What Am I Doing Wrong?

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I have a small pond in my neighborhood no larger than 3-4 acres and I can't seem to catch any lately. I cover over half the pond with different lures (SB,CB,jigs, bama rigs, chatt baits), different rods (different line on them), and different depths - all on different days. I have only got one hit from all this and the bass hit the blade on my SB (he followed it up and I watched him ht the blade).

I can only fish half the pond due to limited access, but it is the deeper end. It is about 6-7 get at the deepest. How is it that I can fish a pond so thoroughly and get no fish on multiple days. This pond is a pretty old pond and has some large sized bass. I'm not sure how big the biggest is but I have caught this one 5lber twice. I knew it was him cause the first time I caught him I accidentally broke his jaw cause he crushed my spook while I wasn't paying attention and I laid the wood to em haha.

Extra details: I live I the Carolina's so the bass are in summer behaviors right now. This nod has no structure in it, other than fallen trees that really don't seem to hold any fish.. The pond has bream bass and carp.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

In the last part I meant "this pond" not "this nod".

[Brandon Dozier]

This time of year is really tough for shallow ponds.  I fish 'em too so I know what you are going through.  More-so this time of year, the bass won't feed much unless its really early morning or right before dark.  Most of the feeding will be done during those times but also at night.  Summer in these ponds is very similar to winter.  During the hottest times the bass become very lethargic.  You may catch a few but they will likely be really small juveniles.  Slow presentations will work best here.  Jigs worked really slow, worms will do really well and trick worms.  I always have luck with topwater in the evenings.  Hope this helps!

[Brandon Dozier]

Oh and if there is a pipe, they are there. Most neighborhood ponds are linked to other ponds through pipes.  See if you can find it and you will certainly find a good fish.

[ClackerBuzz]

Extra details: I live I the Carolina's so the bass are in summer behaviors right now. 

looks like you've answered ur own question.  put down all the power baits and start finessing. slow and weightless presentations, drop shot, Mepps spinners, split shot.  keep ur power lures handy for dusk, dawn or night fishing.

[scottiedawg66]

I also fish a shallow lake and catch numbers of smaller (1lbs) with the robo worm alive shad weightless on a size 3 owner worm hook.  I like the black top and blue top alive shad.  I use a cheap daiwa 6' light / medium rod with a spinning reel on 6lbs test FC.  

 

I have caught up to 2.5 lbs fish on those alive shads,  i usually bust this rig out during the heat of the day when it is slow.  

[Sam]

Follow Clacker's suggestions.

 

You may want to go lighter and smaller with your baits and presentations.

 

Go with a light or ultra light rod and a small spinning reel and throw one or two inch white single tail grubs. You will get line twist but you can work that out easily.

 

Today, I want you to go to the pond and fish for bluegills, bream and crappie.

 

These are baitfish for the bass and you need to find out if they are in the pond and if so are they healthy.

 

If you do not catch these species then look for crawfish and minnows.

 

Use Nightcrawlers or a kernel of corn on your hook. Pieces of Nightcrawlers will attract any baitfish in the pond when fished with a bobber.

 

You need to check out the pond's forage that you catch and then match the forage colors with your baits.

 

The second thing I will suggest is that you go to the pond before sunrise and throw topwaters. Fish the pond with topwaters starting 15 minutes before the sun rises and then for an hour after. Buzzbaits, frogs, Spooks, RICO's, Pop-R's, Space Monkeys, Rage Tail Toads and pink or white unweighted Zoom trick worms on the surface.  Your quest is to find what bait and retrieve the bass want.

 

You can also start to fish an hour before sunset and then a little while after the sun sets. Just be careful as animals come out when the sun goes down and you don't need to encounter any other breathing thing while fishing or on your way home.

 

You need to do this four or five days in a row. If no bites then the bass are at the other end of the pond.

 

Rain. Hit the pond right before and during a cold front moving through and it is raining. If there is lightning or a chance of lightning stay home.  If you fish the pond a few hours before the front rolls through the area and then into the rain you may be able to get a hit. Just remember that if there is any chance of lighting do not go fishing. Lightning can strike over five-miles out from the storm so be extra careful.

