Shallow Water Ponds In Fall

[BostonMahhk]

So come cold weather and water I've learned that after coming into shallow waters to feed for the winter the bass then go back out to their winter holes where they hold up. Mainly in deeper waters. My question is what happens when the ponds your fishing don't have deeper waters? What happens when 90% of the pond is only 3-5 ft? Do you continue to pond banks and shorelines? If so are there certain areas on the banks that are better than others? Or do you look for the small percentage of the pond that's slightly deeper?

[iabass8]

deep water is relative to the area you're fishing. if the pond is 5 foot max depth, then i'd start looking there. if the pond has any green weeds, i'd try there as well. any depth change, even if it's 6 inchs, makes a different to bass and how they position themselves.

[GaterB]

I agree with the above post. Small bodies of water will cool and warm faster and more dramatically than larger bodies of water, so transitional periods could fluctuate from one body of water to another. Just something else to consider. If one depth doesn't seem to be producing, keep trying different ones until you get bit. Last weekend I fished a spinnerbait, topwater, texas rigged worm, and a fluke until I figured out the fish were in about 3-5 feet. Then I counted down my lure to that depth and started catching bass all over the pond I was fishing on both the fluke and spinnerbait.

[BostonMahhk]

I really haven't fished swim baits a lot yet at all. Topwater and pig and jig have been my main tools and haven't had a hit on topwater since the end of August. I'm in Boston and the water temps are low 50's here right now.

[BostonMahhk]

When the water gets this cold are the fish moving at all or very slowly, or at certain times of the day or are they just not chasing bait as much? It's do confusing because I know they day fall is when they feed up for winter but I'm also reading that the fishing is slow now. What basis do you go on?

[iabass8]

water temp is a good starter. mid 40s and below the fish become less active then than during the fall feed period. to answer your first question...it really just depends on the body of water. some places fish better than others during mid day. i like to fish mid day when the water warms up from the sun when the water temp is in the 40s. rocks hold heat and warm faster so if you have any rocky structure around that would be a place i'd try.

[BostonMahhk]

I know a lot of people say to use spinnerbaits and buzz baits an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset cause those are the times the fish are feeding the most but then I hear things like that about mid day which makes a lot of sense. I've been fishing hard since July and I'm talkin 5 days a week and if I'm not fishing then I'm reading about fishing and studying fishing so it's not like I don't know anything. I feel like I actually take in to much and it becomes an overload. I ask these questions cause I feel like there's nothing better than hands on experience. That's where you guys come in. I may have put in a lot of time on the water for the average person fishing for 4 months but I've never been through seasonal patterns once yey

[iabass8]

top water is a great choice in early am and sunset hours. the topwater bite seems to die around the country when the water temp his 50ish degrees. bass can still be caught on top waters during the late fall/winter but it is few and far between. fish get lethargic and don't chase down reaction baits on a regular basis during cold water periods. during these times you will read a lot about jerkbaits and letting them sit for up to 30 seconds right in a fish's face before it decides to bite. slow is key during the cold water times. if you think you are going slow, go slower. less is more when it's cold. tight wobble vs wide wobble cranks, slow fall vs fast fall jigs, fast jerks vs slow jerks..etc.

[michang5]

I'm doing the same thing you are, BostonMahhk, trying to fish every day and reading everything I can. I think I'm also suffering from info overload. My situation is made worse by my buying my first baitcasting setup last week. I want to practice with the new gear, so I'm throwing lots of spinnerbaits, 1/2oz jigs and heavier Carolina rigs. I've gotten one tap my last six outings.

 

This morning I went over to the smaller of the two ponds I fish. I did some repair work to my spinning reel yesterday and I wanted to test it out. Thirty minutes in and I caught my first fish after many skunkings. It was on a weightless wacky senko fished pretty slowly.

 

I guess it tells me that the fish don't care about me spending $250+ on new stuff. They just want what they want.  

[BostonMahhk]

I have had the exact same issues. I've been Out constantly and I'm getting skunked day after day until last week I caught a good 4.5lber on a pig and jig that was under an overhung tree. Today I actually threw a Lake Fork sun perch swim bait. First time throwing a swim bait and I caught a 3.5lber. It's amazing how much confidence you can gain in a life by catching your first fish with it. I tried it cause I've been seeing these swim bait guys catchin these fish on swim baits that are as big as them. I guessed if they're gonna use the energy the. It's prob gonna be for something that's worth it

[BostonMahhk]

Bottom line is fishing is def harder by far now. It takes more skill, more knowledge, and def some luck

[Felix77]

deep water is relative to the area you're fishing. if the pond is 5 foot max depth, then i'd start looking there. if the pond has any green weeds, i'd try there as well. any depth change, even if it's 6 inchs, makes a different to bass and how they position themselves.

What he said.  In a pond near me I find bass cruising the shallows quite regularly this time of the year.  From the bank any inside weededge is worth probing!

[ww2farmer]

I have caught them quite regularly in our small farm ponds into December. My favorite two tactics are a 1/2 oz lipless crankbait, or a 4" grub on a 1/4 oz ball head, slow rolled along the bottom.

[Comfortably Numb]

Suspending jerkbait would be my choice in your situation. Couple jerks and pause to let it suspend a few seconds to 15 secs.

 

A mojo rig dragged slowly too.

 

I did well on a suspending squarebill today in 55* water

 

...Bill

[BostonMahhk]

Hey thanks a lot guys. I'm goin out again at 9am with a real experienced fisherman. Until now I've been goin out with a buddy that's been fishing for years but hasn't gone past fishing a spook or spinnerbait and it's just a small hobby to him, or just by myself. I really hope to get a lot of it tomorrow and gain a whole lot of new experience. I'll let you know how it goes. By the way, thank you to all you guys that took the time out to read my post and respond. I got a lot of new ideas