Prefer Pond Fishing

[jdl2425]

I prefer rivers and lakes. I find them to be more of a challenge than ponds, especially when shore fishing. I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I can catch bass in lakes and reservoirs.

[hatrix]

I prefer rivers and lakes. I find them to be more of a challenge than ponds, especially when shore fishing. I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I can catch bass in lakes and reservoirs.

 

Ok so look at your avatar. Is that what you feel to not be challenging and thats why ponds are easy to fish? I don't even know whats behind you. That's like a hole in a field. I don't even think of something like that when I hear pond but I am sure that's what almost everyone relates to when they think pond. Pond to me is usually like some natural middle of the woods crap and we have plenty of those out here. I just don't relate it to holes in fields or even development ponds and those are notoriously junk and rarely if ever produce and decent fish. 

[Sam]

Todd. the main difference between a pond, lake and river is that in a pond your search efforts are short and simple.

 

In a lake or river just finding the fish is your first priority and that is the challenge.

 

I love pond fishing as you don't have to think about where the fish are hiding or if they are deep, shallow, under docks, next to docks, by trees, in the bushes, along the bank, in creek mouths, in the back of creeks, in grass, under pads, among stumps, by rocky banks, off rocky points, holding to humps, hiding in deep holes, out from the bank, trying spots before others fish them, fishing after a boat has just left the area, and on and on and on.

 

I pond fish to 1) relax and avoid the stress of finding the bass; 2) to try new baits; 3) to try new techniques; 4) just have some fun at a pond I have all to myself.

 

I will fish my double secret pond one more time this year and then hang up pond fishing for the winter.

 

Caught two 8 pounders out of a pond and of course, I released them.  Looking forward to going back to try to catch them again before I croak.

[Preytorien]

I agree, ponds hold a certain mystique about them. Likely it's because my fishing roots go back to fishing with my grandfather at a friend's farm pond for bluegill and crappie. Those were good times. Now, I love just dissecting the pond, it's structure, cover, and charcteristics without electronics.

 

I don't have a bass boat per say, but I do have a Sea Eagle boat that allows me to get out on the water of smaller lakes/large ponds. Which is also fun. Nothing like finding a larger-than-average secluded pond with brush all around the bank and knowing you've got it all to yourself for the day.

 

Lately though I've been getting into wading some local rivers/streams for smallmouth. Man, that's a lot of fun!

[Felix77]

I guess it is all relative.

 

When I am in my kayak I prefer the smaller lakes and ponds.  Allows me to cover a lot of water and decipher the code of the day a little easier.

 

On a boat I easily prefer the larger lakes and rivers.  Much more challenging and helps me prepare for tournaments.

 

If I am stuck using my 2 feet then I don't have much choice ... pond or accessible reservoir is my #1.

[hatrix]

When people say the finding fish thing is the challenge is sorta funny. Like everyone just goes out and starts casting aimlessly hoping there are fish around. I know what people really mean but it just makes it seem like there out fishing blind folded. Ya you might need to cruise around and mark some fish or bait and then they might not even be feeding or you you need to wait for them to turn on or keep looking and refine a pattern if you are getting bit. But in reality only on boats do you actually know where the fish are and you can even see how big they are. You can even track you bait and see what depth your running. If you have side scan down scan you can see it like a picture even tell what direction a fish is facing. It would be huge for everyone if they had that on there boat. It's almost like cheating you know so much.

[CollegiateAngler]

I never fish anything that I can't put my boat in.

[Rippinlips14]

When Im not on the lake I'm at a pond. If you just an casual angler that isnt competitive then ponds are fun

[gulfcaptain]

I fish S. Cal city park ponds/lakes and I wish it was as easy as walk up and catch a bunch of fish.  Lakes are heavily pressured, have either a ton of weeds or are void of them.  The challege to get a city park bass to bite let alone produce larger models in the 4+lb range(most city park lakes have fish over 10 in all of them) is a challenge.  Almost everyone I know that fishes these parks are highly competitive among ourselves for sure.  It's great to watch someone that has a boat and can catch bass on bigger bodies of water out of it get their butt's handed to them trying to figure out the park fish in these ponds.  Think they did a City Limit's show on some of S.Cal's parks, and they ended up going to a private comunity because the "pro" managed a meger 3 fish and his partner 0 before they moved to the private comunity and finished fishing out of a boat.  Yes, the professional angler even found it tough to get these pond fish to bite.  So I do prefer fishing ponds where I live as it is a challenge on heavy pressured waters and when I get the chance to fish from a tube in a bigger lake or a boat, I have no problem putting the hurt on them.

[FirstnameLastname]

Ponds by far are my favorite. Followed by lakes and then river's. As far as the tanks at bass pro, I don't live close enough to enjoy them. I'm a Cabelas man.

[hatrix]

Yea its tuff at those places. Most of the metro park places that have shore access or city lakes are a tuff bite. The crazy thing is that I rarely see any one who actually fishes at these places and it its 99% of the time someone with a bucket yet they still make it hard for everyone with the bucket. Most times though there is no one fishing or maybe 1 person. It just a million people who walk dogs at like every one these places. The parking lot can be packed and its all people walking there dog or off on the trails somewhere.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't think bucket fishermen make it harder to catch fish.  Most of them are stationary and I'm moving around and covering much more water.  They may do well with their bait and may catch more fish than me using my artificial lures, but if I'm several hundred yards away they are not affecting me.

[hatrix]

I don't know what it is really. Maybe it is because of the fish they remove and a ever smaller population they slows the bite. In reality they are probably just not that kind of place to begin with where anything works or it is so easy regardless how many people fish it or how often. Just not every place is like that and I think a lot probably has to do with genetics somehow even in the same strain along with conditions of the water it self in regards to all the variables that brings. Also external conditions like weather and the seasons . Some years are just not as good even though nothing has changed at a place and next year it can turn back around and be on fire again.  

[Paul Roberts]

I love my small waters. They range from little one acre ponds to 100+ acre irrigation reservoirs. They contain all types water types, requiring versatility to meet all that potential, and many are public and heavily fished. I still burn gas though, running pond to pond.

[Brian6428]

When people say the finding fish thing is the challenge is sorta funny. Like everyone just goes out and starts casting aimlessly hoping there are fish around. I know what people really mean but it just makes it seem like there out fishing blind folded. Ya you might need to cruise around and mark some fish or bait and then they might not even be feeding or you you need to wait for them to turn on or keep looking and refine a pattern if you are getting bit. But in reality only on boats do you actually know where the fish are and you can even see how big they are. You can even track you bait and see what depth your running. If you have side scan down scan you can see it like a picture even tell what direction a fish is facing. It would be huge for everyone if they had that on there boat. It's almost like cheating you know so much.

I feel like I stumbled into the YouTube comments of most fishing videos.

A fishfinder does not find fish. You do. You know what a $3000 fish finder in the hands of a newbie is? A paperweight. The fishfinder is only as good as the person operating it. That's like saying rods over $200 are cheating because it is too easy to feel the fish. A fish finder is another tool in a fisherman a arsenal to find sunken cover, brush, baitfish etc. it is rare to actually see the bass you will catch.

To the op, I prefer fishing lakes for the challenge.