Q: In the Mail Tribune's Spring Fishing Guide, there was an article concerning the stocking of precocial steelhead in local ponds, three of which I have never heard of. Where are Burma Pond, Spaulding Pond and Dutch Herman Pond? Are these ponds open to the public, and do they contain other species of fish?

-- Jim M., Eagle Point

A: Well, Jim, your eagle eye for a new spot to wet a line has taken you into some new territory for Eagle Point trout anglers -- Josephine County.

Spaulding, Burma and Dutch Herman ponds are all tiny mountain ponds in Josephine County that are stocked with undersized steelhead smolts and legal-sized rainbow trout. All three ponds will each get a dose of 600 legal-sized rainbow trout this week from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

These ponds are most often fished by the locals of Wolf Creek and Cave Junction, but there's a little room on the banks for you, Jim. But don't tell anyone we told you, because it's not normally our job here at the Mail Tribune to give away people's secret fishing spots.

Well, maybe just a small part of our job. Anyway, here's how to find Spaulding Pond:

Take Highway 199 18 miles west out of Grants Pass until you reach the Onion Mountain Lookout Road about a quarter-mile past the Hayes Hill summit. The road is also known as Forest Service Road No. 25. Go right.

Drive 7.5 miles until you reach a three-way split in the road, and take the far left gravel road. The road is Forest Service Road No. 2524, but it may or may not be labeled.

Then drive another 4.5 miles until you see a sign for Spaulding Campground where the road intersects with Forest Service Road No. 045. Turn right, drive about a mile and you're at the pond and campground.

To get to Dutch Herman or Burma ponds:

Drive north on I-5 until you get to the Wolf Creek exit. Get off the freeway and drive north along the frontage road until you get to Speaker Road. Take a right.

Speaker Road will eventually turn into a gravel road, BLM Road 33-5-10.0. Drive 1.7 miles past the BLM road sign, then veer off right up a big hill.

After you've driven long enough that you think you've taken the wrong road, go a short distance farther and you'll find Burma Pond.

For Dutch Herman Pond, don't veer right off 33-5-10.0. Drive 1.85 miles farther and you'll find the pond on your left.

To both ponds, the road is steep and much better for a pickup than a Geo Metro.

(Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: youasked@mailtribune.com