocked with rainbow trout. Outdoor rec at Osan goes to one every other weekend right now. I think they are going to Deokbong Lake. That’s where they were going last year. Use the maps on Google.com (not the satellite) and you will find one just 2.5 miles east of Osan AB. You will also see 4 small lakes about a 1.2 miles north of the base. I am willing to bet one of them is a pay lake. You can always bass fish at the River just north of the runway. One of our lab techs was tearing them up there last year.
thanks a lot for the info. I’m actually north of the osan area, but do make my way down there from time to time. I have a long weekend and decided to rent a car and check out some of the places listed on anglerstown.com. I really appreciate the info though and will let you know if I find any good spots over the weekend. Thanks again for the help. By the way, have you heard of any lakes or rivers where you can rent row boats or anything?
Mikael, sorry I didn’t have time to post the Google Earth links last night, but I will do it today.
Also, there is a lake near Osan named “Gosam” that rents boats. I’ll be sure to include it in the links.
I’m pretty sure that was you guys then Dave. I saw “the sticker” in the window which identified you as a “friendly,” LOL, and when I went left at the light just past the bait shop to go down towards the dam, you guys went straight. I was in a brown Jeep.
Mikael, here are some Google Earth coordinates to some local lakes for you:
KSA Trout and Carp Pay Lake:
Latitude: 37° 4’15.51″N
Longitude: 127° 9’59.51″E
Idong Lake (Carp, Bass, Bluegill, ???):
Latitude: 37° 6’42.03″N
Longitude: 127°11’39.00″E
Pay Lake on Highway 82 (Carp, Bass, Bluegill, Korean Catfish):
Latitude: 37° 8’28.84″N
Longitude: 127°11’1.78″E
Gosam Lake (Bass, Bluegill, Carp, ???):
Latitude: 37° 4’54.92″N
Longitude: 127°17’7.68″E
nice fishing trip. hope to see you soon. love MOM
Is the Highway 82 lake also known as Gosamji or the small pond near it? I am retired army this Lat/long stuff kicks my butt.
Wilsong,
The highway 82 lake is northwest of Idong. Click the link to see a map
http://landinglunkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/82lake.jpg
Nomad
Thanks. I have seen it. Thought it would only be a Carp pond.
I NEED YALLS HELP, I’m new to Korea (3months)and I have frantically been trying to find some decent fishing. When I’m not working (which is most the time) I’m biking miles upon miles trying to find some type of fishing. On several occassions I’ve biked to PeongTaek River in search of Bigfoot, I’m mean bass and have had limited success. Is there a helping hand out there that could find it in there fishermans heart to help a bro out. In return I will guide anyone that helps on a Idaho fly fish adventure when they return to the states. I have a sickness and the only cure is fish, I need more fish. P.S. I’m a catch and release kind of dude. Please help!!!!
Wilsong, there are plenty of bass and bluegill in that lake as well. Plus, he stocks some Korean catfish (maegi) in there from time to time too.
IDHunter,
If you’ve found the water(s), then you’ve won 1/2 the battle. Now you need to figure out where the bass are on which day, and what they want. Basically, you can count on bass, bluegill, carp, and other fish (like snakehead and Korean catfish) in almost any body of fresh water over here.
PART TWO:
We went back out today. She was still wanting some trout so we went to Deokbong. Four hours, three bites, one dink trout. She wanted to go back to Hwy 82 lake for some bluegill got there around noon. Got to our spot and hundreds of bluegill are sunning along with some big carp. I get her baited up, cast right into the thick of them and hand her the rod. About 2 seconds later the bobber disappears and she sets the hook. Next thing I notice, her rod is doubled over and the fish is taking line. She has on a HUGE carp. She gets to feel it for a few seconds before it gets her into the weeds and then SNAP. There goes the the 10 lb test line. That was the only big fish of the day. We did get a nice mess of fatty bluegills. All chocked full of eggs. They were still finicky with the tiny Korean worms we get from the bait store. I know that when I take the time to hunt up some nightcrawlers, it is an entirely different story. You can see the bluegill come from 15 feet away to get a nightcrawler. You have to deal with a more subtle bite with the Korean worms.
Nice going Hunter Dave! Too bad she wasn’t able to land the big carp, but there’s always next time….
[...] From Rainbow Trout to Bluegill Fishing Korea & TennesseeApr 26, 2009 I gave her the choice of bass, bluegill, or rainbow trout. She chose rainbow trout so we packed up and [...]