Can't Find The Big Bass

[bassman1997]

Could anyone help me with locating big bass? I fish in a neighborhood with 5 ponds, each pond is unique. One pond has good crappie fishing, one has good bass, one pickerel, ect. They are man made with depths around 10-20 feet, (estimate) and have concrete banks. They don't have much cover in them, lots of weeds, 2-4 foot visibility, and are around 9-13 acres surface area. Some of the ponds have statues, the one I like best has a goose statue, but they are only concrete boxes sitting in water. All 5 have at least 1 fountain. I catch bass anywhere from 1-4 pounds on minnows when I go, but I can never seem to find big ones! Where may they be at? Deep, in the weeds, in the calm areas, or near the points where water flows around? Thanks

[RoLo]

Could anyone help me with locating big bass? I fish in a neighborhood with 5 ponds, each pond is unique. One pond has good crappie fishing, one has good bass, one pickerel, ect. They are man made with depths around 10-20 feet, (estimate) and have concrete banks. They don't have much cover in them, lots of weeds, 2-4 foot visibility, and are around 9-13 acres surface area. Some of the ponds have statues, the one I like best has a goose statue, but they are only concrete boxes sitting in water. All 5 have at least 1 fountain. I catch bass anywhere from 1-4 pounds on minnows when I go, but I can never seem to find big ones! Where may they be at? Deep, in the weeds, in the calm areas, or near the points where water flows around? Thanks

Based on your description, there's not much in the way of bedding flats & nursery grounds which is the backbone of population dynamics.

The best ponds will yield eyepoppers that embarrass the big lakes, but not ALL ponds support lunker bass.

The 4-pounder you caught on a minnow may well represent the upper end of that waterbody

Roger

[bassman1997]

Thanks. I acctually have seen a very large bass, hooked it on a senko worm, but it broke my hook. It was in a calmer area but it was once. Thanks again for your feedback. I may just let the ponds be alone a while because they're fairly new. Maybe the'll support some lunkers

[North Ga Hillbilly]

try fishing the deepest water you can, A jig fished slow might just pull the big ones out

NGaHB

[VictorDevano]

I have been studying up on catching big bass. I read three books on the topic last month. One was Doug Hannon, Big Bass Magic. Another was Sowbelly by Monte Burbe, about the obsessed big bass fisherman. I also read a new book on the world record bass, spam. This was an awesome book about a guy who raises and catches a new world record. I am not even close yet this year. I was like the guy who can see the big ones down there and not catch them!

[North Ga Hillbilly]

If your looking for a good book I can't say enough good about In Pursuit Of Giant Bass. I've read through that book 5 or 6 times.

NGaHB

[WRB]

Pond bass grow up to be adults by avioding life threatening events like being caught. The big bass you hooked on a Senko may have been a bed fish, at least you know there is 1 big bass.

Another habit the adult size bass in ponds have is patrolling their domain...they cruise a lot and make regular milk runs to feeding areas. You might want to find a good advantage point a spend some just watching areas you can see well, during mid day light times.

You are going to need to be low profile and stock the bigger bass like the trophies they are.

Soft plastics like a fat Ika, light weighted Texas rigged 10" Power worm and a buzz bait fished during low light periods; early morning or at night should work for you.

Tom

[bassman1997]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Just the other day i saw 3 huge bass my buddy Jeff caught the smallest of the 3, 18 inches and 3.5 pounds. They were swimming in 8 inch water out of a pipe into the main pond together in a group very cool to see!