Pondering Ponds..

[Mikell]

Ok so I am new too bass fishing, I have fished all of my life but basically just throwing a line with bait and bobber on it and waiting haha Ive really gotten into bass fishing, new rod and reel, new lures and tackle, I love it!

MY PROBLEM is, there is a pond made FOR fishing less than a mile from my home its been there for atleast 8-9 years, and i KNOW (because ive seen them) there are some nice 2-3 lbs bass in there, also bream and a HUGE carp.

But I havent so much as even caught a stinking bream out of this pond! ive used it all bread, live worms, soft plastics, topwater, crankbaits, spinner baits/spinner jigs, and not jus like 3 casts then im done, ive been there for hours and no even had a bite, Honestly I think ive had one legitimate bite but i missed it lol

So anyone have any advice for this situation?

And idk if this helps, but in comparison, i went and fished my bro-n-laws pond much much smaller pond, i used the same baits and i caught two bass one with topwater and one with my spinning jig, so this also makes the problem with the other pond even more perplexing haha sorry for rambling

[Texfisherman]

If a lot of people are fishing that pond, there is probably a bit of what we call "fishing pressure". In that case, you might try throwing something that they don't see on a regular basis, like a worm in a new color.

If your brother-in-law's pond is private, you will likely have much better luck catching fish there, because those bass aren't used to being hooked in the mouth.

 

The only other thing I can think of is to slow down your retrieve, if you're not already doing so. Bring your lures in slower, even really slow, and they may bite.

 

 

Also keep in mind that there is a HUGE difference between fishing with live bait and casting artificial lures/soft plastics.

When using artificial, a lot more things come in to play: weather, recent cold front, time of day, fishing pressure, lure, technique used for that lure, etc.

 

Definitely give that pond several chances, before making a decision on whether or not it is a great place to fish. 

I can't speak on the carp or other fish, but as far as bass fishing, one day you don't get a single bite and the next day you catch a dozen, lol! You just never know.

[Sam]

Where do you live? We need to know to give you good input to your queries.

 

Please add your location to your picture.

 

As for the pond, as stated above there may be too much fishing pressure.

 

However, check out the following:

1.  What is the water temperature? Are they spawning or just finishing spawning? Have you noticed any empty beds?

2.  Can you tell if there is deeper water in the middle or by the dam? The bass will go to the deep water.

3.  Any grass in the water along the bank? The bass will get into the grass to feed.

4.  Have you tried the north and west banks? They heat up faster and the bass will go there to enjoy a nice vacation.

5.  You said you have thrown Nightcrawlers and bread to attract the bait fish. No baitfish, probably very few bass. Any crawfish?

6.  Suggestion: Wacky rigged four-inch Senko in green pumpkin or watermealon. With black flake is OK.

7.  Any creeks feeding the pond? How does the water get into the pond? Try those areas where the water enters the pond.

8.  Any drop offs along the shoreline, out about two to five feet? Bass will use these dropoffs as their highways to navigate around a pond.

9.  Any old timers who fished the pond for years still around? They will know if there is submerged structure (wood or stumps or rocks) in the pond and you can't reach them from the shore when casting.

10. Get to the pond before sunrise and throw a buzzbait. Throw it all over starting when you can just see the water and until there is daylight. Throw that buzzbait everywhere. Get a Cavitron with a black skirt for early morning and cloudy days and a white skirt for the rest of the day and sunny days.  Also try small poppers like the Pop-R or RICO. You have to be at the pond before daylight and start fishing.

11. Always have a set of needle nose pliers with you to remove hooks.

12. Always tell someone or leave a note at home when you go to the pond, just in case you run into trouble by yourself.

 

Your goal is to catch 1) bluegills and bream to make sure they are in the pond for bass food; 2) throw smaller baits to catch the small bass and crappie and to drive the bluegills nuts; and 3) move up the chain of larger baits for the larger bass.

 

This is my two-cents. The guys and gals will give you more information to compute and consider.

 

Good luck.

[Mikell]

If a lot of people are fishing that pond, there is probably a bit of what we call "fishing pressure". In that case, you might try throwing something that they don't see on a regular basis, like a worm in a new color.

If your brother-in-law's pond is private, you will likely have much better luck catching fish there, because those bass aren't used to being hooked in the mouth.

 

The only other thing I can think of is to slow down your retrieve, if you're not already doing so. Bring your lures in slower, even really slow, and they may bite.

 

 

Also keep in mind that there is a HUGE difference between fishing with live bait and casting artificial lures/soft plastics.

When using artificial, a lot more things come in to play: weather, recent cold front, time of day, fishing pressure, lure, technique used for that lure, etc.

 

Definitely give that pond several chances, before making a decision on whether or not it is a great place to fish. 

