Matt22Ratcliff

I've been fishing a local city pond/lake a lot lately. It's a typical City pond with loads of bluegill and a fountain. I have caught fish here this winter and last summer and a few decent sized ones the smallest being about 2 pounds in the biggest being about 6 1/2. I just can't catch them consistently I might catch 1 fish maybe every 5 times I go. I've thrown everything from C-rigs to drop shots to cranks and swimbaits. The only thing I've been able to catch them on is a tube there are a few Craws in the pond. There is no visible structure on the pond which makes it tough to fish. The water color is clear to slightly stained, there are grass carp in the lake so there is no grass, mossy bottom, and as far as you can see out it is shallow and pretty clean bottom. Just wondering how you guys would approach this lake any tips would be much appreciated.

I've grown up fishing creeks and small rivers for smallies and its not like I've never fished for largemouths or not had success fishing for them. I fish a lot of jigs tubes and other craw imitators in the creek and always catch quite a few fish. Then I'll go to the lake and not have the same results. Is there a reason for this, or do I need to change my approach when targeting largemouth?

I try to forget those days!

Just outside of Lafayette, fish mainly Sugar creek, Pine creek, and Wildcat creek. For now, working on trying to find local tournaments. Any of you know of bass clubs around my area? Thanks!

I use pretty much green pumpkin with everything, can't go wrong there. As for the action of the bait, let it get to the bottom and raise your pole slowly it is crucial when you are dragging tubes that you always keep the bait in contact with the bottom, after you raise the pole about a foot, lower it back down and reel in the slack, and repeat. Vary your pause time in between drags based on how aggressive the fish are.

Thanks guys really helped me out, slayed them the last two days. T-riged senko was the only thing I could keep out of the moss long enough to present to the bass.

Ive been dealing with the same conditions here in Indiana and surprisingly the bite has not slowed nearly as much as expected for me, Sure im not catching the 3-4 lbers like in early spring but I can still go out and catch 4-10 smallies a day with a few 2 lbers mixed in, plus I normally only can fish mid day with some evenings sprinkled in. The key has been finding the deeper holes and or heavy structured areas. Try dragging a tube very slow across the bottom and WATCH your line very closely a lot of tube strikes occur on the fall or pauses after you drag it when you have quite a bit of slack in your line, if your line takes off reel in the slack and SET THE HOOK! Some days when the bite is really tough I've found that the best way for me to still catch fish is to VERY slowly drag the tube and allow at least 30 seconds in between drags it seems to really entice the finicky fish to strike. Hope this helps best of luck!

Rage tail craws are probaly the most realilstic, but in my experience tubes have always caught more fish for me. If you can master dragging the tube about a foot at time pause and repeat it can be a deady techinque that every smallie fishermen should have in their arsenal.

Alright guys I'm fishing this small lake/ big pond here in Wisconsin, it's pretty shallow I think it gets 7 ft at the deepest spot I've been. The bottom is completely moss covered and some spots on the pond there is moss on the top too. I fished it a couple years ago in early June right before spawn and the killed topwater, it's a lot hotter here this time around and the fish are just to finicky for that now. I've tried alot of different lures and plastics and I just keep reeling in a hand full of moss. Any tips on what to throw, That will stay out of the moss and is still a finesse bait?

Thanks guys, I'm located in Western Indiana. So far I've only been able to get out there in the evening, I'm planing on going very early tomorrow morning. I was thinking of using a smaller weight and and about a 3in craw, any suggestions on what you would run on the Carolina?

Ive been fishing this small lake for the last couple of weeks, its public and allows no boating of any kind the lake is heavily fished. Its fairly stained water, about to 2-3 feet deep along the bank and gets up to about 6-12 in some spots, post spawn, very hot July weather with little rain. There is and excessive population of bluegill in the lake and I have seen craws along the bank. There is virtually no structure to fish along the bank. Ive thrown every thing at this fish, alot of shakey heads, crankbaits, jigs, and craw imitators. Ive tried to downsize everything and fish very slow but I just cant find the bite. Ive talked to a couple of local guys and the fish are there but there not catching em either. I wont feel right till I pulled atleast a couple decent bass out of here. If you know what these fish are doing or what they will bite your input would be much appreciated. Thanks!