 

Shaky heads and drop shots may work with small Robo Worms or other brand plastics. Try smaller sizes and then work up to the larger sizes. If your shaky head comes back with a lot of slop on it then go with a drop shot.

 

If you can fish only half of the pond the bass may be in a "hole" or holding pattern at the other end next to a drop off or any bottom structure. If this is the case you will always have problems finding the bass.  Cloudy days mean the bass are swimming all around. Blue bird skies means the bass are holding to any structure or drop offs they can find.

 

And you may determine the bass have died off and are there is not a large population to make the pond worth your time and effort.

 

Keep a log for every day you fish. Check out the fishing log in the drop downs at the top of the Forum's home page. You will see a pattern develop after a few weeks that you may or may not have noticed.

 

If there is a local tackle shop in your area or you know of any neighbors that may have fished the pond (or their fathers, grandfathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. fished the pond) speak with them about the pond. Just be sure that you do not need written permission to fish the pond as the neighbors on or around the pond may tell you that you are not welcome.

 

Always take your fishing license with you and your needle nose pliers. And leave a note at home outlining where you will be and what time you are coming home.

 

Please give us a follow up and let us know what baitfish you found and if the early morning activity picks up.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Follow Clacker's suggestions.

 

You may want to go lighter and smaller with your baits and presentations.

 

Go with a light or ultra light rod and a small spinning reel and throw one or two inch white single tail grubs. You will get line twist but you can work that out easily.

 

Today, I want you to go to the pond and fish for bluegills, bream and crappie.

 

These are baitfish for the bass and you need to find out if they are in the pond and if so are they healthy.

 

If you do not catch these species then look for crawfish and minnows.

 

Use Nightcrawlers or a kernel of corn on your hook. Pieces of Nightcrawlers will attract any baitfish in the pond when fished with a bobber.

 

You need to check out the pond's forage that you catch and then match the forage colors with your baits.

 

The second thing I will suggest is that you go to the pond before sunrise and throw topwaters. Fish the pond with topwaters starting 15 minutes before the sun rises and then for an hour after. Buzzbaits, frogs, Spooks, RICO's, Pop-R's, Space Monkeys, Rage Tail Toads and pink or white unweighted Zoom trick worms on the surface.  Your quest is to find what bait and retrieve the bass want.

 

You can also start to fish an hour before sunset and then a little while after the sun sets. Just be careful as animals come out when the sun goes down and you don't need to encounter any other breathing thing while fishing or on your way home.

 

You need to do this four or five days in a row. If no bites then the bass are at the other end of the pond.

 

Rain. Hit the pond right before and during a cold front moving through and it is raining. If there is lightning or a chance of lightning stay home.  If you fish the pond a few hours before the front rolls through the area and then into the rain you may be able to get a hit. Just remember that if there is any chance of lighting do not go fishing. Lightning can strike over five-miles out from the storm so be extra careful.

 

Shaky heads and drop shots may work with small Robo Worms or other brand plastics. Try smaller sizes and then work up to the larger sizes. If your shaky head comes back with a lot of slop on it then go with a drop shot.

 

If you can fish only half of the pond the bass may be in a "hole" or holding pattern at the other end next to a drop off or any bottom structure. If this is the case you will always have problems finding the bass.  Cloudy days mean the bass are swimming all around. Blue bird skies means the bass are holding to any structure or drop offs they can find.

 

And you may determine the bass have died off and are there is not a large population to make the pond worth your time and effort.

 

Keep a log for every day you fish. Check out the fishing log in the drop downs at the top of the Forum's home page. You will see a pattern develop after a few weeks that you may or may not have noticed.

 

If there is a local tackle shop in your area or you know of any neighbors that may have fished the pond (or their fathers, grandfathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. fished the pond) speak with them about the pond. Just be sure that you do not need written permission to fish the pond as the neighbors on or around the pond may tell you that you are not welcome.

