Craig Abbott is at his wit’s end.
Trespassers have repeatedly snuck onto his property containing a small pond he keeps well stocked in order to ensure plenty of action for the annual Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs campaign.
“Over the weekend, I found some fileted fish I had just put in there,” Abbott said. “That just did it.”
Abbott is closing off all access to the pond in order to keep the fish population plentiful for HOFNOD in June.
“I never thought I’d have to do that, but that’s where it’s at.”
For the better part of 20 years, Abbott has maintained the pond on North Cottonwood Street, solely for the youth fishing derby sponsored by the Iola Police Department.
He also allowed a few friends and acquaintances — upon request — access to the pond at other points of the year.
But too many unwanted guests have cut substantially into the fish population, he noted.
“So HOFNOD is on,” Abbott said. “Everything else is off. I hate to have to do this.”
Danny Rodriguez, community resource officer with IPD, said he and the other officers will include checking on the pond during their daily patrols.
Those caught on the property without permission would face trespassing chargers, Rodriguez said.
