Weird Pond Dilemma

[Preytorien]

Here's one for you guys that know cold weather / winter fishing.

 

In my neighborhood there's a very small pond, probably 150 yards long by 50 yards wide.

 

Almost no one fishes this pond because in summer/spring there are so many weeds around the edges that it's tough for the bobber fishing crowd to do much. Additionally, the pond only gets about 5ft deep at the very deepest, which is only on one end of the pond, and occupies a small portion of the pond space. The rest of the pond varies from 3ft to much much shallower. Weeds all along the bottom since the sun penetrates down. Weeds along the edges, except right now they're all brown and dead.

 

During summer they can be caught in the weeds. Spring they're on beds.

 

Where do these fish migrate to in the fall/winter? I can fish the whole pond in 30 minutes covering it very thoroughly, but I've never caught anything there in cold temps. When I first started fishing it last March I figured there weren't any fish in it, then happened to fish it in summer and landed a couple VERY nice fish, well over 4lbs. I could also see bluegill and some bass fry in there, so apparently the ice over doesn't kill everything off.

 

So where do I fish? What do I fish with?

[flyfisher]

with it being so small they could be anywhere....the difficulty you will have is lining the fish that are stationed somewhere.  Fish slow and then even slower and see what happens.  

[Bassun]

I agree with flyfisher.  I also like to downsize a little to coax bites when things are tough.  I know "fall" means big baits, but I still have better luck downsizing when the fish aren't being active.  The fish are there, and they will eat...eventually   You can try the deeper areas, but with the size of the pond I expect they will be scattered.

 

*Skipped the "what" to try.

 

I've recently found new love for small grubs in cold water.  You may have a little luck out of a small white grub fished on a light jighead and line.  IDK if its regional, or me, but it seems like the grub bite just keeps getting better and better over the last couple of years, lol.  I  lost a really nice bass just a few weeks ago on a 1" white grub fished w/ 4lb floro.  The bite should have been hot, but instead they were in finesse mode -- for me the grub was the answer.  Granted 1" is a little smaller than what I would recommend, lol.

[everythingthatswims]

    Get a light or UL spinning rod, some 6lb test, and a couple rebel floater (the little 2.5" ones shaped like a rapala original) cranks. When the water gets cold the fish will crush these, I have no idea why and have tried lots of other brands in similar sizes, none of them produce the same results! Very special bait, problem is you need a shallow pond in order to present it to the fish in winter, because in most lakes/ponds they will be too deep. If there is any wood or rock at all, I'm talking even one little stick 1/4" in diameter, deflect the bait off of it, and you will get bit, but they will also hit in open water. 

     I caught one in early march (very early pre spawn for us) this year on one of the little rebel floaters that measured 24", didn't get a weight on her. So the bait will catch everything from the 8"ers all the way up to the bucketmouths. 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/106371515902969758858/posts/TophYYYZXxK?pid=5991176638729431250&oid=106371515902969758858

https://plus.google.com/u/0/106371515902969758858/posts/FEYpYK5RX1N?pid=5991176810948736002&oid=106371515902969758858

Here is a link to a couple photos of the 24"er

[ABW]

Are you sure that 5 ft is the deepest it gets?

[fishballer06]

I've got a local pond very similar to this by me as well. I don't know the max depth, but the deepest I've found is probably 6-7 feet, and I know 2/3's of the lake is probably only 1-3 feet deep. Really makes you wonder where they go in the winter whenever the ice gets 15-20" thick. Like you, I haven't had any luck since the water temp's have dipped down into the 50's. I've tried small jerkbaits, small squarebills, , t-rigged plastics, Flukes, rooster tails. Nothing seems to work.

[riverbasser13]

Have you tried a tube on a really light jighead? Green pumpkin with a 1/8th or less jighead is one of my favorite cold water baits. About where to fish try sunny shallows close to the deeper parts of the pond. My favorite pond hasn't been producing lately so I'm also trying to figure out some new tactics for the late fall early winter

[Sam]

50 yards wide.

 

Try your luck with a Carolina rig.

 

Use the C-rig to locate underwater structure, too.

 

Bass will hold to a stickup or some grass or a rock.

 

You have to find small drop-offs and ledges even if they are only inches deeper than the surrounding areas.

[Sam]

50 yards wide.

 

Try your luck with a Carolina rig.

 

Use the C-rig to locate underwater structure, too.

 

Bass will hold to a stickup or some grass or a rock.

 

You have to find small drop-offs and ledges even if they are only inches deeper than the surrounding areas.

[everythingthatswims]

I've got a local pond very similar to this by me as well. I don't know the max depth, but the deepest I've found is probably 6-7 feet, and I know 2/3's of the lake is probably only 1-3 feet deep. Really makes you wonder where they go in the winter whenever the ice gets 15-20" thick. Like you, I haven't had any luck since the water temp's have dipped down into the 50's. I've tried small jerkbaits, small squarebills, , t-rigged plastics, Flukes, rooster tails. Nothing seems to work.

Getchoo sum rebel floaters, I ain't making this up.