Triggering Strikes By Lethargic Pond Bass

[dakota1126]

A close friend of mine has a private pond full of bass (not sure whether large mouth or small mouth, he just recently had it stocked but I haven't caught any or asked him what he stocked it with. I'm 90% he told me once he stocked it with small mouth. I know, small mouth in a pond sounds a bit odd to me too but that's all the info I got.) He says the best thing he is able to use is simply Texas rigging a rubber worm and steadily reeling it through the water. It is still 50-60 degrees in my area and has yet to have a good hot spell. We're ready to catch some fish though. I have tried the Texas rigged worm, top-water frogs, salamanders soft plastics, spinner baits. They will approach and follow the top-water frogs and will almost hit it, but the slowly wander away. I am just wondering if you guys can help me out on directing me toward a bait that may trigger them to strike this time of year. Thank you to everyone and tight lines!

[gunsndrums1]

Try to worm dunk for a day with a bobber to see where they seem to hang out and how big they are. Or use live minnows if your can

[Penguino]

A close friend of mine has a private pond full of bass (not sure whether large mouth or small mouth, he just recently had it stocked but I haven't caught any or asked him what he stocked it with. I'm 90% he told me once he stocked it with small mouth. I know, small mouth in a pond sounds a bit odd to me too but that's all the info I got.) He says the best thing he is able to use is simply Texas rigging a rubber worm and steadily reeling it through the water. It is still 50-60 degrees in my area and has yet to have a good hot spell. We're ready to catch some fish though. I have tried the Texas rigged worm, top-water frogs, salamanders soft plastics, spinner baits. They will approach and follow the top-water frogs and will almost hit it, but the slowly wander away. I am just wondering if you guys can help me out on directing me toward a bait that may trigger them to strike this time of year. Thank you to everyone and tight lines!

I have a pond that has almost the same conditions except that it is stocked with largemouth. Pretty much, the only way to catch fish is to use a t rig weightless worm. It is too weedy for crankbaits and for some reason, even jig heads get weeded up. I live in jersey, so the water is pretty cold as of now. I would estimate 40 degrees or so. I have been using flukes with great success. You just have to use a EWG hook, and slowly drag, swim, or hop the fluke. I promise you, when the t rig worms don't work, the flukes should. 

[dakota1126]

I have a pond that has almost the same conditions except that it is stocked with largemouth. Pretty much, the only way to catch fish is to use a t rig weightless worm. It is too weedy for crankbaits and for some reason, even jig heads get weeded up. I live in jersey, so the water is pretty cold as of now. I would estimate 40 degrees or so. I have been using flukes with great success. You just have to use a EWG hook, and slowly drag, swim, or hop the fluke. I promise you, when the t rig worms don't work, the flukes should. 

Any certain size and color fluke that excels? I'm sure I'll have to try some different colors but I'd like to get a good starting point so I don't have to go out and buy a bunch of different colors at once.

[ABW]

Any certain size and color fluke that excels? I'm sure I'll have to try some different colors but I'd like to get a good starting point so I don't have to go out and buy a bunch of different colors at once.

 

Super fluke in white pearl

[Penguino]

Any certain size and color fluke that excels? I'm sure I'll have to try some different colors but I'd like to get a good starting point so I don't have to go out and buy a bunch of different colors at once.

4-5inch flukes, in pearl white like ABW mentioned. Are you sure that this pond is full of smallmouth bass? Because in a weedy, shallow pond, it is essentially nearly impossible for smallmouth bass to survive. (unless he restocks them everywhere). Also, once the water starts getting warmer, bring out the topwaters. I love topwaters in ponds because they usually never get weeded up. Good options would be charteuse buzzbaits and dark green frogs. Good luck and show us some of the pictures of the fish you have caught in there.

[dakota1126]

4-5inch flukes, in pearl white like ABW mentioned. Are you sure that this pond is full of smallmouth bass? Because in a weedy, shallow pond, it is essentially nearly impossible for smallmouth bass to survive. (unless he restocks them everywhere). Also, once the water starts getting warmer, bring out the topwaters. I love topwaters in ponds because they usually never get weeded up. Good options would be charteuse buzzbaits and dark green frogs. Good luck and show us some of the pictures of the fish you have caught in there.

Confirmed today that it is actually large mouth in the pond. It was someone else I was talking to about small mouth and got mixed up info. Should I use split-tail flukes or swim-tail flukes? And also how should I rig it?

[Penguino]

Confirmed today that it is actually large mouth in the pond. It was someone else I was talking to about small mouth and got mixed up info. Should I use split-tail flukes or swim-tail flukes? And also how should I rig it?

I personally have no preference on the tail style. It is all up to you. But for riggin flukes, you should use a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook with or without weights. I like weights because it makes sure that the fluke always stays upright.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

When I read your title, my first thought was Fluke.  I have had great luck with Super Flukes of all colors.  In fact last week when the bite was really tough for me, I caught LMB, hybrids and Crappie on a baitfish colored Super Fluke.  

 

The three colors I tend toward: White Ice, Baitfish, and Watermelon all seem to work equally well.  

[jaymeister99]

Slow, really, really slow.

 

I used to live in an apartment complex with a few small ponds loaded with Largemouth.

 

Had the same issue you got. Tried everything, a few fish would swim over but never bite. Then I happened to try the trusty old Rapala minnow. Still nothing. Until I cast it out and let it sit. I twitched it, and bam!  From then on threw in a Rapala minnow or Rapala Husky Jerk. But the key is to barely move it, I mean literally an inch or two each twitch. I'd have days I'd catch a fish on every cast!

[Penguino]

Slow, really, really slow.

 

I used to live in an apartment complex with a few small ponds loaded with Largemouth.

 

Had the same issue you got. Tried everything, a few fish would swim over but never bite. Then I happened to try the trusty old Rapala minnow. Still nothing. Until I cast it out and let it sit. I twitched it, and bam!  From then on threw in a Rapala minnow or Rapala Husky Jerk. But the key is to barely move it, I mean literally an inch or two each twitch. I'd have days I'd catch a fish on every cast!

Lol I have tried that. The problem is, is that in most ponds, the weed growth is extraordinary. Any type of treble hooked lure will immediately get caught in the weeds.

[jaymeister99]

Lol I have tried that. The problem is, is that in most ponds, the weed growth is extraordinary. Any type of treble hooked lure will immediately get caught in the weeds.

 

That makes it tough, especially in the cold water. I don't seem to get much hits off rubber in the cold. I have used a plastic "weedless" frog tossed around the thick stuff.

 

Luckily for me most of the ponds around here don't get thick weeds until late in the summer. But unfortunately due to invasive species some of the ponds get so thick you can't fish on em.

[Penguino]

That makes it tough, especially in the cold water. I don't seem to get much hits off rubber in the cold. I have used a plastic "weedless" frog tossed around the thick stuff.

 

Luckily for me most of the ponds around here don't get thick weeds until late in the summer. But unfortunately due to invasive species some of the ponds get so thick you can't fish on em.

The OP should also try to use buzzbaits a lot. I have used them with great success during the summer and the spawn.

[scaleface]

When I run into situations where the bass study the lure,  they usually dont hit it . My first plan is to then not give them time to study and use a fast moving lure. A large grub  rigged Texas style and fished like a buzzbait  is something that has worked for me a few times .

[doyle8218]

I fish ponds most of the time. Keitech Swing Impact FAT Bluegill Flash will catch bass anywhere, Even in a toilet bowl!!!!