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I have recently bought a 10ft plastic boat. I got it for extremely cheap and when I got home I discovered duct tape on the front. The hole is very small and seems possible to fix but I have no experience in this topic. I attached a photo of the damage. What would be my best bet in fixing this if it’s possible. I have some marine hoop laying around and have also gotten advice to bondo it.. would either of these work or is there something else to try? Any help would be appreciated, thanks

I've fished every inch of structure with what seems like every lure in my arsenal and I just can't find a single bite in a local private pond. Ive had plenty of luck in the past with the spot, but this fall I've yet to see a single bass, let alone land one. Its a small pond with pretty murky water and I've had a lot of luck in the past with topwater, mainly buzzing frogs, large poppers and chuggers, but I used to catch just as many with large profile spinnerbaits, shallow crank-baits, and senkos. I caught pass in the pre-spawn here earlier this year and while I guess its possible that something could have happened to the population, the pond has never had trouble with an overpopulation of sunfish nor any large fish kills that i'm aware of. I'd really appreciate any one who could provide some advice or any insight on my situation.

So the ponds in my community are higher than usual since it rained in south florida for almost two days straight, does this mean fish are closer to shore since there’s more water? And is it a better time to fish? since all the nutrients and bugs that got flushed in when it rained? Also can someone explain to me when i know it’s a good time to fish like the pressure and etc of the moon

A local pond by me that's about an acre in a square shape has almost no bass bigger than really 6 inches. There's just about every species of bait fish (bluegill and rock bass in large numbers and perch and crappie in much smaller numbers) and carp that jump all over the pond, most likely all coming from the river very close by. The bottom is rocky with some weed patches and structure and seems to get semi deep although I can't really tell. The problem here is when fishing (most often fly fishing around the shore), there are tiny to medium bluegill, small to big rock bass, and the bass (3:1 smallmouth:largemouth) are all around 6 inches and just as big as the bait fish. It seems like the masses of bait fish that hide in the weeds around the shore should be amazing bait for big bass but as far as I know there's only been one 2 pound smallie my friend caught right as a rooster tail hit the surface. It just seems so confusing to me. Are there way too many bait fish and rock bass that compete with the little bass keeping them small (they almost always have fat stomachs even being so small) and how would one fix that? Thank you for your help.

Hello All, It has been years since I was on this forum. Unfortunately, I lost access to my other email (College email address) and am unable to recover that account. I am happy to be back on such an amazing forum with such a positive community. Bass fishing in Colorado is nothing like it was in Texas but you can still find a hog every now and then!! (See attached!) Happy to be back!

I have a plastic boat that has a fairly small hole in the hull. I’ve heard that epoxy is a good idea with plastic kayaks but on the boat, I only have access to one side of the hole. I can see the hole from the outside, but on the inside of the boat there’s an extra plastic mold that completely blocks you from seeing the hole. Is an epoxy still possible if I can’t get to both sides? If it’s not, what are my best options here? Any advice would be helpful.

Hello. I am a pretty new bass fisherman and mostly fish small ponds. I know enough about lake fishing to know which lures to use when, but I am at a loss for pond fishing. Can you give me recommendations for baits to throw in ponds?

I've heard Spring prespawn is a great time to catch bass. Well, in my experience, that is entirely false. Locating the fish hasn't been an issue because I wear polarized lenses when I hit the pond, I can SEE the bass floating around, and in numbers! It's remarkable actually. So I can see where they are, I cast past them, and work the bait right up to them. What do they do? Act like it doesn't exist or sometimes run away like they're spooked. What's the deal?! They're not hungry? Senkos freak them out? I don't get it. I've tried all kinds of lures from jigs to cranks to plastics and fished in the morning as well as noon (I work nights so evening is not possible). I don't understand how I can bring it right to their mouth and they turn away...

So I have a 7-8 acre pond that I have been managing for largemouth. It has very limited coverage and gets green with algae every year. I was wanting to get some coverage on it, but don’t want to worry about vegetation taking it over. I was thinking of making some homemade lily pads out of plastic or some kind and anchoring them out. Is there anyone that has any experience in this or know someone that sells them?

