How Would You Fish This

[Chance_Taker4]

In the paintint I layed out a rough map of a pond I fish in the summer. During the spawn I catch consistant 4-7# bass however once the spawn in over the rest of the year those big bass do not bite. A 2# is a big fish in the summer and fall. As You can see the pond is man made and shaped as a horseshoe. the main "arms" are roughly 150 yds the width is roughly 10 yds. The right side of the pond was dug into a "V" shape with the the deepest channel at 11' but average water depth is 6' the left side is shallower and built in a "U" shape. The deepest part 8' and the average water depth is 4'. The middle of the of the water is a row of vegitation the runs down the center of the pond all the way around. The vegitation comes about 2' from the surface. There are isolated docks built all over the pond. One of the corners in the backof the canal gets overgrown with alge. Water clearity is about 3'. I have tried cranks, jigs, flip, shaky, jerkbiat, spinnerbait. These are TONS of bluegill and small frogs in the pond as well. I cant get those big ones to hit other than the spawn. How would you try to locate these fish and were and what would you start?

[Chance_Taker4]

Here is the pic

[wisconsin heat]

In a pond this small, I would start looking at deep water first. Throwing a bigger bait couldn't hurt either.

[Chance_Taker4]

when you say deep do you mean with a reaction bait or plastics? I never really tried plastics deep.

In a pond this small, I would start looking at deep water first. Throwing a bigger bait couldn't hurt either.

 

[wisconsin heat]

when you say deep do you mean with a reaction bait or plastics? I never really tried plastics deep.

I am no expert in catching big bass, you seem to have caught plenty yourself! I would throw similar lures you used to catch them during the spawn. If you had used plastics, but shallow, try using a heavier weight on your texas rig, you said the deepest was about 11' so I think you could use a bullet weight up to 1/4-3/8 oz, I don't think you need to go heavier than that. Jigs are also great lures to fish deeper waters, 1/2 oz may be better here because a jig's skirt will slow down the fall, 1/2 oz will keep you at that depth easier than say a 3/8 oz jig. The past two years I have found that bass like 10 inch worms after the spawn, you could try some of them, but throw what works for you!

 

If the vegetation is too thick to cast a worm or jig through it, then I would get close and make short flips or pitches, working the lure vertically. 

[BacklashBassin']

A good way to get those bass to bite is make them angry, and get the bait close to them. Something real flashy, loud, or annoying would work. I would try using a large buzzbait, or a heavy chatterbait. A umbrella rig may work well too. I would also focus on working the whole pond, walking down the shore a few feet after every few cast. Those monsters could be hiding down deep, so I would use heavier baits.

[rippin-lips]

Bass come up shallow in the spring to fatten up for the spawn. They also do the same in the fall to prepare for the winter. After the spawn they back off to deep water to recover. In the summer they go deeper also. Since this pond has a max depth of 11' that's where I'd start. Fish where the water transitions from shallower to deeper is. Bigger bass like to be able to escape easily to deeper water. The docks and pads would be a place to start in the hot months too.

[Chance_Taker4]

A good way to get those bass to bite is make them angry, and get the bait close to them. Something real flashy, loud, or annoying would work. I would try using a large buzzbait, or a heavy chatterbait. A umbrella rig may work well too. I would also focus on working the whole pond, walking down the shore a few feet after every few cast. Those monsters could be hiding down deep, so I would use heavier baits.

 

I was wondering about a chatterbait. I never threw one but I keep hearing great things about them. I had some success swimming a jig down deep so possibly a spinnerbait and chatterbait deep would work.

[Big C]

Since it's shaped like a horseshoe, I'd fish it with Colts hoodie on.

[MidwestBassin]

Well, as Wisconsin Heat said, I am no expert on catching big fish. You seem to not have that problem. It seems that you have no trouble catching those fish when they are shallow during the spawn, so my first thought is the big girls moved deep. In a pond of that size, whether it is cold or hot, the bass are more sensitive to changing (and extreme) conditions. If you have a few hours, I would start by walking the bank and casting a smaller rattle trap at a 45 degree angle. Every few steps, make another cast. By doing that you have covered the shallow stuff with a loud bait that will tick those fish off. Next I would target that deep grass line with a wacky rigged senko. I like a green pumpkin with the pointed end dipped in Neon spike it (only about 3/4 of an inch). Rigged on a small octopus hook, that bait will shimmy down to the edge of the grass and stay in the strike zone as long as possible. I hope you figure em out. This is just my opinion, and I could be wrong... Completely wrong. But that's part of this whole game. Good luck, bud.

