Ponds To Lakes

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

For the past year I have enjoyed fishing from the bank at about a dozen ponds. A couple of the ponds were big enough to put my canoe in. As many of you have noticed on my other threads I now have a johnboat and sold my canoe. Trolling motor and a couple swivel seats with Rod holders and a Humminbird 110 fishfinder. Not a super high dollar electronic but it helps. I am going to start fishing lakes a whole lot more now. What should I expect? I wonder if the amount of fish I catch will drop drastically? I don't even know where to start going in the lake. Dead center and try the electronics? Along the bank? Look for structure on the computer? Or should I be reading up in patterns and behavior of bass here in NC for spawn. Any input helps. ;-) joe

[senile1]

I answered your questions in a different order than you provided them.

 

 I wonder if the amount of fish I catch will drop drastically?

 

It depends.  If you are able to fish larger lakes, depending on the
size, it may take you longer to locate the fish.  The fish may also have
multiple locations they can use.

 

 Or should I be reading up in patterns and behavior of bass here in NC for spawn?

 

Always.  No matter the size of the lake apply any knowledge you can obtain about the season and bass behavior in that season.  This will assist you in looking for locations that fit what the bass should be doing at that time of year and will help you to avoid fishing unproductive water that may contain no bass.  What you learn can be applied to other lakes as well.

 

 I don't even know where to start going in the lake. Dead center and try
the electronics? Along the bank? Look for structure on the computer?

 

See if you can locate a lake map with topographical features.  If not, you can often determine what lies beneath the water by looking at the bank.  Extending what you see on the bank into the water can give you an idea what is there (like fingers, points, creeks, etc.).  From your study in the second question above, you should have some idea what the fish behavior should be at this time of year.  Find areas on your electronics and from looking at the bank that fit the depths and structure the fish should be using.  This is not an exact science and a bit of trial and error is involved.  As an example, at this time of year and in your location I would suspect the fish are in pre-spawn.  On multi-day warming trends you may find some fish up shallow in areas where they will spawn though the females may be hanging back on deeper structure.  This all depends on the water temperature, the amount of daylight, and other factors that are difficult to quantify.  However, no matter where they are you want to find structure that provides a path from deep water wintering holes to shallow spawning grounds.  The bass will follow that path and could be anywhere along it depending on your weather and seasonal characteristics.

 

Oh, and one more thing.  Once you find them you have to determine what is the best presentation to trigger the most strikes or catch the biggest fish, depending on your goals. 

[roadwarrior]

Think of a lake as connected ponds, then slice & dice!

 

The biggest advantage of lakes is greater opportunities for locating structure.

 

 

 

 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Thanks! A bunch of info there. It all makes good sense too. I did find the lake maps. That will help. Also the warming trend is here in NC and I will watch the banks too. It seems like it will all take practice to get familiar with the lakes. Should have bigger fish too I hope. :-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

road warrior: that's a good point. Thinking of it as a bunch of interconnected ponds is a food idea. There will be tons of structures. I'm ready!

[senile1]

I failed to mention that it would be good to know what the bass use as forage in that lake as well.  If you have good structure and baitfish upon which to feed in the area, the bass will have everything they are looking for. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That's true too. I will check on that. All of the ponds, the bass hit swim bait minnows all day. The lakes may do the same or something different. Gotta study that also.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

As the weather gets warmer here, the ponds will probably get warmer faster being that they are smaller bodies of water to heat up. The lakes should take a week or so longer I'd imagine.

[wademaster1]

You'll catch less I'd say. Patience is going to be key. Depth is a big change up compared to ponds. Cover and structure are always key no matter where you fish.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I catch a dozen or so bass at the ponds each time I go. Usually about 2 or 3 hours. I'm ready to spend that time at a lake with my boat to get not just bigger bass, but learn cover more, etc. I want to watch the electronic and see the structures an learn to fish bridges and also top water in the shallows at the lake. Ponds are fun, but I want to "get on the water".

[wademaster1]

Good luck out there. But don't go to the lake thinking your goin to catch bigger bass the majority of the time. There are some big fish there, but the size of the water doesn't match the size of the fish it holds. This is true for ponds and lakes.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I'm realistic about it also. I know the lake is a bigger body of water, there are more and bigger females, however there will be dinks too. You're right about the ponds and lakes not necessarily having big or small fish based on their size. My patents pond is about the size of a football field. It has plenty of 4 and 5 pounders. My friends pond is bigger and you're lucky to hook a 2 pounder. I'm sure I won't be racking up bass every other cast like the ponds, but I want the lake to be a learning experience too. I feel fishing ponds and lakes will make me a better overall angler. Plus I like my boat project too. ;-)

[Deleted account]

Think of a lake as connected ponds, then slic & dice!

 

The biggest advantage to the lakes is greater opportunities for locating structure.

 

 

 

 

Mark the calendar! I agree 100% with the warrior!

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Me too. :-)

[Sam]

Some suggestions:

1. Go to your state department of game and inland fisheries and note what you have to have on the boat for safety.

2. Photocopy or have a duplicate fishing license on the boat at all times. You have one in your pocket but if you forget it you have on on the boat.

3. Watch the weather. No matter the size of your bass boat Mother Nature can be a nasty lady really fast. if you have an iPhone or Driod, etc. you can add this free weather app to it: MyRadar.

4. Purchase insurance on the watercraft. Ask your homeowners insurance agent if your homeowners policy will cover your third-party liability while on the water. If not, you need to purchase a watercraft liability insurance policy.

5. Be sure to have a cushion for everyone oin the boat.

6. Keep your battery plugged in when not in use. Use a battery charger so the battery will be ready to go.

7. If you have the room purchase an orange water resistant plastic box to hold your valuables, keys, cell phone, boat registration, extra fishing license, tools and emergency phone numbers.

 

Congrats on going from ponds to lakes. You are now an official "bass hunter" as you will have to find them before you catch them which is a lot more challenging than pond fishing.

 

Let us know how you do and please post some pics.

[Ratherbfishing]

I've been fishing for yeeeeeeaaarrs and although I've amassed a fair amount of knowledge, I have to confess that ponds are a far cry easier to fish than large lakes and reservoirs.  This isn't to say you can't or won't do well but it's not as easy as shooting fish in a barrel anymore.  You simply cannot saturate the water anymore.  You really do have to put on your thinking cap and locate the fish.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Thanks Sam!!! Good stuff there. ;-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Thinking cap is on. :-)

[Paul Roberts]

Agree with Ratherbefishing's fish-in-a-barrel comment.

 

Location is much less of an issue in small waters, at least quicker to resolve, and you can concentrate more on presentation. In larger waters, location becomes the first order of business as bass often move fairly far seasonally. You might want to start reading up on bass seasonal patterns on both natural lakes and reservoirs. I'd recommend the In-Fisherman Largemouth Handbook of Strategies book. Both the earlier edition and the newer are worth having. These will get your “thinking cap” focused –on  bass habitat over the course of the year as you won't always just be able to walk up to the water and be certain there are some fish in front of you.

 

As far as presentation goes, big water tends to offer more options to both fish and angler. if you've fished enough of a variety of small waters (there are natural ponds that are a lot like coves in natural lakes, and there are a lot of tiny reservoirs and quarries that are a lot like the big reservoirs in terms of presentation) then you'll probably be a pretty versatile angler already and will recognize the similarities.

 

And then there’s just plain getting around. Essentially, high performance bass boats, and electronics, exist bc of big water.