Rhino68W Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 I have a wonderful pond that I fish rather regularly. It's a good pond, but I have no idea what the bottom looks like. I have been trying to get a feel for it with lures and whatnot, but it's too difficult to truly tell. One thing I have been thinking about is getting a snorkel and some goggles and going diving. The thing is, I have seen (a few times) a huge alligator snapping turtle. The shell from front to back is probably 2 feet. Also, there are at least 2 massive Gar in this thing that like to swirl the surface, lookin like Megalodon! Any thoughts? Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted August 21, 2014 Super User Posted August 21, 2014 Unless there are large gators you are pretty much safe. "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." I've snorkeled a few ponds myself. It's wonderful! Water clarity and amount of sunshine will make a big difference, so pick a sunny day, and midday, for visibility. If you aren't a strong swimmer, tether an inner tube to your waist. When approaching fish, keep your arms still as much as possible -flailing arms and water movement will push them ahead of you. If you can move fluidly you can get surprisingly close to fish. It's often less the sight of you than the feel of you that alarms them. Go for it! Quote
Rhino68W Posted August 21, 2014 Author Posted August 21, 2014 No alligators. It's a small pond on Fort Riley, KS. If there is a gator here then I will be very surprised!!! Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted August 21, 2014 Super User Posted August 21, 2014 I cheat with electronics. I have a Vexilar Sonarphone, which is a castable fish finder that creates its own WIFI network your smartphone links to via Vexilar's APP. I've had it for about a year and can say it works well. I tie it to a MH spinning rod with 30# braid. I've lost it couple times but it always came back to shore by following current. I guess I need to work on my knots. 2 Quote
ZRT-42 Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 I've thought of doing that down here in FL since I spearfish free dive in the ocean , but then again I live 10mins away from the everglades and there are gators around here everywhere so I'm good lol... But you should be good and I'm sure you could get some awesome vantage points of the type of vegetation/what the bottom looks like and where the fish are hanging out. Good luck to you and be safe doing that. Take a buddy with you. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted August 21, 2014 Global Moderator Posted August 21, 2014 No alligators. It's a small pond on Fort Riley, KS. If there is a gator here then I will be very surprised!!! If it's in Ft. Riley there's no alligator snappers either unless someone put it in there. All we have are common snappers, which can get to the size you described pretty easily. Common snappers are actually much more of a concern because they're much more mobile while the gator snappers tend to just lay on the bottom and wait for food to come to them. We used to have a 50lb common snapper in the aquarium when I worked at Cabela's that would climb out of the tank regularly and take the 15' drop to the concrete like it was nothing. My boss found him under his desk one morning I was the assigned turtle man that had to wrangle him whenever that happened, good times. Not many ponds in KS clear enough to see anything diving though. Even ones that look pretty clear only have a foot or two of visibility once you put the goggles on and start diving. 2 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted August 21, 2014 Super User Posted August 21, 2014 I cheat with electronics. I have a Vexilar Sonarphone, which is a castable fish finder that creates its own WIFI network your smartphone links to via Vexilar's APP. I've had it for about a year and can say it works well. I tie it to a MH spinning rod with 30# braid. I've lost it couple times but it always came back to shore by following current. I guess I need to work on my knots. those are like 120$! I would be throwing those on like 60lb braid or like 20lb fluorocarbon I wouldnt be taking any chances! 1 Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted August 21, 2014 Super User Posted August 21, 2014 Screw that leeches are my weakness I can handle snakes insects gar hippos tigers sharks crocs gators....but leeches nope Quote
MassBass Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 You will learn a lot from snorkeling in your pond. That is, if the water is clear enough. Quote
Comfortably Numb Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 As said water will prob be way too murky. I would throw Carolina rig on heavy braid. Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted August 23, 2014 Super User Posted August 23, 2014 I cheat with electronics. I have a Vexilar Sonarphone, which is a castable fish finder that creates its own WIFI network your smartphone links to via Vexilar's APP. I've had it for about a year and can say it works well. I tie it to a MH spinning rod with 30# braid. I've lost it couple times but it always came back to shore by following current. I guess I need to work on my knots. where do you get one of those at....that sounds like something I would be interested in using.....any added advantage has to help. Would love to have a sonar picture of the lakes/ponds I fish. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted August 23, 2014 Super User Posted August 23, 2014 where do you get one of those at....that sounds like something I would be interested in using.....any added advantage has to help. Would love to have a sonar picture of the lakes/ponds I fish. I bought it at Cabelas. Quote