 

Always take your fishing license with you and your needle nose pliers. And leave a note at home outlining where you will be and what time you are coming home.

 

Please give us a follow up and let us know what baitfish you found and if the early morning activity picks up.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. Now time to answer some questions:

Baitfish- there is mud minnows, blue gill and other bream species (sunfish,pumpkin seed).

Depth changes/ledges- i do not think there is any holes out on the other side.(I know this cause I have fished alot there before but the people who moved in there dont allow fishing). The other side is just really shallow and carp infested.

Lures- I have never used a drops hot in my life, but I will definitely give it a go. I have tried some finesse stuff though. I have used a 6-7 in. finesse curly tail worm (forgot the actual name) and had no luck. I fished it slow too.

Cold fronts- I went the other day before a big storm and couldn't catch any on a jig. I tried both swimming it and slowly jigging it. I will try to use a drops hot or something finesse before and after the next storm.

Pipe- there is no pipe on this one sadly.i too have ad great success at other small ponds with pipes.

Local fisherman- there is no other bass fisherman on this pond. Just some kids who use earthworms, but they just catch bluegill.

Crappie- there is no crappie or perch or white bass. I am going to release some in here next time I catch on at the lake. I should also release the largemouth this pond too..

Thanks for all the help! I will be testing out ultralights stuff and drops hits and I will tell how it goes

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I tried out ultralights and they did ok. I caught a few dinks on a weightless worm on 6lb line. I had no luck with the dropshot though.. probably just cause i'm not experienced with it at all.

[loudcherokee]

If they're hitting on the blades of your spinnerbait, maybe try a spoon? If I'm completely off base here, hopefully someone will chime in, but it makes sense to me.

LC

[GeorgiaBassBros]

Call me crazy but I have been catching fish in the middle of the day (90 degrees+) on small shallow diving crankbaits. Specifically the mid size rebel jerkbaits straight reeled about 10 feet from the shore line. Theyve been pretty small but fish are fish.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

If they're hitting on the blades of your spinnerbait, maybe try a spoon? If I'm completely off base here, hopefully someone will chime in, but it makes sense to me.

LC

It only happened once so it's not a problem. I like the idea though and if I have start having this problem more often I will use spoons.

[scottiedawg66]

if weightless is working for dinks try a very light weight, even a small split shot for the weight for your dorp shot.  I usually run about a 16" leader for my weight.  how long was your weight leader?   even switching to FC line makes noticible difference in fall rate that might trigger larger bites. 

[Kevin22]

Just throw a 5" green pumpkin senko on 10-14lb line. If you dont catch a bass on that then there are no bass in that pond. 

[TALON7215]

I agree with a lot of what everyone is saying. The pond I fish sounds like the one you fish to a tee. Where I fish, it is probably about 15 feet in open water, and the levee has broken in the last few years, causing water levels to constantly fluctuate. Don't get me wrong, I have caught 4lbers out of there, and there are bigger I know. It's just the water from all the rain we have got , not to mention the water clarity was pitiful to start with. I go as early as I can and have my son fish a buzz bait, and then I throw a senko in behind it. It works most of the time, but, right now with it being as hot as it is, it makes it tough in those conditions. I agree 100% with finesse anything..it seems to be the only thing working for me these days.

[TALON7215]

On 6/25/2013 at 5:27 PM, Crankenstein said:

I tried out ultralights and they did ok. I caught a few dinks on a weightless worm on 6lb line. I had no luck with the dropshot though.. probably just cause i'm not experienced with it at all.

The drop shot is pretty easy to fish with..check out bassresource videos on youtube for the drop shot and advanced drop shot. I was fishing it before, but now I feel more confident after setting it up as he describes in the video.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

On 6/26/2013 at 6:46 PM, TALON7215 said:

The drop shot is pretty easy to fish with..check out bassresource videos on youtube for the drop shot and advanced drop shot. I was fishing it before, but now I feel more confident after setting it up as he describes in the video.

Thanks for pointing the vid out it really helped. The hook wasn't standing up for me at first but now I know how. I will give dropshots another shot