How to find fish in a pond

[trick worms]

How can I find fish in a pond with no fish finder or anything like that. I normally just fish the bank and all visible cover but if that doesn't work I don't know what to do next. Thanks

[trick worms]

How can I find fish in a pond with no fish finder or anything like that. I normally just fish the bank and all visible cover but if that doesn't work I don't know what to do next. Thanks

[fishballer06]

Not sure how big this pond is, but find something for the fish to relate to. Weeds, wood, rocks, steep banks, a creek that flows into it, etc. 

[trick worms]

6 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Not sure how big this pond is, but find something for the fish to relate to. Weeds, wood, rocks, steep banks, a creek that flows into it, etc. 

I fished the weeds with 1 bite, no wood, rocks, or creek.

[fishballer06]

I'm sure there's some sort of variation in the bottom content somewhere. Put a heavy sinker on a drag the bottom sometime. You'll get a feel for where there's grass, mud, and rocks. 

Again, how big is this pond? Does it have a dam or retention wall to it? Or even an outflow? 

[trick worms]

16 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

I'm sure there's some sort of variation in the bottom content somewhere. Put a heavy sinker on a drag the bottom sometime. You'll get a feel for where there's grass, mud, and rocks. 

Again, how big is this pond? Does it have a dam or retention wall to it? Or even an outflow? 

It's about 15 acres. No dam or retention wall, it has a pipe going out of it. I've been doing fine there, I just want to know how to fish stuff other than the shoreline

[Onvacation]

I agree with fishballer06, you've got to find something that the fish are relating to and that doesn't always mean the heaviest cover you can find.  

I fished a local 4 acre pond yesterday and there were about four other people there during the two hours I was there. All were fishing either visible downed trees, lily pads, or just casting and praying.

 I put on a NED rig (I was the only one using one) and started hitting the transitions from grass to open water and rock to mud. I caught nine and a big bluegill and lost two at the bank, one over four pounds that literally slipped out of my hand. 

There were two keys. One, using light gear allowed me to find the transition points because I could feel them and obviously grass on the hook is a sure sign.  Second, until I found the right retrieve, I wasn't having luck. When I did, I caught a fish every four or five casts. You have to be willing to experiment.

Finally, you mentioned one "bite". Out of the fish I caught, only one would have hit hard enough to feel it.  The rest were all hooked by watching for line movement.  Very, very subtle line movement.  Make sure you aren't waiting for a hit and missing fish because of it.  I've caught some lazy fish this year.

Good luck. 

[BaitMonkey1984]

Try grubs, spinner baits, TRD, and senkos. IF that doesn't work try live bait (shiners and crawlers). If that doesn't work, theres not fish try another pond. 

[trick worms]

1 hour ago, BaitMonkey1984 said:

Try grubs, spinner baits, TRD, and senkos. IF that doesn't work try live bait (shiners and crawlers). If that doesn't work, theres not fish try another pond. 

I've caught fish in it before. I get stuck when I fish the shoreline and catch no fish, then I don't know what to do as far as points and stuff like that underwater

[trick worms]

1 hour ago, Onvacation said:

I agree with fishballer06, you've got to find something that the fish are relating to and that doesn't always mean the heaviest cover you can find.  

I fished a local 4 acre pond yesterday and there were about four other people there during the two hours I was there. All were fishing either visible downed trees, lily pads, or just casting and praying.

 I put on a NED rig (I was the only one using one) and started hitting the transitions from grass to open water and rock to mud. I caught nine and a big bluegill and lost two at the bank, one over four pounds that literally slipped out of my hand. 

There were two keys. One, using light gear allowed me to find the transition points because I could feel them and obviously grass on the hook is a sure sign.  Second, until I found the right retrieve, I wasn't having luck. When I did, I caught a fish every four or five casts. You have to be willing to experiment.

Finally, you mentioned one "bite". Out of the fish I caught, only one would have hit hard enough to feel it.  The rest were all hooked by watching for line movement.  Very, very subtle line movement.  Make sure you aren't waiting for a hit and missing fish because of it.  I've caught some lazy fish this year.

Good luck. 

Thanks for the tips, I always watch my line, I caught 8 the other day at that pond and all of them were caught by line-watching, that was one time where I actually felt it because the bass hit it so hard

["hamma"]

try using a deep diving crankbait in the open water areas, This will allow you to feel out the bottoms structures, and cover. After a few outings you will know whats down there, and where you should be concentrating your time on. You will no longer be wondering, you will know.,..If the water is too deep for the crankbait use a  heavy bottom bouncing lure.

 This is what I used to do in the canoe I had access to in my teen years. It had no fishfinder, but, I knew the ponds depths and content.

[Yudo1]

What baits are you using?

[trick worms]

2 minutes ago, Yudo1 said:

What baits are you using?

T-rigged 10 inch worm, senko

[buzzed bait]

the pipe you mentioned is a good target too....  fish will often congregate around the drain pipe.