Somewhere back in the "good old days" if fishing was your hobby, you might have found Hannaford ranking high on your list for quality of life. Many old-timers and youngsters as well spent their summer days at their favorite fishing haunts along Bald Hill Creek.
Bullheads abounded in certain places and good sized pickerel in others while shiners could usually be hooked out of the shallows. Suckers, too, inhabited the waters but seldom took to hook.
Equipment for the fisherman was always in stock at the Hannaford Mercantile, Olaf Johnson's Hardware, and Aarestad Brothers & Troseths. Bamboo poles, wire hooks, corks and lines could be purchased for just a few cents. A quarter could buy a spoon hook if you were out after the big game - pickerel. A dozen bullheads was a respectable catch for an afternoon or evening. There were no limits, and whoever heard of licenses?
Pickerel could be caught by trolling with a spoon hook on the line. A five-pounder caught would be shown off up and down main street before being taken home for cleaning, and then bragged about for days. Asher Anderson once hooked a prize winner that was rumored to be over six pounds at least.
Among old-timers of the day, the early 1920s, who often brought up good catches were Ole Nordeng, Christ Foss, Matt Lyngby, Bob Martin and Prof. Lane.
Every boy in town spent some time along the banks of the creek, and a few took to fishing quite seriously. Three pals in particular, who seemed to always know where the biting was best and proved it were Carl Lyngby, Otto Olson and Art Bakken.
If there are very few fish left in Bald Hill Creed today, it might be because there were too many good fishermen back in the good old days when fishing was good.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 257