New to bass fishing, need some help. Sorry for long post

[Mikfree]

I've been on a huge fishing break for years and decided to get back into fishing with bass fishing. I've been watching countless videos, reading articles & have been out every day this last week. I've been going to a pond that I know for a fact it's loaded with bass. Almost everyone I talk to says this year has been rough and not many people are getting anything. This place is pretty nasty with lots of weeds and not very clear water. What should I be looking for when casting on places with down  trees and only a few fountains? What kind of lures are recommended for thick cover? I've been running spinner baits, a couple crank baits along with using plastics on Carolina rig or Texas rig. These fish just don't seem interested in what I've been throwing or what other people have been using. The only person I've seen catch anything on is a chatter bait which I have ordered because nobody local carries them. Any tips would be great, honesty just a begginer and I'm doing all the reading and field work i can. Using a cheap bait caster (upgrading on payday)   on a Berkeley medium heavy rod with 15lb mono & 10 lb Fluro leader line. 

[HunkerDown]

weightless senkos (wacky or texas rigged) and shakey head worms are my go to for pressured ponds where nothing seems to work. Also, where are you geographically? Here in the south it's so hot, that I can't get them to bit any moving baits unless it's early in the morning or at night.

[Mikfree]

I'm in southern Oregon but around here it's been mid 90-100 daily. 

[iiTzChunky]

For me, when I go to a new place to fish the very first thing im throwing is a soft plastic worm preferable a Senko or a yum. I have yet to get skunked when using these. If the vegetation is heavy I'd definitely go Texas rig. 

[scaleface]

Fountains ?

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Around downed trees I always throw wacky rigs.
As well, are you fishing slow enough? Rule of thumb
in tough conditions when nothing is working, slow
down your presentation. And when you think you
are slow enough, slow down a little more.

As well, try downsizing. Throw a split shot rig with
a smaller worm (3-4" max) rigged TX on a small
hook in the 1/0-2 range (round bend or EWG). 
Put a split shot weight up about 8-14" inches from
the bait and hop it along, or drag it along the 
bottom. Think of it as a small C-rig.

Sometimes in retention ponds the shallow depth
makes for a tough bite. At least this is my experience.

[GORDO]

My advice for southern Oregon is to stop bass fishing, go to the coast and fish for salmon lol Im not quite sure what a fountain is but everything else sounds like a fun place to fish. My personal go-to when times get tough, 3/8 oz finess jig with a baby rage craw trailer. Also, X2 on the senkos but if there is a lot of grass I would fish it weightless and t-rigged. With both of these lures, as said above, slow. The slow fall on the jig with the little craw claws flapping drives bass crazy when nothing else will! 

Also, as for your line, just run the 15lb straight. No need for a leader is the water isnt that clear. Its just another point for your line to fail. 

[Mikfree]

4 hours ago, scaleface said:

Fountains ?

Yeah we have this little fountain things at this pond, it's actually a big park with a pond. these little like filter things that act like fountains in the middle of the pond. Kind of hard to explain. Looks like a mini fountain. (Upper right hard corner of picture) idk what you'd call them, I just heard people call them fountains. 

[timsford]

I'd try concentrating around the fountains, cover that makes shade, and any deep water. Basically anywhere the water is cooler, even if only by a few degrees. Try fishing slow with finesse stuff like ned rigs, shakyheads,  drop shot, and weightless senkos wacky rigged and Texas rigged. If it's cloudy or you see fish busting on top try topwaters, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits

[Travis Gasper]

Wacky rig and whopper plopper, I don't head out to the lake without them. Try dark colors in stained water, like black/blue flake or a red/black senko style worm. I've found when the bite gets tough, whopper plopper has produced for me. I use the 90 size and it's a bass magnet. Good luck!

[Ratherbfishing]

3 hours ago, Mikfree said:

Yeah we have this little fountain things at this pond, it's actually a big park with a pond. these little like filter things that act like fountains in the middle of the pond. Kind of hard to explain. Looks like a mini fountain. (Upper right hard corner of picture) idk what you'd call them, I just heard people call them fountains. 

Aerators

[Mikfree]

1 minute ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Aerators

ahh thanks for the clarification. 

[Ratherbfishing]

1 minute ago, Mikfree said:

ahh thanks for the clarification. 

Yer welcome.  I was going to say "ducks" just to be a smart aleck.  :  )

[jr231]

As you can see alot of the members love the senko. I do as well. If the pond is heavily pressured and everyone there has been throwing the magic senko, Odds are you're going to struggle with it. Definitely worth a try but you need some other things as well. I'd try a fluke rigged weightless and fished slow as possible. Also a twin tail hula grub (also fished slow)   . 

I'm not too sure about Oregon. I've never been west of the Mississippi. But I'd get out there early, or stay late and try some top water and a bomber model A crank bait