Bass Fishing In Small Ponds

[gastonguy52]

I have just changed over from salt water fishing to fresh water fishing and now fish the small ponds around my golf course.I hear that it is best to fish some kind of structure or drop offs but as far as i can tell there isn't much of either.I mostly fish worms, either texas rig or drop shot and catch bass from time to time but other times I just can't seem to find the fish.Can anybody give me suggestions,thank you

[RipSomeLips]

I would do a forum search for senko worms and read all that you can. Then give it a try.

[stk]

@gastonguy52,

 

Up in IL here I primarily fish a lot of smaller ponds (less than 5 acres)  Some of them are neighborhood ponds which have almost no structure/cover at all.  You just have to look at see what areas are different and walking an entire pond will give you the best insight as to what is under the water and where the fish are holding.  I do a lot of fan casting as well.  I'm still figuring this out as well, but I look for things that make a specific area different.  For example, I look to see if there is an inlet that feeds the pond, or if one area has a rocky bottom or mud/sand or if the edge of the pond is straight or has a jagged edge.  Sometimes trees nearby cast a shadow onto the pond and I have found fish holding in that area.  The other part of the equation is finding what the fish want.  I've had a lot of success with zoom super flukes and senkos.  With that said, I typically catch 3-4 fish every outing (3-4 hrs).  Maybe someone with more experience can chime in.

[B@ssCrzy]

For my pond fishing the majority of my fish are caught right up by the bank.  I cast parallel to the bank so that 85% of my casts are literally within inches to 5ft off the bank.  I then cast a few till I am about 10 ft off the bank with my cast and then move up to where my lure was last hitting the water.  Occasionally I will cast one out deep and work it back.  The fish in my avatar was caught by casting about 2 ft off the bank and I saw the swirl of it coming toward the lure where it had it's nose buried 6" from the bank.  The pond was a pond like you describe, bowl shaped, with no cover whatsoever.  One end has big drainage pipes that come in and the bass will sometimes get right up into the pipe in water that is only about 8 inches.  The other areas I focus on are corners.  I cast diagonal across the corner and most of the time try and hit the bank then slowly pull the lure into the water.  I have caught a lot of fish doing that.  In ponds where there is no major structure or cover, covering lots of water is the ticket for me.   I have read the senko thread previously mentioned "guaranteeing" you to catch some fish and it has never worked for me. I will be honest after reading that thread I went out an bought a bunch of senkos and caught maybe 1 fish.  I then decided to go out and buy some Stanley Ribbits....bingo!!  Burning those in along the bank really showed me where the fish are and were.  Also love the swimjig in ponds.  Because I cast along the bank I have to be stealthy in my approach and if I have people walking along the side then it is going to mess up my fishing.  I always keep my kids behind me and I cast in front and just keep moving forward.  If someone is walking along the edge or fishing close I don't even bother to fish that area.  Takes me about an hour to cover the pond and normally I have caught 4-5 fish, some being dinks, and others good sized ones.  If there are any fountains in the pond I like to cast past them and then burn something as close to them as I can, but beware if your line goes over the fountain you could lose it. I am sure there are some fish I am missing because I am covering a lot of water, but it works for me and I have fun moving around.  Hope this helps. 

[Djman72]

Try using some more search baits and fan casting (shallow crankbaits, rattletraps, spinners, etc). Shadows and weed patches are going to be your best friends in pond fishing. Fish don't have eyelids so in bright situations they will relate to shade. Senko's and soft jerkbaits are great for weedless cover.

 

My biggest tip would be to get some top water going. Poppers/frogs/buzzbaits have been my best friends when fishing shallow ponds with little cover/ structure. Cast them parallel to the bank and work them back to you. I've caught more fish on a simple rebel Pop-r that any other bait aside from the worm.

