What Would You Use?

[Daddyodo]

This is a pond I fish on occasion. I have been told that there are some nice size LM in here but all I have ever seen and caught were average size SM. I have used with success Senko's and Mepps in line spinners and spoons. I tried yesterday with no luck the following: Buzzbait and Zoom Ol Monster 10 inch worm. There is no visible structure to this pond other than a pump which I have caught a couple of smallies near. There is heavy under water vegitation at one end also.

With the limited info I have given what would you use? Oh Yeah, water tends to be slightly stained

[Marty]

I don't think I'd draw any conclusions about buzzbaits and 10" worms based on one outing. I also wouldn't rule out any types of lures. As always, it's trial and error because you can't predict what the fish will do on any given day. If you establish that the fish are willing to hit fast-moving lures, then probably spinnerbaits, crankbaits and maybe topwaters will work. Otherwise you can crawl plastics or jigs along the bottom or use lift and drop. But the key is to keep doing different things in different locations until and if you find out what works on that day.

[rangerboy]

id fish some spinner baits around the grass edges in the morning and pound that heavy grass with a dark colored frog when the suns up. work the frog slow and agressive. big ones cant resist a big frog.

[ClackerBuzz]

that is a small pond. i would stick to soft plastics--wacky 5" senko. maybe a 1/4oz jig. i would probably cover the whole pond in under 20 casts w/ reaction baits (mainly in spring or fall)---and use a chatterbait, lipless trap, or spinnerbait if they want noise/vibration. or swim a normal jig to see if they want a silent reaction bait. pretend its a square pond and run the baits across the corners (u can draw strikes from deep or shallow). and burn them parallel to shore on the longest stretches of bank. use buzzbait anytime of year at dusk or dawn. i stop at a private farm pond that same size and work in thoroughly in an hour. the LM max out between 3-4 lbs. Once I've caught/released one its like sounding the holy s(** alarm for the other fish. but they are less effected in spring when feeding heavily and spawning. good luck and let us know how u make out

[Bluebasser86]

Most small ponds like that seem like the fish really like to hold very near the shoreline. With little to no cover the shoreline is a good place to chase baitfish to so they have fewer escape routes and are easier to catch. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimjigs, and chatterbaits fished right along the edge of the bank should catch you some fish. Dark colored jigs or soft plastics fished slowly along the bank or around any visible cover should work also. One trick I like in small ponds is to take a 10" worm and rig it on a 3/8oz or heavier bullet weight and cast as far as I can, usually across the pond. They I just slowly reel it in. I catch a few fish doing this but most importantly it acts as my depth finder and helps me find any pieces of cover that I can't see from the surface. Try it and you might be surprised how much stuff just might be in that pond.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

If you're looking for the next size class of fish, throw the next size class of baits,......SWIMBAITS!! Not to be confused with the small, 4" shad body Basstrix type thingys, but real, 8-12" baits. If they're in there, you'll find em pretty quickly if no one else is throwing these and the ones you'll find will be of that senior class.

[ClackerBuzz]

On 9/4/2012 at 1:46 AM, Low_Budget_Hooker said:

If you're looking for the next size class of fish, throw the next size class of baits,......SWIMBAITS!! Not to be confused with the small, 4" shad body Basstrix type thingys, but real, 8-12" baits. If they're in there, you'll find em pretty quickly if no one else is throwing these and the ones you'll find will be of that senior class.

swimbaits have their time and place. i'd save them for large bodies of water not ponds. you're likely to just scare the heck out of everything in the entire pond and shut the bite off entirely...with the exception of a few days in spring/fall when they are very aggressive. and even then you could just use a spinnerbait. casting a "8 Huddleston on a 500 acre lake with 50ft drop off will go over MUCH better.

i would try go with lighter finesse to consistently catch fish in small ponds. here is a great threat that was started:

https://www.bassresou...s/#entry1173368

hank parker just posted a good article on shore fishing for ponds

"Bass in ponds and small lakes prefer smaller lures that make less noise and displace little water. Small-water bass are more aware of their aquatic environment, and small waters tend to be more stable or consistent than big lakes and reservoirs. That’s why a radical lure, such as a big-bladed spinnerbait or a rattling crankbait, can put them on the defensive. You may catch a few on those lures, but I think you’ll be more successful with a subtle presentation."

https://www.bassresou...from-shore.html

i go with much smaller/finesse baits if: its a small stable pond, heavily pressured fishery, gin clear water conditions, or reservoirs with no structure (they were bulldozed prior to flooding). the fish can be picky at all 4 places but even the biggest bass there love tiny lures. i visit 2 small lakes (under 10acres) that are highly pressured. throwing a 5" senko is like throwing a 5" rock into the water. i have a hard time getting them to bite it even with the most subtle flip presentation. match the environment the fish are in. the closer you are to matching it, the more successful you'll be.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

I've caught several fish from 5-8 pounds in ponds less than 3 acres with baits from 6"-8", and have seen a 6 and an 8 come from the same 1 acre pond with a 6" bait. Might be worth a shot.

NGaHB

[BassinLou]

That pond looks similar to mine down here in florida minus those rocks. Is this in a park? Heavily pressured because its a community pond? Those questions are yes's to my pond. What I do is down size everything. Starting with your line. Go as light as you feel comfortable with. #6, #8, max #10. Me personally I use 20lb braid with #10 fluro or #10 mono leader depending on the application I am using. Hooks, as small and light that you are comfortable using. I go size 1 gamagatzu's. Weight, again as light as you can handle taking into consideration wind. I go anywhere from 1/8oz - 1/16oz. Lures, soft plastics I use zoom, swamp crawler, centipede's or small finesse worms. Color's, I use the watermelon colors. Small soft jerkbaits weight less, zoom fluke jr's and smaller. These techniques have yielded me bass upto 6-7lbs range at that specific pond. Maybe what I have shared with you will work for you in your neck of the woods.

[BassinLou]

I forgot to mention. Due to the light or finesse applications I use a spinning outfit on a medium rod.

[Daddyodo]

Thanks everybody! I am going to start trying these methods out in the very near future.

[Jake P]

I would try a large swimbait if your looking for a larger lady. Otherwise I would throw a weightless Super Fluke around the vegetation. Fish it slow. Flukes are killers in the ponds I fish that have alot of veg. Good luck!

-JP