Big splashes

[trick worms]

In this pond I fish I'll see some really big splashes. Are they bass or something else? Thanks!

[geo g]

They could be gar, mudfish, catch fish, or bass.  They all make big top water splashes or swirls.  If you see a lot of splashes in a given area, then its probably not bass but rather fish that gulp air, because the water quality is poor.   Mudfish, gar, and Asian catfish, will do this all the time when O2 levels are low.  Bass will either move off to better waters or go lethargic.  If its a small southern pond this happens very often.

[JRammit]

Most likely carp... But no reason it couldn't be bass, its not like they only eat lures off the surface

Its hard not to cast at the splashes... 9 times out of 10 my lure comes back empty.... But every now and then, it pays off

[Yudo1]

It could be carp. This time of the year, carp are spawning and they make quite a ruckus.  

[Tracker22]

7 minutes ago, Yudo1 said:

It could be carp. This time of the year, carp are spawning and they make quite a ruckus.  

Last week I saw a carp climb three feet up a laydown. Made a heck of a racket. 

[Dye99]

In my local lakes, the large splashes are carp...But like posted above, Ive thrown a topwater bait and its paid off...

[MassYak85]

If it's really shallow it's probably carp. But I've also been fooled by beavers that thought I was too close. Turned around to see a massive splash multiple times until I saw the beaver just sitting there on the surface and he slapped his tail. 

[trick worms]

I don't think it's carp since it's a pond in the south. I'm thinking mud fish and catfish, and maybe bass

[Senko lover]

Almost guarantee you they're carp, I live in nc and every pond I fish has big huge grass carp in it. 

[MassYak85]

39 minutes ago, trick worms said:

I don't think it's carp since it's a pond in the south. I'm thinking mud fish and catfish, and maybe bass

It could be bass but the bass are going to be chasing something if they are making splashes. The carp on the other hand will splash like hell while spawning or if they get themselves stuck too shallow. 

[scaleface]

If they are flopping , its not bass .

[Burtonxj]

Just cast where they splash 

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, trick worms said:

I don't think it's carp since it's a pond in the south. I'm thinking mud fish and catfish, and maybe bass

Are there not carp in ponds in the south? They're in about every body of water around here and every body of water I've ever fished in. 

[trick worms]

Would I have seen carp before if there were carp in it?

[Hurricane]

10 hours ago, Senko lover said:

Almost guarantee you they're carp, I live in nc and every pond I fish has big huge grass carp in it. 

Same here...

[trick worms]

If it's carp would that explain why there is no vegetation in the pond? 

[parkerg31]

I live in Alabama and we have grass carp, big ones at that in almost every lake river and pond. And last weekend I was fishing on the local river and couldn't figure out what the hundreds of surface busts were. Finally saw one and it was a 3ft gar. 

[Ratherbfishing]

My money is on Carp.

[Neil McCauley]

Carp. They do this when spawning, for whatever reason. Also stir up mud and vegetation, ruining other species spawning areas and the water clarity. 

[N Florida Mike]

Carp.

[Choporoz]

I'd bet carp, also.  But, I'll sheepishly admit that I spent a half hour one night working a small cove chasing a big splash....before the danged beaver came back an slapped the water a few yards behind me.....bout scared the carp out of me

[JRammit]

10 hours ago, trick worms said:

If it's carp would that explain why there is no vegetation in the pond? 

Pond owners stock grass carp to keep weeds from over running their ponds.... So yes

I live in Texas, doesnt get much more south than that... And we have carp everywhere 

[BassDude802]

Carp apparently get vegetation stuck in their gills from time to time from sucking muck off the bottom and they will dislodge by jumping. It's not uncommon to see 30-40# carp here in southern VT breach like they are humpback whales to do this!