I have a neighbor with a very small pond in his yard that I have been given permission to fish. The first day I caught 7 on various lures, and since then I’ve gone maybe 3-4 times a week for the past month or so. Over time the fishing has gotten drastically tougher and I even got skunked the last 2 outings. I’m beginning to think I overfished the pond and the bass have become hook shy. Does anyone else have a similar experience or some input? I plan to let it breathe for the next couple months and see what happens.

I'm going on a camping trip to new Hampshire next week, and the campsite sits right on a little hole called "Moore's Pond." From some research I have found there's definitely smallies in this pond, but that's really all I know about it. Has anyone else ever fished here?

In small ponds, will the bass feed at the same time? I hear one feeding bass can start the others to feed. I know there are many bass in this pond, at least 15-20. In the middle of the day, I see one or two jumping for dragonflies. I throw topwaters, worms, flukes, lizards, and get nothing. Even got a dragonfly topwater from Lunkerhunt to match the hatch trying to get the ones going after them (still no bites on that one either). But if those 2 fish are feeding, what are the others doing? They're not jumping so if they are feeding, they should hit the other baits under the water. So this leads me to believe that they don't feed at the same time and those that are feeding do not ring the dinner bell for the others. Does this mean that at any given time, I only have a chance at catching the few that are feeding? What I've read about this issue seems to be false, at least in this pond... As far as fishing for neutral or inactive bass, I'm not interested in doing that because I've pretty much given up on it till the weeds die off later in the year.

Hello. Im looking for a new fishing pole to buy since my old one basically fell apart on me. I have about 4 ponds on my property that all have nice bass in them and a river that runs through the property as well with stocked trout in it. I used to go fishing as a kid long ago and a couple days ago I decided to go out myself and see if I could catch something since I havent done it in years. I got some casts out of it and caught 2 small bass then the pole crapped the bed because it so d**n old (probably 10 years old). Those 2 fish were enough to get me hooked (haha) on fishing again and Id like to get into it but I have no rod! If someone could link me some information about this stuff and possibly links to poles I can buy that'd be great. Thanks.

Hello, I was just fishing yesterday (no bites) and, I saw this guy that was on his kayak fishing the pond I was also so I decided to see if he had caught anything. He said no but told me that he once caught a 6lb bass, (he also showed me a picture) the official record in NH is 10lb 8oz, so that bass was big for here. So my question is how can a bass living in a 0.01-acre pond which is a HEAVILY pressured be 6lbs?!? The pond doesn't even have minnows or shad, but there are tons of bluegill. Sorry for this pretty stupid question, but I just can't wrap my head around this. Confused, Martin Sierra

Is there a rod size/ action/ power that would work well for both trout and crappie? I mostly fish for bass and would like to add just one rod that could be used for crappie and trout- is that possible? Price would be under $100 for rod and reel. I would be fishing mostly in ponds but would want to try streams for trout. Thanks guys!

Hello all. In relation to a thread I recently posted, I have a nearby pond that I fish 90% of my fishing days at, because it is close by. I have a feel for the pattern in the summer, but want to fish more efficiently and thus would like some advice given my observations of the pond structure. Basically a breakdown of the pond. A Picture of the North side of the Pond on a clear day. Map of the Pond (The Gapstow Bridge is the North side of the pond for future reference) Basic Info: 1. Size: 3-4 Acres 2. Depth: 1-10 ft 3. Location: NYC, Central Park South 4. Fishing Pressure: High Because much of the Pond is fenced off or just inaccessible, there are only 4 realistic regions to fish from, noted in the map above. Breakdown by Location Area 1 Basic Info: 1. Depth within casting distance is around 4-10 feet, probably the deepest area of the pond 2. Facing the north side, water plants directly to the left around 20 yards away along the shoreline. 3. A tree overhangs on the right 10 yards away 4. shoreline is rocks mostly 5. Have caught bass near the plants with stickbaits, never near the tree 6. The opposite side is just out of casting distance (by around 15 yards) but has similar water plants 7. Biggest bass caught in this area: 3 lbs Area 2 Basic Info: 1. Depth within casting distance is around 1-6 feet, deepest in the middle 2. no plants, just shoreline made up of shrubs and rocks 3. There is a drain that at the very southern tip of the pond in the area, where a lot of matting builds up (have caught some dinks there with weighted stickbaits) 4. Biggest bass caught in this area: 1.5 lbs Area 3 Basic Info: 1. Depth within casting distance is around 2-10 feet, deepest where 2 meets 3. 2. Facing west, plants to the right side, otherwise no visible structure. 3. A LOT of turtles camping around here. 4. Some carp cruise around here as well. 5. Biggest bass caught in this area: 5.4 lbs, where 2 intersects 3 in the deep area (picture is below) Area 4 Basic Info: 1. Depth within casting distance is around 1 to 3 feet. 2. Water plants dot the shore, making retrieve a bit tricky. 3. Many ducks here because shallow. 4. Carp cruise here as well. 5. Biggest bass caught in this area: 1 lb I generally found Area 3 to the be the most productive in the summer, but now that Fall and eventually Spring will come around, I need a little help deciphering this pond! Sorry for the wall of text, and appreciate any help as always! My largest bass from this pond pic (Area 3)...

