Need tips on fishing a tough pond

[nameiztaken]

So, there is this pond close to where I live (thats pretty much the only reason I fish it), and it has been REALLY tough recently, literally, haven't seen anyone catch a bass out of it in a couple months. So, let me describe this thing and see if you guys cant help me out with some tips to catch something decent out of here...

Currently, the water is stained Reddish Brown, and visibility is about 5 feet underwater. Pond is a sand bottom in the middle, (which is about 12 feet deep), and slowly turns into rocks and gravel as it gets closer to shore. It has areas with fallen trees into the pond, areas with marsh that extends into the water which fish swim through, and areas with Pylons from a old (and gone) bridge, the wood pylons were not removed though. Bluegill are currently spawning, the pond population consists of LMB, Bluegill, and a few types of catfish. Mainly channel I believe. 

Now, as to the lures I have caught fish on before, I have caught a couple good fish on Colorado Blade Spinnerbaits, a few dinks on small poppers, and quite a few dinks off of a Rebel Wee-Frog. I have heard stories that Hula Poppers at night, and spinnerbaits in the early morning are where its at, I personally haven't seen this.

Bluegill are currently bedding, and bass entered post-spawn about a month ago. and lots of bullfrogs can be heard croaking around the pond. 

Thanks in advance!

[Ski213]

You might try some soft plastics. T rigged power worm, trick worm,   or fluke are my go to lures in a pond when they're not cooperating. 

[hawgenvy]

Weightless Senkos or Zoom Super Flukes fished slowly. Could also try a Black buzz bait at night. If these don't work the next step is electrofishing.

[nameiztaken]

Thanks for the quick replies! Unfortunately its a sunrise to sundown only pond, (not like it matters -wink-), so night fishing would be tough. I will be sure to try some of the things mentioned and will update when I do! 

[lmbfisherman]

Weightless trick worm, fluke and split shot rig.

[kcdinkerz]

All great advice above. Been having reel good luck with a square bill around here the waters have been muddy to stained by heavy rains. Loud rattles seems to help the fish key in easier, if the pond has any grass you can try ripping a crankbait, or target those gravel beds. Good luck fishing.

[Outdoor Zack]

8 hours ago, nameiztaken said:

So, there is this pond close to where I live (thats pretty much the only reason I fish it), and it has been REALLY tough recently, literally, haven't seen anyone catch a bass out of it in a couple months. So, let me describe this thing and see if you guys cant help me out with some tips to catch something decent out of here...

Currently, the water is stained Reddish Brown, and visibility is about 5 feet underwater. Pond is a sand bottom in the middle, (which is about 12 feet deep), and slowly turns into rocks and gravel as it gets closer to shore. It has areas with fallen trees into the pond, areas with marsh that extends into the water which fish swim through, and areas with Pylons from a old (and gone) bridge, the wood pylons were not removed though. Bluegill are currently spawning, the pond population consists of LMB, Bluegill, and a few types of catfish. Mainly channel I believe. 

Now, as to the lures I have caught fish on before, I have caught a couple good fish on Colorado Blade Spinnerbaits, a few dinks on small poppers, and quite a few dinks off of a Rebel Wee-Frog. I have heard stories that Hula Poppers at night, and spinnerbaits in the early morning are where its at, I personally haven't seen this.

Bluegill are currently bedding, and bass entered post-spawn about a month ago. and lots of bullfrogs can be heard croaking around the pond. 

Thanks in advance!

Your pond sounds similar to one that I fish often.  I like to toss lizards or brush hogs around the shore or along the edges of lilly pads because they kick up a lot of water and stir up the bass.  If that doesn't work, try 4" and 5" Yum Dingers (my go-to color is pumpkin w/ chart. tail) or Ned Rigs around shady spots, downed trees, and other distinct structures.  Hope this helps.   

[the reel ess]

Fish topwaters early and late in the day, especially in bathtub-warm water. Fish have to eat in the warmest months because their metabolism is high, but they can gorge early, late and through the night.

My latest go-to just to get a bite is the Yamamoto Hula Grub in black/blue flake, T-rigged, weighted, with a 3/0 EWG hook. And this has also caught some good sized fish. It's a hard-to-resist morsel for most bass if you put it right in their face.

Bass where I usually fish are hard to come by in the day in the heat and direct sunlight, and I catch more just dragging a craw-type bait along the bottom, T-rigged. Last time out I also caught some on an 8" Culprit ribbon tail worm. I like dark colors for stained water like you described and I'll put a glass bead between the weight and hook for an added clicking sound.

I didn't see whether you use a boat or not. I use a kayak when I'm not fishing from my buddy's back seat. I like to fish ALL the wood cover in a place, especially if it's near deeper water. I've fished a tree with 3 different lures before getting a bite. When they're being really fickle, the slower you fish, the better. Good Luck.

[Hurricane]

Ned Rig....

[Kbral87]

slow down your retrieve on the soft plastics, slow it wayyyyy down.

[Outdoor Zack]

1 hour ago, Kbral87 said:

slow down your retrieve on the soft plastics, slow it wayyyyy down.

Yes, excruciatingly slow may do it sometimes

[Fisher-O-men]

Here ya go, simple!

 

[the reel ess]

21 hours ago, Fisher-O-men said:

Here ya go, simple!

 

Yeah, why didn't the OP think of that? Take your woman and she can show you up. Mine always have.

[Preytorien]

On 6/6/2016 at 8:41 AM, LastCastChris said:

Ned Rig....

This would be my first weapon of choice. It'll catch fish when nothing else will

[nameiztaken]

48 minutes ago, Preytorien said:

This would be my first weapon of choice. It'll catch fish when nothing else will

I dont have any finesse shroomz right now, but I'm ordering some  

[Outdoor Zack]

4 hours ago, nameiztaken said:

I dont have any finesse shroomz right now, but I'm ordering some  

You can cut a senko in half and use a 1/0 round bend or 2/0 EWG and still catch fish in the meantime

[Hurricane]

7 hours ago, Preytorien said:

This would be my first weapon of choice. It'll catch fish when nothing else will

absolutely love it... 

[timsford]

I would try some bluegill imitating baits. My favorite is the Matt lures ultimate bluegill or u2 bluegill

[jitterbug127]

When the bite in a pond gets tough I like a wacky rigged senko

[Surfcaster]

I don't know the size of the pond you are talking about, but I grew up on land with a pond about 1.5 acres and currently have a pond around .5 acre and I can tell you ponds this size go through cycles.  I think it has to do with the food available to the bass.  We had an enormous amount of small bluegill and shiners in my current pond a long time ago.  Just drop a small hook with a piece of worm and you had a fish.  You could also catch .5 to 1lb bass at times.  Then for a year and a half the bass shut down.  Then all the shiners were gone and the small bluegill.  Then you started catching bigger panfish and then the bass started biting and they were all over 3lbs.  Now the fish have normalized in my opinion for a .5 acre pond.  I also believe you should harvest some fish every now and then.  This is just my experience with owning ponds.  A river otter got in our bigger pond one time and that thing cleaned house.  We debated shooting it but the kids enjoyed watching it play.  One day it was gone and so was the fish.

[nameiztaken]

Update: went out today and caught 3 chunks in a row at this pond! The shocker is that I caught them on a Red Craw Speed Trap crank... the last lure that I didn't try yet haha! I think I should be able to catch them there now.