Sandy » Suburban anglers don't have to trek to the Provo River or Mirror Lake to hook a huge trout. Many of them have fully stocked fishing holes in their neighborhoods.

Sandy opened its first urban fishery Tuesday, joining a string of cities from Roy to Riverton that have reeled in the outdoor sport closer to home.

"This is a great opportunity for families to come together," Sandy City Councilman Dennis Tenney said before his first cast into the new pond. "Without a doubt it's going to be a wonderful gathering place."

Seven-year-old Dylan Eresuma hooked a hefty rainbow trout and two catfish within 30 minutes of the park's opening. But he's practically a pro -- having fished since he was 5.

"We heard they were opening up this new pond, and we couldn't resist," said William Eresuma, Dylan's dad and a Salt Lake City resident. "It's great. You don't have to drive 60 minutes. You can drive 15 or 20."

Three-year-old Ellie Wilcox eyed Dylan's rainbow and declared she wanted to catch a "pink one," too. It would match her "princess" pink-and-purple fishing pole. Only problem: Her pole has a pink, plastic medallion at the end instead of a hook.

"She's not going to catch many fish like that, but she can't injure herself," said her father, Mike Wilcox, who looks forward to frequent visits to the new park, which sits within walking distance of his Sandy home.

The three-acre, human-made pond has a maximum depth of 12 feet and a one-acre turf area with a playground, pavilion and fish-cleaning station. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) keeps the $2.3 million pond stocked with bluegill, trout, smallmouth bass and catfish.

Nestled between the Jordan River and River Oaks Golf Course, the pond is fed by a groundwater pump. The water then flows to a wetland area before entering the Jordan River. The entire park area is 14 acres.

"It's a good project and an environmentally sound project," said Mike Slater, regional aquatics manager for DWR. "We could have 150 homes right here. Instead, it's a bunch of open space."

Urban fishing holes have sprouted throughout Salt Lake County, including in Murray, Draper, South Jordan, Riverton and Herriman. Taylorsville plans to open its own pond this fall.

"There's a need to bring nature, bring the opportunity [to fish] closer to home for people who are having a hard time maybe driving that far," Slater said. "We're competing for kids' time."

South Salt Lake resident Norm Goddard said such amenities help him keep up his lifelong passion for fishing. At age 76, he likes that he can park in the Sandy fishery parking lot and walk along a flat sidewalk to a casting spot. The sidewalk makes fishing accessible to people in wheelchairs, too.

"It's wonderful. It's good for old people because you can [fish] without climbing up and down mountains," said Goddard, who snagged a brown trout for supper. "The seniors are going to love it."

rwinters@sltrib.com