Recently i went to a small pond in the rocky mountains and there was an abundance of small bluegill in the pond. I contacted the HOA where the pond was located and they told me its never been stocked. What are the chances that there are bass or any other species beside bluegill in the pond?

I have a small pond on my farm around 3/4 of an acre. My dad stocked 2 grass carp in there around 4 years ago and they are still alive and kicking. They are either both the same sex or have no success in reproducing because I only see these two in there. Both are at least 30 lbs if not more and now my dad doesn't want them in there so I am totally up for the challenge of getting them out of there. One problem. I have no idea where to start. I have read that wonder bread and sweet corn chum could attract them but I'm lost from there. If anybody has tips, tricks, or ideas for me to finally catch these awesome fish I would love to hear it!

So last Christmas I was bought myself a brand new Flippin’ n Pitchin’ setup. It was my first rod that I bought for a specific technique and above all it was my very first Baitcasting Rod/Reel setup ever! Well I haven’t had the opportunity to use this rod how I imagined I’d be using it until yesterday. I started out yesterday morning casting spinners and lipless cranks around some local ponds, caught a few dinks, nothing even remotely big but still nice. But once it hit around Noon - 1 o’clock ish all the fish had left the shallows and I couldn’t find anything. That’s when I pulled out my flipping and pitching setup I had been hauling around with me all day. And yah know, I have to admit, there’s something a little intimidating about purposefully chucking a lure into the branches of a big tree thatsfallen in the water. But I quickly remembered all the YouTube videos I’d seen and posts I’d read about guys pulling absolute pigs out of laydowns and I was able to convince myself that losing a soft plastic isn’t the same as losing a $5 lure and went ahead and started flippin and pitchin all the lay downs I could find. And boy and I glad I did! My first few lay downs weren’t super productive but I’m still rusty at getting my bait in the water quiet enough not to spook any fish and I basically had to stand on the tree that I was pitching to because I couldn’t get a good casting angle off the bank. So I’ll attribute my lack of fish from those spots to that. But after a few not so good pitches and flips I found myself at the laydown that has taken at least 5 or 6 of my lures over the years from casting at it from the other side of the pond. I could see two big bass hovering around the branches of the tree and my heart immediately started racing. I tried my headrest to very quietly get into a good casting position and once I did I pitched out my T-Rigged soft plastic as quiet as I could. It landed on the trunk of the tree and immediately all of the nearby bass were super interested. I could see a few 2 pounders just hovering over my bait. I ever so slowly twitched my lure up the body of the tree, watching one of the bigger bass get closer and closer as it inspected my bait. My heart was pounding at this point. I had gotten my lure as far up the tree as I could before I had to twitch it off the side of the trunk. As my bait fell down into the deeper water, immediately the big bass rocketed down to the bottom! I held on for dear life for what I thought was about the be the most jarring bite I’ve ever gotten in my entire life!... but nothing. I was so fired up that I immediately pulled my bait right back out of the water to do the exact same sequence of events over again, but as soon as I pulled it up I had wished I left it down there for an extra second with a few good twitches. When I pulled it up I saw the bass follow it up and then swim back into the deep part of the tree once my bait broke the surface. I didn’t let that discourage me though. I pitched my bait right back out there. This was the pitch that will stick with me for a very long while, and to be honest I’m not sure when I felt the bite but all of the sudden I knew I had a head shaking largemouth bass on the end of my line and II wasn’t about to let it get away. I set the hook hard and with a grunt ripped that fish right out of the water as soon as I possibly could. The fight was short but the reward will be with me forever. I pulled up what was easily one of the biggest bass I’ve ever seen pulled out of this pond. I let out a celabratory ““Yeah!” While holding my fish and the guy across the pond from me did the same! Even he knew it was a big fish or this pond too!! Luckily I managed to snap a few pictures while trying to awkwardly hold the fish and position myself in view of my phone camera. I know this fish is only about 2 pounds (maybe) but it was still a catch I’ll always remember!