primetime Posted August 25, 2014 Posted August 25, 2014 IF YOU CAN'T LAY ON A SURF BOARD OR RAFT, LOOK DOWN WITH THE GOGGLES AND SEE BOTTOM, THEN GET SOME FINS ON AND GO FOR IT, IT IS SCARY AS HECK AT FIRST, BUT KIND OF A RUSH AFTERWARD AND YOU LEARN ALOT AND ALSO WHERE YOU NEED TO PLANT SOME STRUCTURE TO HELP BASS GET LARGER... I HATE LEECHES AS WELL SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT BAREFOOT OR HAVE SKIN TOUCHING MUD, AND NO ALLIGATORS ARE A MUST FOR ME, TURTLES NOT A BIGGIE FOR ME.....I HAVE MET A FEW OF THE GUYS HERE IN FLORIDA WHILE NIGHT FISHIING GOLF COURSE PONDS WHO DIVER WITH SCUBA GEAR TO GET GOLF BALLS IN THE PITCH DARK, AND ALLIGATORS THE SIZE OF DINASOURS PROWL THESE PONDS.... ONE GUY IS COOL AND HAS TOLD ME WHERE ALL THE BIGGER FISH HANG OUT, HAS TOLD ME FISH WERE IGNORING MY LURES, MY LINE WAS GLOWING, AND HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT EVERY TIME A FISH WOULD STRIKE WOULD BE WHEN ANOTHER BASS WAS INTERESTED AND ENTERED THE PICTURE.....HE HAS BEEN ATTACKED 3 TIMES IN 20 PLUS YEARS, SO I WOULD ASSUME ITS SAFE, I USED TO FLOAT TUBE ALL THE TIME UP NORTH. Quote
Rhino68W Posted August 25, 2014 Author Posted August 25, 2014 You guys are slowly building my courage! I'm still kind of freaked out by it though. Quote
Super User Darren. Posted August 25, 2014 Super User Posted August 25, 2014 You guys are slowly building my courage! I'm still kind of freaked out by it though. Snorkeling a pond is a great experience. My brother and I did it once in a clear, gravel pit pond. Was absolutely awesome. Crystal clear. Unfortunately, it didn't help my catch rate, LOL. Don't do it where I live now. Quote
Brayberry Posted August 25, 2014 Posted August 25, 2014 If you do snorkel it, buy/rent a underwater camera to take pictures of everything you see (bottom contours, brushpiles, fallen trees, where fish are holding in different area's, etc) Those pictures will help you for years to come, and look great in a digital picture frame. Quote
JeziHogg Posted August 25, 2014 Posted August 25, 2014 You can go really old school and get like 30 feet of rope and mark each foot5 off. Then attach like a 2 oz lead cylinder sinker to measure depth. If you want4 to find out the texture of the bottom ie sand, gravel, wood etc then smear the bottom on the sinker with pig fat. Whatever is on the bottom will stick to the fat. Using all the information you can plot out your own map. Quote
Missourifishin Posted August 25, 2014 Posted August 25, 2014 I've gone swimming in ponds many times. The turtles and snakes always stayed as far away from me as they could. And I don't think I've ever had any leech problems either. Maybe I'm just lucky. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted August 26, 2014 Super User Posted August 26, 2014 You guys are slowly building my courage! I'm still kind of freaked out by it though. On overcoming the fear: It's normal if you haven't done it before. Anything so new is freaky. Try this: When you get in don't just stay on top, bc you can't see past the surface film. It's a real visual barrier. It's often the fact that you can't see that's so inherently scary, and the fact that your ears and nose are out of commission too. Start very shallow and get under the surface. When you can see bottom it suddenly isn't so freaky. It's a familiar sight -just like dry ground. Then as you are ready work your way deeper, parallel to shore. Soon it'll be easy. The next freak-out for me was coming over a sheer drop-off. I got vertigo the first few times! Your brain is telling you your going to fall. But, gravity isn't there. Another new sensation. Eventually you'll love "flying". It's easier -less "freaky" -if you stay closer to bottom.This can actually get novice scuba divers in trouble. It's easy to lose track of your depth. This is not an issue with snorkeling bc you run out of breath before you can get in trouble. But being under for an hour with tanks on and you can actually forget you aren't an aquatic critter! Start shallow. Get under the surface. You'll be fine. And... there's nothing there that'll hurt you. You do need is water clear enough, and that's not always easy to find. Light attenuates quickly underwater, over depth and distance. Add cloud cover and it attenuates MUCH quicker. Add any dissolved (stain) or suspended material (roil) and you won't be able to see much at all. This in itself is informative. Good luck with it. 1 Quote
Rhino68W Posted August 27, 2014 Author Posted August 27, 2014 On overcoming the fear: It's normal if you haven't done it before. Anything so new is freaky. Try this: When you get in don't just stay on top, bc you can't see past the surface film. It's a real visual barrier. It's often the fact that you can't see that's so inherently scary, and the fact that your ears and nose are out of commission too. Start very shallow and get under the surface. When you can see bottom it suddenly isn't so freaky. It's a familiar sight -just like dry ground. Then as you are ready work your way deeper, parallel to shore. Soon it'll be easy. The next freak-out for me was coming over a sheer drop-off. I got vertigo the first few times! Your brain is telling you your going to fall. But, gravity isn't there. Another new sensation. Eventually you'll love "flying". It's easier -less "freaky" -if you stay closer to bottom.This can actually get novice scuba divers in trouble. It's easy to lose track of your depth. This is not an issue with snorkeling bc you run out of breath before you can get in trouble. But being under for an hour with tanks on and you can actually forget you aren't an aquatic critter! Start shallow. Get under the surface. You'll be fine. And... there's nothing there that'll hurt you. You do need is water clear enough, and that's not always easy to find. Light attenuates quickly underwater, over depth and distance. Add cloud cover and it attenuates MUCH quicker. Add any dissolved (stain) or suspended material (roil) and you won't be able to see much at all. This in itself is informative. Good luck with it. Alright, I am doing it! I am going to save up for a GoPro and get some goggles! I will come back here and let you guys know how it went. 1 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted August 27, 2014 Super User Posted August 27, 2014 Just remember, "When in doubt, Get the hell out." Quote
Bass Commander Posted October 30, 2014 Posted October 30, 2014 If it's clear enough how about a glass bottom bucket Quote
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