I can't speak on the carp or other fish, but as far as bass fishing, one day you don't get a single bite and the next day you catch a dozen, lol! You just never know.

thanks man i had thought about that but to be honest 90% of the time im the only one fishing there now a days most people ive ever seen there at one time lately is like 8 people but its a LARGE pond, and ive been there at different times for sure early late middle of the day and ive been fishing it for the past couple of weeks 3 maybe 4 times a week lol i do feel like its be "over fished" in my terms of course cus its been there for so long and its catch and release only according to the sign so that probably going to be it, thank you for the reply! im waiting for a good day to hit up some of the creeks and rivers around here!

[Texfisherman]

Sam just gave some great advice, too!

 

 

Always have patience and think of it as a learning process. I've been bass fishing on and off for years and years and I still learn new things all the time.

 

And welcome to Bass Resource!!

[Mikell]

Where do you live? We need to know to give you good input to your queries.

 

Please add your location to your picture.

 

As for the pond, as stated above there may be too much fishing pressure.

 

However, check out the following:

1.  What is the water temperature? Are they spawning or just finishing spawning? Have you noticed any empty beds?

2.  Can you tell if there is deeper water in the middle or by the dam? The bass will go to the deep water.

3.  Any grass in the water along the bank? The bass will get into the grass to feed.

4.  Have you tried the north and west banks? They heat up faster and the bass will go there to enjoy a nice vacation.

5.  You said you have thrown Nightcrawlers and bread to attract the bait fish. No baitfish, probably very few bass. Any crawfish?

6.  Suggestion: Wacky rigged four-inch Senko in green pumpkin or watermealon. With black flake is OK.

7.  Any creeks feeding the pond? How does the water get into the pond? Try those areas where the water enters the pond.

8.  Any drop offs along the shoreline, out about two to five feet? Bass will use these dropoffs as their highways to navigate around a pond.

9.  Any old timers who fished the pond for years still around? They will know if there is submerged structure (wood or stumps or rocks) in the pond and you can't reach them from the shore when casting.

10. Get to the pond before sunrise and throw a buzzbait. Throw it all over starting when you can just see the water and until there is daylight. Throw that buzzbait everywhere. Get a Cavitron with a black skirt for early morning and cloudy days and a white skirt for the rest of the day and sunny days.  Also try small poppers like the Pop-R or RICO. You have to be at the pond before daylight and start fishing.

11. Always have a set of needle nose pliers with you to remove hooks.

12. Always tell someone or leave a note at home when you go to the pond, just in case you run into trouble by yourself.

 

Your goal is to catch 1) bluegills and bream to make sure they are in the pond for bass food; 2) throw smaller baits to catch the small bass and crappie and to drive the bluegills nuts; and 3) move up the chain of larger baits for the larger bass.

 

This is my two-cents. The guys and gals will give you more information to compute and consider.

 

Good luck.

i live in northeast florida right on the border of georgia basically and there are alot of bait fish out there you can see em all over i was simply saying i havent even been able to catch one with the bread or worm haha just meaning the bream arent even biting lol vegetaion on the side is very minimal at the most on the top it grows out to only about a foot and beneath the water there really isnt much grass,  ive fished the north south east and west sides of the bank at different times of day, at one point the bass were near the shore line on their beds gaurding that was about 2 weeks ago and this week the beds were empty so i did start throwing deeper still no bites haha and the only thing i can think that would be feedin it is there a a big culvert (however you spell it) at the front of the pond under the water, its direction is coming from a river  that runs right through the woods on the other side of it, that may feed it i dont know though lol

[MCS]

Your in my area, I am actually south Jax. but we got the same weather, same time of year(post spawn). I think firstly try slowing down with the plastics. In my opinion you can't go to slow but you can go too fast and this is the case most of the time. poppers have been good to me lately. My luck around culverts are tossing softly a stick bait near them or dragging a trick worm or fluke by them. Be aware how close you are to the bank, cast parrallel to the banks on either side of you will generally be the best, although I fan cast the area.

[MDP4BASS]

Weightless 5" Senko in watermelon/blk flake or green pumpkin or black Texas/Wacky rigged, cast out let it sink pull up SLOW let sink again and it takes a long time to sink so this is definatly a SLOW SLOW SLOW bait and you have to keep telling yourself that, watch the slack line on top of the water for ticks or movement (when this occurs) put the rod down reel up the slack and set the hook firmly. You are relying on the fall of this bait.

I love senko fishing it is what got me into bass fishing and i know you can pull those 2 or 3 lbers out when that senko twirls down in front of there nose, No bass can seem to resist it! Tight lines buddy and remember SLOW!

Id go with wax worms for the bream

and who cares about the carp;)

[ClackerBuzz]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

you can really use whatever plastic/hooks/line you have already. just focus on the technique