Need Help With Picky Bass And Tough Location.

[14Gills]

Fellow fishermen. I have a serious question! I live in utah and fish at a pond with some big and extremely, extremely picky bass. Ok let me set up the question. The pond is low and there is no structure for the bass to be in or around. It is for the most part a sand bottom with some small amounts of moss or stuff on the bottom. This pond sees medium to heavy pressure. Ok now the question, how and what do I do to make this pond a productive fishing source for me. What is the best technique and or what should I be throwing to get some bass hole action?

[BassinLou]

With that amount of pressure and those conditions, think like the Japanese, and go ultra finesse maybe. Light line, less than 6 lbs and small profile baits.

[aceman387]

I would try using a texas rigged robo worm rigged weightless or a yamaoto shad shape worm texas rigged weightless.

[papajoe222]

I second the finess approach. After a week-end of heavy fishing pressure on my local water, down sizing and lighter line is often the only way I can put together a decent catch. If you have any of the small, crappie cranks, they can be dynamite on pressured fish.  The other thing you can try is to go completely against traditional or local thinking.  If everyone is fishing say, 4in. stick worms or a 1/4oz jig and pig, try a 10in. worm or a 1/2oz football jig.

Another producer on featureless pond, especially clear ones, is dead sticking your presentation.  This can also be done with your top waters.  Work either just enough to get their attention and then just let it sit. When you can't stand it and just have to move it, wait thirty seconds and just twitch it and let it sit some more. 

[tatertester]

THINK FINESSE!.......Gotta agree with the finesse approach.....Small plastics, slowly worked near any kind of weeds,wood,rocks, dock, pads, shelf, etc.....Has saved my butt numerous times when the bite was tuff.

[Sam]

The bass are probably in the middle of the pond. Can you cast to cover the middle section?

 

If so, go with bottom baits including your drop shot if there is a lot of slop on the bottom.

 

Otherwise throw a shaky head or Senko and see if that works. Then try your moving baits.

 

If possible, hit the pond right before and at sunrise and go with a buzzbait and spinnerbait.

 

Let us know how you do and post pics.

[speed craw]

Well everyone beat me to it , but finesse. Use a dropshot with a long tag end probably 10 inches or more. Small baits zoom ifinesse worm, or 3 inch senko.

[14Gills]

I greatly appreciate the advice gentlemen. I have been fishing a sinko Texas style very very slow. I have been up to the pond three times since my post and have caught one bass each time. Nothing huge and only one fish each day. But I think the finesse is the only way to go.

[hookset on 3]

It's time for high speed maneuvers.Try burning surface lures this time of year that match the main small baitfish and minnows of that pond.

Early Fall, bass are in the chasing mood. Erratic stop and go works to trigger conditioned, highly pressured bass.

[FrogFreak]

Finesse is a great idea as the others have mentioned. Shaky head or drop shot (my go to rig when the fish are tight lipped). Just experiment with what plastic works. Try sometiing out of the ordinary like a small tube or a creature bait.

 

Another thing to try are some older techniques and baits that just aren't used as much anymore. How about the good old daredevil spoon? Or possibly a lucky 13 plug if you can find one. If that doesn't work, then downsize or oversize. Try something that the others just haven't. Hookset on 3 is right, this time of year they want to chase, so let em. I was fishing in some pretty tough conditions last weekend and the only thing they'd hit was a grass pig swam slowly. If I tried to jig it, no go but when I swam it....Whammo. Up where I live, I bet those bass had seldom seen a grass pig swam like that. The problem was, the Northern Pike loved it as well.