Slefer, sounds like a nice pond.
Here is my input for your consumption and consideration:
1. Did the pond "turn over" this past fall? If so, you may have to wait for the water temperatures to increase and the thermocline to reappear.
2. You write you caught some on plastics. That's a clue. Try a shaky head, drop shot and a weightless white fluke.
3. If the water temperature is "on the cold side" fish slow. Have you ever heard of "dead sticking?" That is when you throw your plastic, usually a four inch worm, and let it sit in place for at least 90 to 120 seconds. Drives me nuts but try to see if "dead sticking" will produce any strikes.
4. Remember, bass still eat in the winter. Their metabolism is very slow and it could take up to two weeks to digest a meal, but they do eat. So knowing the forage you need to think like a bass and remember to fish s-l-o-w as the things they eat will move slow in cold water. This is true for fishing on the bottom or pulling a moving bait through the water.
5. Have you thrown any "flat sided" crankbaits or Rat-L-Trap Lipless types of cranks? Give them a try. And fish them at different depths at different times so you can figure out where the fish are staging or holding in structure.
6. #5 Shad Raps. Silver with black back. Consider throwing one of these to see if they can muster some hits.
7. Jerkbaits can work, too. These are fished slow and can be boring if no hits. Remember, a yellow eye means the jerkbait floats and a red eye means the jerkbait suspends. Just cast it out, and tweak it back to you. The bass will hit it between tweaks, which you can extend to 20 to 30 seconds before moving the bait again.
8. Color may not be that important. A tight "wobble" in a crankbait is more important. If the water gets cloudy or stained you may need a tight wobbling crankbait with rattles.
9. Jig and pig. You have to throw this one. Blue/black; peanut butter and jelly; green pumpkin; are all favorite colors. Add a bulky but short trailer to give the jig some nice bulk as the bass will not want to expend much energy to attack anything and they are looking for an easy meal dropped in their face.
We could go on but please try the drop shot and shaky head presentations first, using a Zoom Trick Worm or any nice 7 to 8-inch worm of your choice. Put it on the smallest jig head you can cast easily and keep a finger on your line as it comes off the spool so you can feel the hits. Plus, watch your line. Just like fishing stick baits (Senkos, Dingers, etc.) you always have to watch your line. If it moves; if the bait stops falling on the cast; SET THE HOOK HARD OVER YOUR HEAD! Hook sets are free.
So go back out with your dad and you all form a plan of attack, with you throwing one bait and technique and your dad throwing another bait and technique. Your goal is to locate the fish (holding deep, off ledges, in any bottom structure, under bank foliage, by rocks, holding to any wood in the water, etc.) for that day.
One more thing to consider. In the winter months the western and northern banks warm up faster. This is why we fish them in the winter first, if possible. Even a two or three degree change in water temperature due to rocks, wood, etc. holding heat will attract the baitfish and the bass. So fish the pond's northern and western banks first, understanding that parallel casts along the bank can be very productive as the bass wake up and decide to try their luck at breakfast.
Let us know how you do. And please read, read, read and watch videos about bass fishing. I will be "personal messaging" you a Facebook site to subscribe. It sends out too many videos about bass fishing but you need to read every one. And also subscribe to this Forum on Facebook for its releases and sign up for Bassresource videos on YouTube.
All the best and Tight Lines!
