Public Fishery Problems

[Matt22Ratcliff]

I've been fishing a local city pond/lake a lot lately. It's a typical City pond with loads of bluegill and a fountain. I have caught fish here this winter and last summer and a few decent sized ones the smallest being about 2 pounds in the biggest being about 6 1/2. I just can't catch them consistently I might catch 1 fish maybe every 5 times I go. I've thrown everything from C-rigs to drop shots to cranks and swimbaits. The only thing I've been able to catch them on is a tube there are a few Craws in the pond. There is no visible structure on the pond which makes it tough to fish. The water color is clear to slightly stained, there are grass carp in the lake so there is no grass, mossy bottom, and as far as you can see out it is shallow and pretty clean bottom. Just wondering how you guys would approach this lake any tips would be much appreciated.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

I would try a senko or a fluke weightless or wacky rigged.  It is a deadly combination and fish for some odd reason just cant help themselfs.  Remember the slower the better.  Stick with more natural colors like green pumkin, watermelon seed, or pumkin seed.  Good luck let us know how it goes. 

 

Jay-

[BigOnFishin]

Since there is not a lot of grass, Jigs or Texas rigged lures (flukes, salamanders, worms) will work great without getting covered in muck. Start out with smaller and lighter jigs. The lighter the jig, the slower it will fall through the water. As it gets warmer, you'll get more bites. Jigs can be fished year round because bass are out deep in the winter and in the blistering heat of mid-summer, and in the spring jigs can be fished through the spawning beds. Texas rigged soft plastics are also popular year round whether you rig them with a bullet weight or weightless. If the fish and the bite has slowed down, you need to slow down as well. A weighless texas rig can swim slowly, allowing the fish to grab an "easy meal" without having to use too much energy.

Hope this helps. Good luck!   

[PABASS]

Caught a LMB on a hair jig few weeks ago in the same ultra clear water with grass carp.  Small hair jigs worked slow might yield some better results.

[Mr.Topwater]

I use to fish at a pond similar to this and never thought there was any bass in there really, but i kept on hearing there was so i go there one night and use a popper (rebel pop-r) and caught 2 huge 2-3 lb. bass and then some dinks so for a pond like that i would use a topwater lure during the morning or evening and if there is spots with algae sitting on top then i would fish around there with it since theres not any structure in the pond.

[flyfisher]

If the grass carp are decent size target them. Way better fight than a bass

[plumworm]

Did you think about the fact that that there are not that many bass in that pond. Public, others are keeping what they catch. No reproduction. Maybe not what you are doing, but low bass population.