[Chance_Taker4]

Thanks guys normally catching 2#er wouldnt bother me but they people that own the pond is having a 5 person friendly comp on it in July and as I am "winterizing" my gear I couldnt get the pond out of my head. I wrote down all the suggestions and will try them in the prespawn in the spring.

[gulfcaptain]

Did you ever try punching a weight into that vegetation during the summer months?  If not maybe drop a 3/4oz tungsten weight/skirt and a 3-4" creature/craw bait down in that heavier grass.  I fish a few ponds with heavy grass (well until they decide to remove it or spray it) and when it's hot, sunny and not much happening any other way, I drop a 3/4-1oz weight, a punch skirt, and a structure bug into the thickest grass. Lift and jig a few times, reel in and drop into another spot.  The bites either come on the fall, or when you lift and go to jig it and it's heavier then normal.  Read up on punching and give it a try if you haven't done it before.  

[Fishes in trees]

Consistent 4 to 7 lb bass can mean many things.   Consistent to what?  Consistently once per season?  Once per hour? Per trip?  What?  My thinking is anyone who consistently catches 4 to 7 lb bass in Ohio has a scale that is weighing heavy.  Or they are "just guessing"  Whatever.

[Chance_Taker4]

Consistent 4 to 7 lb bass can mean many things. Consistent to what? Consistently once per season? Once per hour? Per trip? What? My thinking is anyone who consistently catches 4 to 7 lb bass in Ohio has a scale that is weighing heavy. Or they are "just guessing" Whatever.

I can catch about 7-10 a day over 3.5#. Last summer I set the pond record at 7# 2oz. That's how I got invited to fish the event. Same pond produced a pond record 21# cat. From what I heard they used to get in a boat and hand feed fish twice a day but haven't in a handful of years.

I will try to punch I haven't tried that.

[BacklashBassin']

Consistent 4 to 7 lb bass can mean many things.   Consistent to what?  Consistently once per season?  Once per hour? Per trip?  What?  My thinking is anyone who consistently catches 4 to 7 lb bass in Ohio has a scale that is weighing heavy.  Or they are "just guessing"  Whatever.

Im from Ohio and your true haha. I have never consistently caught 4 to 7 pound bass.

[Dogmatic]

Drag a C-rig or heavy jig in the transitions from deep to shallow sections and find that structure or piece of cover those big bass are retreating to. They're not just going deep, they're going to a specific spot that gives them the best opportunity to feed.

[Chance_Taker4]

Im from Ohio and your true haha. I have never consistently caught 4 to 7 pound bass.

Then u haven never fished Erie or Hocking River.

[ClackerBuzz]

are you by chance a power fisherman?  ponds heat up like a bowl of soup in summer. high water temps and less oxygen means lethargic bass=finesse fishing.  Slow n low is the name of the game-slow drag a weightless soft plastic of ur choice.  

and don't forget summer time night fishing

[Chance_Taker4]

are you by chance a power fisherman? ponds heat up like a bowl of soup in summer. high water temps and less oxygen means lethargic bass=finesse fishing. Slow n low is the name of the game-slow drag a weightless soft plastic of ur choice.

and don't forget summer time night fishing

I am a power fisherman. I've been told I cast almost double the amount of times as most anglers. I enjoy the burning reaction strike. Dragging jig and worms make me bored quickly and I lose focus. I will have to prepare mentally and try finnesse fishing for larger periods of time.

[TxHawgs]

Did you ever try punching a weight into that vegetation during the summer months?  If not maybe drop a 3/4oz tungsten weight/skirt and a 3-4" creature/craw bait down in that heavier grass.  I fish a few ponds with heavy grass (well until they decide to remove it or spray it) and when it's hot, sunny and not much happening any other way, I drop a 3/4-1oz weight, a punch skirt, and a structure bug into the thickest grass. Lift and jig a few times, reel in and drop into another spot.  The bites either come on the fall, or when you lift and go to jig it and it's heavier then normal.  Read up on punching and give it a try if you haven't done it before.

This is exactly what I was going to write, you have got to give this a try. Your gonna want at least a 7' H or XH FAST Action rod and I would probably fish straight braid.

[Chance_Taker4]

For a starting point should I try to fish the deep waters next to were they spawned? I heard that don't travel far to make their bed and it seems that they all bed relatively close to eachother.

[gulfcaptain]

This is exactly what I was going to write, you have got to give this a try. Your gonna want at least a 7' H or XH FAST Action rod and I would probably fish straight braid.

I agree on the rod, just not the action.  Have an XF as well but my punching rod is a 7'11" Mod action.  Helps with absorbing shock from such a short distance as well as the zero stretch of the braid.  But to each their own.