Dom Hendricks

A buddy of mine joined a deer lease that has a 6 acre pond on it. I went to look at it today and we happened to run into the pond biologist that the land owner has to manage the pond. It was stocked with bluegill in the spring of 2018 and he is going to restock it in March or April of this year based on low bluegill numbers in his last survey. Bluegill are the main forage for the fish according to him. This pond occasionally gets fished by the owner and club members, but with little success. It does get heavy vegetation growth during the summer, so I plan on flipping the slop later this year. Any ideas of how to attack the prespawn? I was thinking spinner bait or blades jig and soft plastics to start, but was looking to see if anyone had any recs for bluegill stocked ponds. The biologist did say that there are some big fish in the pond, but he probably tells everyone of his customers that. TIA.

This and if there is a creek feeding into it would be my first few stops. It might take a few trips in the evening but you will notice splashes and blowups in certain areas. Focus on those late with top water. If it’s open enough, a black jitterbug is hard to beat.

Frog fishing can be a formidable opponent at times. Having a fast reel will help you catch up to the frog after the blowup to see if it’s in the fishes mouth or not. With experience you will be able to tell if they are eating it or just slapping at it. If they are slapping at it, I just let it sit for at least a minute after the blowup. You have to watch the frog closely because most of the time they come and slurp it off of the surface.

The menace is my go to bait when I have hit a few spots and not gotten a bite. I really should fish it more often. I also like it as a punching bait with some tungsten and maybe a skirt.

If you know about where it is, I would be diving down for it unless you were alone in the boat. Same thing happened to my frog setup last year. I found it in the third trip down.

Beetle spin, beetle spin, beetle spin.

Don’t forget the space monkey.

Caught this one a few years ago on a pond at the family farm. My uncle has been managing it for over 30 years. I’m extremely lucky that I have a place like this to fish.

This is deadly before the grass takes over and you have to break out the punching setup.

I have two decent sized scars on the back of my head from a 5 year old and a jitterbug. First and only time I have had to go to the ER to get a lure removed.

Learn to skip a jig or soft plastic around the docks. You will be shocked at the number of bass hiding in the shade on a sunny day. The rocks are a different beast. I’ve had good success with football jigs and chatterbaits as well as square bills. Whatever you are most comfortable with.

I bought a pair of the Smith guides choice with the polarchromic copper mirror lens in them and they are great. I have worn smith ski goggles for years and decided to try the sunglasses last year. A bit pricey but well worth it if you take care of your glasses.

I replaced the entire tip-top guide with an extra guide I had sitting around. I called St Croix again yesterday and got a completely different answer from a different employee. He explained that if the rod is defective (not damaged) you still have to ship it to them on your dime. That is why they have the discounted fed ex shipping label on their website. If they get the rod and it is a defect (not damage) they will repair or replace the rod no cost. The majority of the rods that they get are damaged or broken. That is where the extra charge comes in and the upgrade options are available. He told me that you can buy the guides and even whole sections for 2 piece rods on their website but I couldn’t find them.

I’m going to replace the tip guide with and old Shimano one I have at the house. Shimano sent me 3 years ago when I slammed the tip of one of their rods in a tailgate. No charge. According to the rep I talked to they do have the tip guides and sections for purchase on their website but I didn’t look.

For $55 St Croix will. You have to pay the same $55 to plus shipping to even have them look at the rod for a manufacturing defect.