I Now Understand..

[deep]

.. why some of you might like pond-fishing. (If that is your cup of tea though, more power to you.)

I drove some 60 odd miles (round-trip) today to check out a pond that is home to an alleged DD. Now, this is not a private pond. This is a public lake managed by the VA DGIF. But I understand it gets very little serious fishing pressure.

I started with a 1/2 oz backwater (Dominic's) brush jig with a rage lobster trailer. I was trying to catch a big fish after all. You'd think that the jig + lobster would be a big fish bait. WRONG! Turned out to be a dink magnet.

I caught 12 keepers and half a dozen 10 inchers on that jig in 2 hours. I couldn't keep the jig away from the little ones long enough to let the bigger ones find it. Two of the dozen keepers were 3+ btw, and fat. My guess is that these fish have never seen anything other than nightcrawlers, beetlespins, and inline spinners.

In addition, fishing the pond, and keying in on the area where the bigger ones might be expected to live was sooo easy. I had a topo map of the surrounding area, and before I left home, I intended to fish only a tiny part of the pond thoroughly. Sure enough, both the 3+ fish came from that one place (point on a creek channel).

Well, the dinks won't leave my jig alone; so I switched to a hudd 68. Caught a little 1.5-ish fish on it, but I had so many bumps on the hudd, it wasn't even funny.

Big fish don't eat all the time, so I'm not surprised I didn't catch my DD; but really, even if I stuck one today, I won't know if I would have been able to brag about it.

Pond fishing is a lot of fun for sure, but not challenging enough for me IMO. I don't know how the situation would be in real private ponds, but I can guess!

[Bluebasser86]

I've fished some ponds that are as tough if not tougher than big lakes too. Heavily pressured ponds with big fish turns almost more into hunting than it does fishing. I've fished some of those ponds where I'm literally trying find something they won't try to eat.

[QUIENYO]

Yep, sounds like you have pond fishing all figured out. Time to go back to the lake, nothing to see here at the ponds, just easy fishing for us simple folks.

[rockchalk06]

Think of it as practice for the big league. For every LM I catch at my main lake on top water, I catch 20-25 dinky hybrid bass. Still fun as all get out though!

[AK-Jax86]

Someone could have taken that DD and put em in another pond or even worse on their wall

[Nitrofreak]

Pond fishing has it's moments, There is nothing like going to a pond that no one fishes or is fished very little and catch a mess of fish, but my hat is off to the guy's and gals that are limited to fishing high pressure ponds and small lakes, they know what works and what does not work and can throw a butt whoopin on ya, I have been fotunate enough to be able to take a couple of these people on a big lake fishing trip for their first time, and let me tell ya, what they have learned from the small lakes and ponds can be applied to a tough day on the lake, they can and will throw a butt whoopin on ya too if your not on your "A" game.

[Bigbarge50]

Good to see a report Deep..... another big one is bound to pound your Hudd one of these days.

[Jake P]

45 dinks from a farm pond puts a smile on my face the same as a 5 lbs bass from the lake does. Maybe not as big of a smile, but I still enjoy the hell out of it. Fishing is fishing no matter where its at. Enjoy it.

[wetaline]

Three words - golf course ponds. I've caught some incredible bass on golf course ponds in Florida. If you tip the cart attendants well they will turn a blind eye to that fishing pole strapped to the side of your golf bag. They may even key you in on the best spots. My go-to is spinnerbait when exploring these forbidden waters. I've also had some pretty awesome midnight adventures frogging in the moonlight. One word of caution... be aware of the tee box... I've been hit square between the shoulderblades by a bladed 8iron. A small price to pay!

[1234567]

Deep, in a rut like me for the big ones!! I got a five yesterday on the weedless hudd. Couldn't even get a follower on the eight inch.

[Fat-G]

Pond fishing has it's moments, There is nothing like going to a pond that no one fishes or is fished very little and catch a mess of fish, but my hat is off to the guy's and gals that are limited to fishing high pressure ponds and small lakes, they know what works and what does not work and can throw a butt whoopin on ya, I have been fotunate enough to be able to take a couple of these people on a big lake fishing trip for their first time, and let me tell ya, what they have learned from the small lakes and ponds can be applied to a tough day on the lake, they can and will throw a butt whoopin on ya too if your not on your "A" game.

Amen, MUCH respect right here. Very well said.