New Year, New Approach

[toddwchandler]

I am fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood with access to about a 50 acre lake/pond that sits just beyond my property line.   I can take a short walk and be fishing in minutes.  I will often walk down there after work and fish for a little while and sometimes go for several hours on the weekends.

 

I have lived in this house for 17 years, but only really started fishing regularly within the last 3-4 years.   I have one of the Pelican Bass Raider boats that I can take out on the water with a trolling motor.   I have no electronics on the boat at this time.

 

There will be days when I go down there to fish and don't get a single bite.   Other days, I'll have some luck and catch a few.   I think what is bothering me is that when I do catch some, I have no idea why.   It seems to just be dumb luck.   It is not like I had a particularly great strategy going in.

 

This year, I would really like to eliminate the days of going down there and getting skunked as much as possible.   I'd like to be very intentional with my approach and have a plan.  While I enjoy just being outside, we all know it is more fun when you are catching fish.  I realize that there will be those days when nothing seems to work.

 

Given that I don't have any electronics to help me determine the contours of the bottom of the lake, the depth of the lake, or where the fish are, could you all offer any advice to me regarding how to devise a solid strategy and put more fish on the hook?

 

What are some strategies that would help me best learn the lake, find the fish, and know what lures are most appropriate to use at a given time?  If it were you and you walked down there after work on an early spring day, how would you approach it?

 

I do plenty of reading and watching videos on this great website, but sometimes it seems to be information overload.   Thanks in advance guys!

[jr231]

Spend a whole day fishing a jig and make mental notes of depths and areas where cover is located.. . 

 

Deeper areas located close to shallow ones will more often than not hold fish.. 

 

No matter how small a pond is there is ALWAYS a "prime " cover location. It could be as simple as a dip in the bottom or a single log... In your case the cover will be much nicer. Such as a hole with a Sunken tree next to a small island or peninsula. 

 

Senkos , fat ika , and  a dropshot rig are sure ways to find some bass . 

[A-Jay]

55 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Spend a whole day fishing a jig and make mental notes of depths and areas where cover is located.. . 

 

Deeper areas located close to shallow ones will more often than not hold fish.. 

 

No matter how small a pond is there is ALWAYS a "prime " cover location. It could be as simple as a dip in the bottom or a single log... In your case the cover will be much nicer. Such as a hole with a Sunken tree next to a small island or peninsula. 

 

Senkos , fat ika , and  a dropshot rig are sure ways to find some bass . 

Solid plan right here.

If you're worried about sensory overload - it doesn't get much simpler than this.

The simplicity & over all Effectiveness of this approach can not be over stated.

A-Jay 

[flyingmonkie]

So you want to find a way to avoid the skunk... did I hear that right?

 

You're in good company.

 

I would argue that the abundance of information you mention is due to the fact that the answer to your simple question is not so simple.  There are so many variables in the what-will-catch-me-a-fish-today equation, that many of us devote an ABSURD amount of time/energy/thought into cracking the code.  That being said, you have a wonderful opportunity here: a consistent body of familiar water at your fingertips.

 

I don't think there is a right answer to this question, but I would definitely start keeping a log if you're not already.  At the very least, if you can keep track of what worked, where it worked, and what the conditions were, then over time you'll develop a "playbook" of sorts.  Not going to be much help this year, but if you're there another 17 years, I promise that some simple data analysis will improve your catch rate.

["hamma"]

This year?,..id concentrate on fishing this pond, learning its depths, structure, and cover. flip some shoreline rocks/ logs over, and see if you can find out what color the crayfish are, figure out what kind of fish are there for the bass to prey on,..like fish a ultra light rod and tiny beetle spin and catch a few, maybe theres bluegill, perch, white bass, etc. 

 Gather your info this year and by the end of summer you should have a much better grasp of what works there and what doesnt.

 Then you can start catching bass and keeping track of what conditions, and areas produce for you. Using the ideas above, and whatever you feel pertinent, should all add up to much easier decisions as to what days and lures will repel the skunk

 

 At least thats how Id approach it.

[lonnie g]

theses  guys have given you great info, some times your eyes and ears are your best weapon. do you here bass hitting, if so where? what do you see around the bank in the the way of structure or food. frogs, blue gill, crayfish, small hatchlings, etc...? the old saying match the hatch. you are doing the right thing, reading asking questions and trying to learn. its called dedication, sounds like you have it. we all get skunked some days. that's ok. you are still learning, and hey guess what you got to fish. that beats work any day. hang in there best of luck to you this year, don't forget to show us that big lady I'm sure you will get.