[Christian M]

I fish a lot of small ponds off the bank. You're headed in the right direction with the senko, but try using some reaction baits. I've fished ponds where a senko did great for a week, then stopped working. I'd switch to a shallow diving crank, spinnerbait, or top water, and bang, fish on. I'll use the same lures in a small pond that I will when im fishing a large body of water, its just a matter of knowing when to use them.

 

When you're fishing those small golf course ponds, the fish will relate to ANY cover that is available, natural or man made. I can't say how many times I've caught a fish in a pond along a pvc pipe or a tiny patch of reeds. They'll also relate to ANY available structure and/or bottom composition. If theres a drop off, even if it's 2 inches, they will use that. If theres a rocky patch, they will use that. Also, talk to people around the pond find out where the deeper areas are and work them. Usually golf course ponds will have sandy, sloping bottoms, great for spinnerbaits and excellent for shallow cranks that will kick up the bottom. Pay special attention to any run off pipes, as they will be your best friend when the water temp heats up.

[livetofish28]

Get a pack or two of the missile baits shockwave in shrapnel color, a pack of 5/0 worm hooks sinker stops and a 3/8 oz tungsten bullet weight. Put on the sinker stop slide on the bullet weight Texas rig the swimbait and peg the sinker. Cast and retrieve at a slow pace and hang on

Tight lines

Andrew

[PondLvr]

You could run a smaller crankbait to find where the fish are located, but i usually look for grass, muck, or branches that might hold fish. I also like to find big branches and lay them out in the water and stack some branches on and around them, then next time you visit the pond it could hold fish. Kind of like a fish crib, I like to call them Bass-Tats. (Bass habitats) 

 

-Will

[tommiller76]

If there doesn't seem to be any hard structure then there most be some sort of "grass" growing on the bottom. Given the depth and size of the ponds you fish I would use shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits. The two of those baits will allow you to cover more water in a relatively short amount of time and it will also give you a better idea of where the fish are located. Jigs too are not a bad idea, by dragging them on the bottom or swimming them just off of the bottom you can begin to piece together the bottom contour and composition. If you remember that bass always relate to something whether it's the weeds, wood of some type, or any other feature your waters may have then you have a great starting point. Even if you know where one stump or large rock is you can start there and slowly work out from there. Something else to keep in mind is this, ponds by nature, can be very different from lakes in the way they warm or cool, fish always react faster to changes in weather in ponds than in other larger bodies of water. You may have a great day at a pond after only a few hours of direct sunlight while a lake only a mile away may be uneventful. 

Good luck and be safe...

[gastonguy52]

Guys can't thank you enough for the tips,can't wait to go out try them out

[bigbill]

I use the small places to my advantage. If I can hit a point that jets out that has a small dog leg I work it. I use the dog leg by casting up into it. I cast across the point to the other side and work my presentation across the open water to across the point then back across the opening of the dog leg.

I fish a manmade drainage pond that's full of good sized bass now. The rapala f7 orginal minnow in blue works awesome. I use the joesfly spinflys too.

[PondHopper96]

I've always fished 3/8 spinnerbaits and done well. Pop-r's like he mentioned. Jigs have been the ticket for this last week. I've caught 3 5 pound plus fish

[Weekend-warrior17]

Try to stand back away from the waters edge as far possible out of view from the fish , in the shade is best if possible. It sounds like you may be spooking the fish witch is causing them to become lock jaw , if the area receives a good deal of pressure from anglers/ golfers/ or prey (Raccoons, hawks, opossums, otters, ect) with the fish not having much structure or much cover at all to swim into for protection that could be part of reason they aren't consistently cooperating also if you make a bunch of racket fishing and or fighting your previous fish that would key them off , I know all sounds simple but keep it in mind its usually is something simple think like a fish. Good luck .

