What Lure For This Pond?

[Joel S]

The pond is at Tilden Rogers park in West Memphis, AR. Its close to my house so its the easiest for me to get to that have decent bass in it. It has small rocks all the way around it. I think its 2 acres but it twists and winds around and has a concrete path for people to walk on. It has about a foot of clarity on a cloudy day. It drops off to around 3 feet about 5 feet off the shore. Not sure how deep it actually is. It does have any major trees in the pond but it does have a pier on the backside of it. It has a lot of fishing pressure for catfish. Not to many bass anglers try it out from what I've seen. My question is that with the information I gave you what would be the best lure choice? I use chatterbaits mainly but I've caught a couple off a rage tail also. I caught one bass that was guarding her babies so I guess the spawn is over. I might have left some things off but I'm just trying to get an idea of the ideal lure. I also use 5 inch senkos sometimes. Here is a link to some fish I caught from there and you can see the water and rocks in the background. You could do Google maps to see it from above. Tilden Rogers park. Thanks

http://m1132.photobucket.com/albums/red08yaris/Snapbucket/?src=www?pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2cxl6%2F%2BQ1m2p9kQetd7C995OBYFDlNs1mRtF19XDb%2FYPSqTT35Of%2B5SWImVp5y%2FcWhGbnwwaSpBIxQB%2B1hpt0bS5%2FLq5ZBXA06%2FJQVFl8JNVNb6G05t%2F9Uc2bXPFl%2F8e6QxpfSiEYIZHJ1yPMMuO7U4%3D

[3bd4]

One of the most over looked techniques for pond fishing is a simple rooster tail. I have always had a lot of success with them on all ponds I have fished. Small cranks and any small soft plastics would also be a good bet.

[Joel S]

I have several rooster tails but it seems I always catch tiny bass or bluegill on them. Haven't caught a bass this year on one yet though.

[Sam]

Try you luck posting this in the Memphis area of Fishing Locations on this site. You may find a few guys who fish the pond.

As what to throw? Anything goes.

You need to do the following before ever getting a lure wet at the pond:

1. Walk around the pond and using polorazied sun glasses look for any submerged structure, weeds, grass, drop offs, etc. and add it to your MAP of the pond.

2. Walk around the pond and find any trees or bushes hanging over above the water.

3. Note water color.

4. Note where and how pond is fed.

5. Note if any part of the pond is silted in or very shallow.

6. Note where the dam is located as this is usually the deepest water.

7. Throw a deep diving crankbait around the pond with the goal of finding out what types of grasses and mud are on the bottom.

8. Keep making notes on your map as you do the above.

9. Note the water temperature.

10. Start with a plan for throwing your baits.

What I mean is this regarding #10. Start with a bottom bait. Them move up a notch with a drop shot. Follow that with a crankbait at a specific depth and a Rat-L-Trap. Then go to a deeper or shallower crankbait.

After that, hit 'em with a jig and pig dragged on the bottom; a Carolina rig dragged on the bottom; a Chatterbait; spinnerbait; frog; Rooster Tail; Senkos; and anything else you want to throw.

Write down the weather conditions, water clarity, water temperature and places you fished based on yoru map and keep a log.

It will take you up to 30 days to figure out the pond but the "sweet spots" will show up.

You are now a "hunter" trying to locate where the bass hang out and how they travel.

One other suggetion: fish at sunup and sundown. Fish the pond before daybreak and then after the sun comes up with buzzaits and frogs. Do the same as the sun goes down. Continue fishing for an hour after sunup (more if possible) and until you cannot see the water in the evening.

Bring a needle nose pliers to remove hooks and your fishing license in case a law enforcement guy sees you and decides to see if you are legal. Watch out for other animals early and late in the day.

Let us know how you do.

[Sam]

Joel, I apologize for omitting one of the most important things to do at any pond: FISH FOR THE BAIT FISH!

Fish for the smaller baitfish such as bream, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, etc.

Check the shoreline as you walk around the pond looking for minnows.

Find out what other biatfish (and crawfish) that may be in the pond.

Try to find out what the bass are eating and use that knowledge to your advantage.

[Marty]

I wouldn't rule out any lures, as I've caught bass on the same variety of lures from ponds as lakes.

[Joel S]

I see small bream and bluegill around the edges. Most 3-4 inches. I've seen a couple schools of shad also. The bass I've caught have had a red upper lip? I read that they might be feeding on crayfish or its colder water. The temp here is in the low 80s during the day and around 60 at night. I'm thinking about taking a day and go around the pond with a heavy weight and stick floats spaced out every foot. Then casting and depending on how many floats are underwater then that's how deep it would be then reel it in slowly and record every depth around the pond. Do u think that would work? There's not hardly any underwater structure as far as trees or grass goes. Thanks for the help guys. Gonna print out an aerial view of it with Google maps then chart everything on it.

[pondassasin]

Bluegill swim jig with a baby rage craw trailer. I've consistently caught bigger fish put of ponds on that than all my other techniques. Just reel it in steady, pause it, and reel again.