Really Need Some Advice

[NebraskaBass]

So I've been fishing a 40 acre private lake that I live on out of a little pontoon. The lake is spring fed and used to be a rock quarry. The water is fairly clearly and gets to 80 feet deep in the middle of the lake with some cliffs with steep drop offs. I've been having a lot of luck catching many 10-12 inch bass. But I have yet to catch anything with any size. This lake was known to have bass in the 5-8 lb range in the years before I moved here and I'm starting to think that it may be overpopulated. Is it possible. That there really aren't any fish over 12 inches. I've been fishing it very regularly and have caught over 100 in the 10-12 inch range. It looks like I'm catching the exact same fish over and over! The water temp is around 80 and there is quite bit of grass on the surface of the lake in many spots. Pleaseeeee help me figure something out. I'm tired of catching little guys. And yes I've tried using larger presentations.

Thanks for any help

[Fish_Whisperer]

So I've been fishing a 40 acre private lake that I live on out of a little pontoon. The lake is spring fed and used to be a rock quarry. The water is fairly clearly and gets to 80 feet deep in the middle of the lake with some cliffs with steep drop offs. I've been having a lot of luck catching many 10-12 inch bass. But I have yet to catch anything with any size. This lake was known to have bass in the 5-8 lb range in the years before I moved here and I'm starting to think that it may be overpopulated. Is it possible. That there really aren't any fish over 12 inches. I've been fishing it very regularly and have caught over 100 in the 10-12 inch range. It looks like I'm catching the exact same fish over and over! The water temp is around 80 and there is quite bit of grass on the surface of the lake in many spots. Pleaseeeee help me figure something out. I'm tired of catching little guys. And yes I've tried using larger presentations.

Thanks for any help

It may be overpopulated.  For sake of this thread, let's say it isn't.  To start your quest to the bigger fish, you must learn the habits of their food.  Find out what they are eating, and "match the hatch"  Bass are going to stage up in an ambush point related the where the baitfish travel. Focus your efforts in these locations.  They won't be there all the time, so after learning the baitfish, learn the movements of the bass.

[NebraskaBass]

I just feel like there must still be some big fish in there. It wasn't more than three years ago when they were pulling out big ones! But if it is overpopulated does that really mean there isn't a single big bass around?

[Fish_Whisperer]

I just feel like there must still be some big fish in there. It wasn't more than three years ago when they were pulling out big ones! But if it is overpopulated does that really mean there isn't a single big bass around?

No one on here will be able to say with certainty... I wouldn't lose faith on the place though!  We all know the difference in fishing and catching, one of the differences is that catching requires some homework to be done on and off the water.  

[OroBass]

I too fish primarily ponds on a float tube. The key for me is understanding bigger bass. In pre spawn, spawn and post spawn bigger bass are easily located along the shore line weeds and flats 10 to 30 ft away from the bank. Then after it heats up you have to find were they go. My bass find better structure and cover. I look for the best cover and or structure in the pond. If there are forage fish around that cover I'm gonna work that spot pretty well. Some times smaller bass are caught on one lure like for me an unweighted natural color senko 5 inch. And bigger bass on a shakey head or texas rigged ribbon tail. Ponds can be weird I have caught 6 pound bass by down scaling to a 4

Inch finesse worm. Don't be a bank beater get a float tube or small boat and find the best structure or cover because bigger bass take the prime spots.

[roadwarrior]

Don't be a bank beater get a float tube or small boat and find the best structure or cover because bigger bass take the prime spots.

 

X2

 

If you want to devote some time to a project, contact your State Wildlife Department

to see if they are willing to evaluated the pond. I'm guessing the best solution is to kill

every little fish you catch, but you will need permission from the state and whorver owns

the property. The standard rule is to take out all you think is necessary and then do it 

again!

 

 

 

[Dyerbassman]

Bass don't get big by being dumb. The little guys always bite first. Keep at it. I bet they're in there. Try something completely different and see what you get. Good luck!

[NorthFloBassin]

Carolina rig deeper structure(7-15ft) now that it's summer so of those bigger bass might be hanging around rock piles or brush piles out a little deeper, I doubt there are any ledges in the lake sense it's so small but if it has step drop off its possible

[Suspendingjerk]

Carolina rig deeper structure(7-15ft) now that it's summer so of those bigger bass might be hanging around rock piles or brush piles out a little deeper, I doubt there are any ledges in the lake sense it's so small but if it has step drop off its possible

40 acres is definitely big enough for there to be ledges. Especially if it's an old quarry like he stated.

X2

 

If you want to devote some time to a project, contact your State Wildlife Department

to see if they are willing to evaluated the pond. I'm guessing the best solution is to kill

every little fish you catch, but you will need permission from the state and whorver owns

the property. The standard rule is to take out all you think is necessary and then do it 

again!

