Huge Bass In A Pond.

[powerduster]

I been going to this pond lately and there are lots of bluegills an small bass with a handful of decent sized ones. It takes about 10 minutes to walk around or maybe even less than that. I always caught little ones but today I was shocked when I saw the biggest bass I have ever seen swim away from the bank. It was huge and I dont want to estimate, since I'm terrible at it, but the size was so impressive I gotta say it was at least 4-5lbs. I guess my question is how bigof a bait would you go in a small pond? The biggest I have is a 5inch jerkbai, but sometimes I feel its a little too much for the area. At the same time I been using smaller lures and been catching small fish. I been fishing this place pretty hard on light tackle and never thought something that big was in there. Any other suggestions are appreciated too.

[QUIENYO]

Get yourself 1/2 oz. or bigger jig. Put a rage tail lobster on for a trailer.  Throw that set up into the best looking cover you see while walking around the pond. Think like that big bass; if you were the alpha bass, where would you choose as the best ambush spot in the pond.  Pitch your jig and trailer there.

 

Good luck.

[MDP4BASS]

I like 4" to 8" on any soft plastic i throw in my small pond

I move up more as water clarity gets worse

[SirSnookalot]

If it takes 10 minutes to walk it, take your time and fish it in 20 minutes and concentrate on areas that look a bit more promising. Your bait of choice should be determined on whether it's open water or heavily vegetation.  If conditions allowed I would using nothing but a topwater lure, but that's just the way I like to fish.

[Hogsticker]

Aw yes, so the battle of wits begins. Man against bass. Now that you have seen a big one, your going to spend a fortune getting him or trying. I remember my 1st big fish. My uncle told me the same thing. d**n if he wasn't right. I think your best bet is jigging her outta there, or maybe a topwater

[Crestliner2008]

First off, learn to be "stealthy". Approach the pond very softly and slowly. Keep a low profile. Wear clothing that matches the surroundings (yes, even camo). Remember, if you can see the bass, it can see you as well. And they don't get big by being stupid!

 

A jig & plastic craw is a must to try. Along with a 7" texas rigged Senko. Another good bait is a Sweet Beaver type plastic, rigged on a lightly (1/8 oz.) weighted swimbait hook. Make long casts to specific pieces of shoreline cover (again, you do not want the fish know you are thre!). One of those presentation will peak their interest, I'm sure. 

[Sam]

All of the above.

 

But.....check the water temperature.

 

Up in Jersey the water may be getting into the mid 50's or low 60's soon and the big one you saw was probably a female looking for a place to spawn. If this is true you will have to wait a week or two after she spawns to try to catch her.

 

Of course shopping carts and dead bodies in the pond will help heat it up faster.

 

If she was "cruising" the shore no telling where she is holding until she wants to migrate to the beds.

 

If she was guarding her bed then she will swim around in a circle and will not hit your bait unless you really aggravate her.

 

So what to do? First, read the above posts. All are creditable.

 

Second, throw a watermealon lizard Texas rigged with the lightest weight you can use to keep the bait on the bottom. Bass hate lizards and she will either crush it or move it out of the way. Use a spinning rig with six or eigth-pound test flourocarbon.

 

Third, try a Zoom watermealon trick worm on a jig head and fish it shaky head style on a spinnng rig with no more than eight-pound test flourocarbon line. Go to six-pound test if you think that line test will hold her once hooked.

 

Fourth, a white grub. White so you can see it better. Drag it into and all around the beds.

 

Fish slow. Fish along the bank. Out from the bank. Parallel to the bank. Fan cast left to right and then right to left. Throw into any structure you can find. Look for drop offs and ledges. Hit any shopping carts or dead bodies you see. Take your time. Don't hurry. Keep a finger on the line coming off your reel at all times for the "tap tap" and watch your line in case it starts to move right or left.

 

You can also throw a Senko, Texas or wacky rigged.

 

If you want to have some fun and have an ultral light spinnnig rig throw a one-inch white grub to see if any bass, crappie or bluegills will hit it.

 

If there is chop on the surface from the wind cast a white/chart spinnerbait with a trailer hook.

 

You may have to aggravate her to hit your bait. If the males are on the nest or moving up to make a nest you will catch them.

 

Be sure to admire the fish and let them go as fast as you can so they can go back to their beds. The bluegills will be attacking the bass' beds as soon as you pull the bass off of them.

 

Remember, the bass nest first followed by the bluegills, crappie and bream.

 

Don't forget your needle nose pliers to remove the hooks safely and fast.

 

Please let us know if you catch her or any shopping carts or dead bodies. Afterall, you are in New Jersey!

[Hyrule Bass]

id chuck a white spinner bait with a little red on the head all over the place

[Hawghead]

Catch a little bluegill, use it as live bait with a real heavy sinker.  Plop that little sucker right in the middle of the bed, he cant swim away and she cant let him stay there....you'll catch her.  Not the most sporting approach I suppose, but it have seen it work and won a bet or two this way.

[J Francho]

I have a few blue gill ponds in the area that have some big fish in them.  I will sometimes throw baits as small as a 4' senko, or as big as a Mattlures Hard Gill.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

If you want to "fool" the fish, I would try a swimbait or a jig.

 

If you just want to "catch" the fish, I would catch one of those little bluegills swimming around and run a hook through it's tail.

[BrettD]

Top water pop-r would be my go to choice lat in the evening the last 2 hours of daylight or so. I caught the fish in my avatar in a pond I could walk around in 5 mins I can cast all the way across it. The people that live on the pond feed the blue gill every day and there is some huge ones it so there is alot of forage. I think the popping noise the blue gill makes fires the bass up but this it particular to the pond I caught that fish in.

[powerduster]

Appreciate all the suggestions. I am going to hold off on the live bluegill until I really start getting frustrated, though I'm pretty tempted. Also,  going to hit up Dicks later today with some coupons I recieved and get some of those jigs and soft plastics, etc. My tackle box is pretty empty anyways. Sam, no shopping carts or dead bodies here lol, but was told that the place gets pretty shady in the evenings and to watch out. I don't know, but rather not risk it, dont want to be that guy.Thanks again and will post pictures if I ever get her.

[derekxec]

double bladed buzzbait in white everywhere on the lake