Fall Ponds

[kissmybass27]

Hi Guys,

               Trying to catch something in a local pond. Obviously it is fall and about 50s for the high here in the northeast. Water temp is more than likely below 50. Any tips on landing some of these bass? I’ve been to this local pond 4 times in the last two weeks spending about 1-2 hours and only happen to land one LM. I see some of the smaller ones coming in shallow when the sun is out…but even those will not hit at this point.

 

 I’ve used my go to wacky rig, 3” chain tube, and a few crank baits. On a 6’9” medium action, with 10 pound mono.

 

Any tips on how to catch something here? Let’s here you fall pond go tos.

 

Thanks in advance!

[jr231]

Timing is the most key. I'd get out there not really bright and early, but as soon as it starts to warm up they will be closer to the shallows soaking up that sun and chasing prey. I'd say the mornings would be easier for you to locate the fish than it would be at night. 

The bass can become conditioned to your lures. So I would try and use something that you haven't much this summer. Whether that's a jerkbait/spinnerbaits/fluke/ I suggest a soft bodied paddle tail swimbait if you haven't tried yet.

If you were to bring me to this pond. I would try these baits. 

Senko 5" + 4"- wacky and t rigged weightless 

Double tail hula grub- weightless

Jig with a rage chunk. Green pumpkin and brown. (this one if I could only choose one)

Rapala x-rap 07- probably olive/white and then a black/orange 

Keitech fat impact on a keel weight hook (or tx weightless with nail weights inserted ) 

Fat ika rigged skirt up...

Pop-r 

And at night a jitterbug. 

Most colors and retrieve techniques would depend on conditions.. 

I use all these on a spinning set up. With braid. 

I will use a floro leader sometimes for the senko, ika and hula grub . 

 

[Montanaro]

Im assuming youre shore fishing.

 

Just slow down.  Drag a tube...drop shot.  Look for brush piles and work them over good.  Bass are still aggressive and need to feed up but now baits with pauses like flukes and jigs will draw strikes.

[salmotrutta]

KMB you don't happen to be from New Hampshire?.I have great success fishing a Rat-L-Trap off the bottom.Cast it out let it fall to the bottomThen i rip it off bottom and let it fall back down.Repeat this all the way back to the boat.Two weekends ago i caught 18 largemouth in 5 to 8 feet of water near a drop off doing this.Too bad they were all dinks.Last Sunday different pond water temp was 46.6 deg.Fish were in 10 to 14 FOW.Stroking the Rat L Trap once again i caught bass.Not as many but i did manage a few quality fish.Slow rolling a Keitech Swing Impact also produces.Tubes are also good.Here's a pic from last Sunday.Caught by stroking a Rat L Trap.

[Sam]

Kiss, I fished my double secret pond in central Virginia on Wednesday afternoon for about an hour and caught 9 small ones. The largest was about a pound.

What was surprising was the bass' color. In lieu of it being bright green, all of the bass were turning grey/white, and losing their green color.

This happens when the bass go deep in colder water and they lose their bright green coloring.

I did not take the pond's water temperature nor did I know if the pond may have had its turnover. But it was strange to have the bass a lighter color this early in the winter.

So what did I catch them on? Two on a shaky head; two on a spinnerbait and five on a drop shot.

No hits on any other baits.

Go figure.

[BrackishBassin]

26 minutes ago, Sam said:

Kiss, I fished my double secret pond in central Virginia on Wednesday afternoon for about an hour and caught 9 small ones. The largest was about a pound.

What was surprising was the bass' color. In lieu of it being bright green, all of the bass were turning grey/white, and losing their green color.

This happens when the bass go deep in colder water and they lose their bright green coloring.

I did not take the pond's water temperature nor did I know if the pond may have had its turnover. But it was strange to have the bass a lighter color this early in the winter.

So what did I catch them on? Two on a shaky head; two on a spinnerbait and five on a drop shot.

No hits on any other baits.

Go figure.

Were you drop shotting from shore? I feel like every time I try that, the bait is just laying on the bottom like a weightless senko would be due to the angle. 

["hamma"]

Drop the crankbait for a longer profiled jerkbait, maybe a deep diving model. Depending on the depth and area that your targeting,... that is. This time of year a small black jig and trailer may entice a few hits, as well as bladebait like a silver buddy or sonar. Plastics???? I'd fish on a jighead, but thats a limited amount at best, for me anyways.

 Not knowing whether your fishing from shore or boat, what type of waters your fishing, and what time of day your there, leaves a world of "wondering" for us to answer. Are you fishing a northern shore? Is this pond sheltered or does it receive some wind? Are you fishing in the afternoon, or morning? What kind of cover is present? Is it a pressured pond, or more secluded?

 These are all things to consider, as well as weather conditions, type of forage in the pond, and your abilities. New England weather patterns alone can drive any bass angler to the looney bin in late Fall. I've known some of the best tourney anglers in this area, and even they struggle when it gets this late in the year. Many give up bass fishing altogether, either targeting trout, as it provides more action now, or hanging up the hat and winterizing the boat til next year. So, don't be discouraged. It's not really you per se,...

[Sam]

3 hours ago, BrackishBassin said:

Were you drop shotting from shore? I feel like every time I try that, the bait is just laying on the bottom like a weightless senko would be due to the angle. 

Yes. Do it all the time.

Although the angle is not 180* straight down, the bait will hover off the bottom and above or near the top of any grass.

I cast the bait as far as I can and then walk it back, stopping when I hit a rock or some grass and let it just sit there for about 15 to 20 seconds before I move it again.

The bait will move with the current or you can move it by twitching your hand a little.

Give it a try.

[TheRodFather]

The only thing that's been working for me in ponds is a paddle tail Z-man Diezel minnow, retrieved sloooooow.

[kissmybass27]

Thanks Everyone! Really appreciate the help/tips. I don't do much pond fishing since I have a boat... but this pond (2 actually) happen to be right around the corner from work so I have a chance to jump out and check it out. 

For those asking I am fishing from the shore on these ponds out here in Northeastern PA. Temps are dropping pretty quick now. I will give some of these tips a try next week as I am headed to the Delaware River tomorrow on my boat. 

 

Thanks again everyone! I will let you guys know how I make out. 

17 hours ago, salmotrutta said:

KMB you don't happen to be from New Hampshire?.I have great success fishing a Rat-L-Trap off the bottom.Cast it out let it fall to the bottomThen i rip it off bottom and let it fall back down.Repeat this all the way back to the boat.Two weekends ago i caught 18 largemouth in 5 to 8 feet of water near a drop off doing this.Too bad they were all dinks.Last Sunday different pond water temp was 46.6 deg.Fish were in 10 to 14 FOW.Stroking the Rat L Trap once again i caught bass.Not as many but i did manage a few quality fish.Slow rolling a Keitech Swing Impact also produces.Tubes are also good.Here's a pic from last Sunday.Caught by stroking a Rat L Trap.

Close!!! I'm in Northeastern PA... between NYC and Philly. 

 

 

[BrackishBassin]

5 hours ago, Sam said:

Yes. Do it all the time.

Although the angle is not 180* straight down, the bait will hover off the bottom and above or near the top of any grass.

I cast the bait as far as I can and then walk it back, stopping when I hit a rock or some grass and let it just sit there for about 15 to 20 seconds before I move it again.

The bait will move with the current or you can move it by twitching your hand a little.

Give it a try.

Will do! Have to be a long length between the weight and the hook for me. The grass is crazy deep in the pond I fish. That's why I usually fish weightless plastics. They tend to float over the top of it pretty well.