 

 

 

He mentioned he fishes out of a little pontoon, so no bank beating. I also think you should be having a good fish fry soon. And since you said you live on it I assume you own it?

[ClackerBuzz]

Carolina rig deeper structure(7-15ft) now that it's summer so of those bigger bass might be hanging around rock piles or brush piles out a little deeper, I doubt there are any ledges in the lake sense it's so small but if it has step drop off its possible

x2. if i had to guess i'd say ur catching all those fish shallow (less than 10ft of water) while trolling the banks.

i'd be focusing on 20-40 ft depts...with a drop shot and small realistic lure (3" grub, 4" green/red finesse worm, 4" wacky senko etc).  or a 4" shaky head.  less action is better in these situations so don't overwork ur bait. you want it to look as natural as possible.

http://www.bassresource.com/mike-iaconelli-fishing/dropshot-tips.html

[Fishes in trees]

I'd say that the is one situation where you need to become a meat fisherman.  When I was in my late 20's - early 30's, I had access to a similar body of water.   There were MANY small fish and fish over 12" were uncommon, once or twice a year you might see a fish over 15".  The  woman who owned the water was extremely opposed to any chemical attempt to alter the population and after she consulted with the conservation department (she was old & rich and knew most of the conservation commission on a first name basis) it was decided that she should let a few select guys who she trusted to be on her property to take all the little bass that they could out of that small lake.

 

I lost count of how many 60 to 100 fish days I had out on that lake, catching 8 to 11" bass.  (the deal was that any fish over 12" had to be released)

 

Over a period of 5 to 6 years I, I became a light tackle expert and gradually the average size of the remaining fish grew.  In the meantime, 10" bass fillets were on the menu a lot.  That is the way I'd approach the stunted fish problem.

[Kevin22]

I fish several small lakes/ponds just like that. Old gravel/sand pits. You'll find they have a ton of 10-12" fish, but also a decent population of bigger fish. The bigger fish are going to hang on the underwater humps and boulders left from the mining process. The old roads and shelves they used to excavate are also good fish holding structure. I have never caught a big one from around shore on these types of lakes. They have all been out in deep water. 

 

The biggest forage in a lake like that is crawfish. Try a natural looking jig on the areas I already mentioned. 

[Brian Needham]

if the lake is 80 foot deep I wouldn't fish an inch shallower than 15 foot.

[WRB]

The easiest way to know if larger bass are there was seeing them during the spawn, did you see any big bed bass?

The quarry pond could be over populated with 12" bass, last years spawn. Start keeping and eating them.

Now your best chance is fish after dark with 9"- 10" T-rigged plastic worms or jigs with 3"- 4" trailers, depending on the tackle you use. You can also try buzz baits as the sun sets.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Were the bigger bass that were caught out of there kept? A body of water that size may not support many big fish so if those big fish were taken out they may have been replaced by lots of small fish instead of another big fish. 

 

Clear water like that I'd be running a swimbait along those weedlines and edge of the drop offs. You might not catch a big fish, but I bet you at least see them if they're in there. 

[livetofish28]

Were the bigger bass that were caught out of there kept? A body of water that size may not support many big fish so if those big fish were taken out they may have been replaced by lots of small fish instead of another big fish. 

 

Clear water like that I'd be running a swimbait along those weedlines and edge of the drop offs. You might not catch a big fish, but I bet you at least see them if they're in there. 

X2 swimbaits They are known for finding bigger fish in locations and as Bluebasser said if they dont bite you may at least get a follow and see the fish 

 

      tight lines

 

         Andrew

[WRB]

So you think the OP should buy a swimbait and rod/reel so he can see a bass? He is better off catching them, using high % lures like jigs and larger worms.

Small bass may strike a big worm, but 3-4 lbs bass are far more likely to eat the jig or worm fished in deeper water or at night.

Tom

[gobig]

I think he should buy at least 3 or 4 swimbait set ups.

[Bluebasser86]

So you think the OP should buy a swimbait and rod/reel so he can see a bass? He is better off catching them, using high % lures like jigs and larger worms.

Small bass may strike a big worm, but 3-4 lbs bass are far more likely to eat the jig or worm fished in deeper water or at night.

Tom

And if the bass doesn't eat those jigs or big worms?? One of the lakes I fish often they ignore jigs and worms for the most part, especially the larger fish. However, run a swimbait through those same haunts and areas that seemed dead before prove to be full of life, and much larger fish than those that fall for other techniques. It doesn't take any real specialized gear to fish some of the mid ranged baits like a 6" Hudd, mini or 7" Slammer. Those baits move lots of fish and can easily be fished on a flipping rod like I started out doing, then I saw how effective they can be, my custom built swimbait rod just showed up in the mail yesterday