Winter Pond Fishing

[dakota1126]

So me and one of my good fishin' buddies are taking a trip up to about an 8-acre creek-fed pond this weekend and were wondering a bit about preferred tackle. Neither of us has done much wintertime fishing before but had done plenty of river and pond largemouth fishing in the warmer months. I know there are fish in this pond and have caught my fair share here over the years. We were both planning on each taking a fly rod and also a spinning rod. If anybody could refer us to what types of flies and lures or rigs to fish, that would be great. Air temperature will probably be high 40's. Not sure about water temperature. Thanks guys

[Sam]

Can't help with the flies.

 

With the spinning rig "go deep my son, go deep."

 

Cast out as far as you can with a shaky head or Texas rigged finesse worm.

 

Look along the northern and western banks for the bass feeding or sunning themselves. These two banks heat up the fastest.

 

Hit all structure, wood, grass lines, holes, bushes and anything sticking out of the water.

 

Hit any thing on an angle from different directions.

 

You can throw crankbaits and spinnerbaits on a spinning rig as long as the rod's parameters support your bait size and line test.

 

Just remember to "go deep."

[Joedodge]

I'm in central fl on the gulf coast. But we are still fishing the ponds and small lakes through the lil cold fronts. Been awesome on trick worms, dingerz. Just gotta work everything deep and alow like stats. And enjoy the fishing. You may not haul in a ton of fiah but you'll get something

[BaitMonkey1984]

Where I live winter fishing = ice  fishing. 

[everythingthatswims]

Hopping a blade bait, fishing a 1/4oz redeye shad slllllooowwwwww, jerkbait with 10-15 second or longer pauses, and float-n-fly are how I have caught winter pond bass in VA. A fly rod is actually really effective on winter bass, you just have to be really patient. Use a black wooly bugger in dirty water, white in clear, and drag that sucker along the bottom as slow as you can without losing you mind! I have caught some nice bass doing this December-February. Bluegill and crappie will hit nymphs and small streamers this time of year as well, just fish slow.

[livetofish28]

I shall second the wooly bugger for a fly and a Dropshot dragged along horrible slow until you feel structure then pause and eat a sandwich between moving it again lol. I've caught them on a small jig and pig and hair jigs fished real slow. Lipless baits have worked good in the past with a nice slow retrieve. Some people like flat sided cranks.

Good luck

Tight lines

Andrew

[HookdUP]

I've been fishing winter Ponds and Id really say much of the same ... I've caught fish from dec to today on deep cranks mostly .. But my son throws them on his sahara 3000 he just got for Christmas on Med heavy rod and does fine .. Also jigs have done well for me and shakey heads ... I have only caught one winter fish on a jerkbaits .. Deep and slow in the right colors will do it for U .. Stay warm and stay out there