[gulfcaptain]

Ah the golf course, great places to fish.  Around my house the only thing other then goltfer you need to worry about are the police helicopters.  But other then that, look at how the pond is laid out.  Is there an inlet pipe that flows water? Does it have a fountain?  Is there a creek running into it?  Does it have a few points, bulkheads holding up the bank?  Is there big trees next to it?  Look at how the bank is, does it drop sharply off?  Most courses around where I live have a grade and then a trough to collect the balls......normally about 3-4ft of water and it acts like a shelf.  Weeds seem to grow just off of it.  If there are fountains, where do the pipes run....structure to fish.  Study the pond and look at the small details, a sign in the water could hold a fish.  If there isn't much cover...(grass and reeds) then the other stuff will hold fish.  Note where each fish was caught as well as they may give you clues to where they are.

[David D.]

My main pond that I fish is actually on a local golf course. The pond is pretty over-fished, so sometimes it takes a good bit of work to get a fish to bite. Today I went out and fished for 3 hours. I caught my first largemouth of the day (~2.5 lbs) about 30 minutes in using a spinnerbait. After that, it seemed that nothing worked. I tried crankbaits, Texas rigs, drop-shots, everything in my tackle bag... nothing. Then I spotted a decent size fish hanging around her bed. Again, I tried to get her to bite using most everything that I had: texas rigged brush hogs, crawfish, jig with a crawfish trailer....nothing. I could see her eyeing the lure, sometimes she would bump it, but she just never wanted it. I even tried different presentations with each one. Sometimes I slowly pulled them across her bed, sometimes I landed them right on it in hopes of getting a reaction strike. Finally, I just gave up on her and went back to fishing the rest of the pond. After more unsuccessful casts, I realized that there was one thing I hadn't tried on that fish... A weightless Senko. 

Sure enough, first cast she nailed it. Moral of the story? It can take some time to figure out what the fish are actually looking for; especially in an over-fished area. Give everything a try, and make sure you know how to change up presentations of your baits. 

She actually looks much smaller in the picture due to her being angled slightly away from my phone's camera, but she weighed in at 3 lb 11 oz.

 

[SpencerLittle]

Missile baits fuse 4.4 on a warlock shakes head is killer in ponds.

[gripnrip]

I primarily fish from shore.  Ponds or small lakes.  

 

Here is a bank fishing thread.  It is a good read.  Contribute if you'd like.  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126667-bank-fishing-forum/

 

A solid piece of advice I can give you.  Invest in a good telescoping lure retriever.  I normal plug knocker sometimes won't work.  The reason is you can't get directly above the bait to knock it loose.  I was fishing about 3 weeks ago.  I wound up snagging a few square bills in some grass and I couldn't shake them loose.  I could see them less than 4-6 feet away from me in about 2 feet of water.  I went in after them.  Long story short the water was COLD!    I then went and purchased a good retriever.  

[Z71Bassin]

Fry

• 
• New Member
• 
• 5 posts

• LocationSoutheast Texas
• My PB:Between 6-7 lbs
• Favorite Bass:Largemouth
• Favorite Lake or River:Lake Fork

Posted Yesterday, 12:09 AM

My main pond that I fish is actually on a local golf course. The pond is pretty over-fished, so sometimes it takes a good bit of work to get a fish to bite. Today I went out and fished for 3 hours. I caught my first largemouth of the day (~2.5 lbs) about 30 minutes in using a spinnerbait. After that, it seemed that nothing worked. I tried crankbaits, Texas rigs, drop-shots, everything in my tackle bag... nothing. Then I spotted a decent size fish hanging around her bed. Again, I tried to get her to bite using most everything that I had: texas rigged brush hogs, crawfish, jig with a crawfish trailer....nothing. I could see her eyeing the lure, sometimes she would bump it, but she just never wanted it. I even tried different presentations with each one. Sometimes I slowly pulled them across her bed, sometimes I landed them right on it in hopes of getting a reaction strike. Finally, I just gave up on her and went back to fishing the rest of the pond. After more unsuccessful casts, I realized that there was one thing I hadn't tried on that fish... A weightless Senko. 

