The following is a press release and photo from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is pleased to announce the opening of Johnson Pond to fishing. Johnson Pond is located 8 miles south of Salmon, on the west side of Highway 93 South.

At nearly 6.5 acres, Johnson Pond is the largest public fishing pond in the Salmon Region and was recently stocked with over 1,000 rainbow trout from Idaho Fish and Game’s Mackay Fish Hatchery.

Access to the former gravel pit pond, named in honor of Val B. Johnson, is available through an agreement with the Johnson family, owners of the property. Val was an Air Force veteran, former equipment operator, and a highly valued teacher at Salmon High School for over 25 years.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Johnson family and see Val’s vision to open this pond to provide fishing opportunities for the public,” said Greg Schoby, Fish and Game regional fisheries manager. “It shows the commitment that Val and the Johnson family have to the Salmon community and to creating opportunities for future generations.”

“We would also like to thank Dahle’s Red-E-Mix, the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation for their partnership in providing access to Johnson Pond,” Schoby added.

Months of planning resulted in the access agreement and site improvements. The Johnson Pond property borders the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eight Mile River Access to the north. Anglers can access the pond by parking at the BLM access site and walking 50 yards to the pond.

Dahle’s Red-E-Mix operates an active gravel mining operation on the southwest side of the pond, which is marked by the fenced boundary. Fish and Game asks the public to act responsibly and respect the property boundaries and applicable rules to ensure future access to the pond.

The access agreement and area improvements were funded by Fish and Game’s Access Yes program and a grant from the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

General fishing season rules apply, with a daily catch of six trout. Small watercraft such as inflatable boats or inner tubes are permitted and can be launched from the BLM Eight Mile access point. There are no boat ramps.