Hello and thank you in advance for the help, I always seem to get it here. I want to learn to fish from the bank more. I did have a jon boat and was getting off the bank,but that is no longer an option. So until I buy a kayak I am stranded on land. So I was wondering how I can fish deeper from the shore, I see people cast to the middle of the pond / lake, and I have never seen success in that. I have always seen bass a shallow water fish even though I know that is not the case. I have been fishing large ponds small lakes, whatever you might call it. I fish the banks for hours with every bait I have and there is little to no luck, So how should I go about fishing deeper and just chucking a lure into the middle. I think it will be hard to do that without having any clue what is on the bottom.

Basic Info Body of Water: Neighborhood pond (about 5-10 acres) (Del Webb) Richmond, Texas Date: 4/8/18 Time: 5:00-7:30pm Air Temp: Mid 50s Water temp: unknown Sky: Overcast, misting Caught: 1 largemouth (about 1 lb) Notes: So Texas decided to try and ruin fishing yesterday by slamming us with a cold front in the middle of the spawn. When I should've been able to catch fish on topwater, I was forced to resort to alternative methods. Me and my buddy aren't the guys to cancel because of weather, so we decided to test our skills. After what seemed like forever, I finally connected with a healthy 1 pounder on a Blakemore Randy's Swim'n Runner underspin. The pond had a very distinct grass line, and when the underspin reached he edge, it got smoked (about 1 ft and half of water). I missed another fish of similar size in the same way (poor hookset). I've never been so proud to catch a small fish but under these conditions, anything is good. I also managed to get two bites on a jig but failed to connect. Hope this report helps someone out!

Got a question I need help with. Was out today and found a lake that is shallow, looks to be 7 feet or less and has a lot of pondshield and millfoil. What baits would gravitate to?

I decided to try out lipless crankbaits recently so I bought the strike king red eye shad. (2-tap version) On my first cast I caught a 2 - 3 pound bass. They seem to work really well in my pond, but I hate fishing them because I have to just burn them as fast as I can to keep them from getting snagged on the bottom. Does anybody have any recommendations for a shallow water lipless? I've been looking at the Rat-l-trap, but I don't know if it would have the same problem or not.

Where I live it's cloudy and about 55 - 65 degrees for the high most days. (65 today) What kind of lure would be best for these conditions? (I fish a small pond with pretty murky water) I just haven't had much luck recently using spinnerbaits, texas rigs, etc.

Sometimes the ponds near me aren't well maintained as in there is a bunch of vegetation and such all around the bank so its tough to go and stand there. These ponds also get the least pressure because no one is hardcore enough to go all Man vs Wild to catch a few bass! I was wondering if you guys have any special technique for navigating such ponds. What do you wear, how do you avoid bugs etc. Personally, I go fishing in shorts and these prickly shrubs always make a mess out of my legs. Not to mention the ant hill you might step over. And just countless bugs. The grass is also practically as tall as I am, and there could be snakes in there. I live in Northern Illinois though so I'm not sure if any of them are dangerous. Also I mostly fish alone so if I break my ankle I'm screwed.