Sure enough, first cast she nailed it. Moral of the story? It can take some time to figure out what the fish are actually looking for; especially in an over-fished area. Give everything a try, and make sure you know how to change up presentations of your baits. 

She actually looks much smaller in the picture due to her being angled slightly away from my phone's camera, but she weighed in at 3 lb 11 oz.

 

 

Nice buck bass you got there man!

I love to catch em off the beds. You do have to pester them a lot.

 

Two baits I have always used for Bedding Bass of all sizes:

 

1) Black and Blue Jig w/ black blue craw trailer. It does not matter the brand, just make sure it is not a swim jig. I usually get a 1/4 jig. Right now I have been buying a Hart Justice Jig from my local Wal-mart. I love them! Can't beat em. They are $1.96 come with a trailer and a rattler. The black, pumpkin, and chartruse jig is also good from Hart.

 

2) Havoc Bait Skeet Reese Design Purple Passion I believe is the color scheme.

 

Also spray the bait with Spike it Garlic Oil ( I really believe in this stuff on bedding bass)/ BANG garlic and craw sent is also okay.

 

I have caught more bedding fish off these two baits than any other bait. I normally can catch one in 30min or less wit these two baits. Unless she is a big stubborn pig, I'll sit on her for hours. I've fished some bigger fish for 3-4 hours before they strike.

• •  

         Couple of techniques I use:

 

        1) I always throw past the fish, and try to reel over her back. I will always at least (2) twice just jerk the bait hard over her (almost like a hook set). You will hit the fish with the jig.

 

        2) once I know she is ready; I tighten the line with the lure in bed, and hit the rod right above the reel with bottom of my fist. Some times quick and lightly. Other times hard once waiting about 2 seconds.

 

I have been reading a lot on Senkos on this board. Teach me what you know about them; I have never had any success on them....

[David D.]

 

 

Nice buck bass you got there man!

I love to catch em off the beds. You do have to pester them a lot.

 

Two baits I have always used for Bedding Bass of all sizes:

 

1) Black and Blue Jig w/ black blue craw trailer. It does not matter the brand, just make sure it is not a swim jig. I usually get a 1/4 jig. Right now I have been buying a Hart Justice Jig from my local Wal-mart. I love them! Can't beat em. They are $1.96 come with a trailer and a rattler. The black, pumpkin, and chartruse jig is also good from Hart.

 

2) Havoc Bait Skeet Reese Design Purple Passion I believe is the color scheme.

 

Also spray the bait with Spike it Garlic Oil ( I really believe in this stuff on bedding bass)/ BANG garlic and craw sent is also okay.

 

I have caught more bedding fish off these two baits than any other bait. I normally can catch one in 30min or less wit these two baits. Unless she is a big stubborn pig, I'll sit on her for hours. I've fished some bigger fish for 3-4 hours before they strike.

• •  

         Couple of techniques I use:

 

        1) I always throw past the fish, and try to reel over her back. I will always at least (2) twice just jerk the bait hard over her (almost like a hook set). You will hit the fish with the jig.

 

        2) once I know she is ready; I tighten the line with the lure in bed, and hit the rod right above the reel with bottom of my fist. Some times quick and lightly. Other times hard once waiting about 2 seconds.

 

I have been reading a lot on Senkos on this board. Teach me what you know about them; I have never had any success on them....

 

 

I have just recently began using the Senkos, so I am by no means an expert (or even experienced, for that matter). However, I have found that T-rigging them on casting or spinning gear and fished slow they work well. Also, when rigged weedless without a weight or wacky rigged (both on spinning gear) and fished slow, they can pull out even the most stubborn of bass when you work it right. They have a good action on the fall, just make sure that you are letting it drop with slack in the line so that it will fall straight down with a natural movement.

 

I learned on here that you can not fish them too slow, and my experience with them has proven that point.

 

There is a good sticky on one of the sub-forums here about fishing with Senkos and other similar plastics. It is a long thread but well worth the read if you want to give them a shot.