Not catching fish

[jsh32]

This winter has been extremely warm where I am compared to what the weather is normally like. I have been fishing a lot this winter because of it, but I have not caught a fish in months. At first I assumed it was because the fish were getting prepared for winter by moving deep and staying put for the most part. However the last few weeks have been in the high 50's to 60's most days. So I thought I would at lest get some fish. I've tried a few different spots but keep going back to my home pond where I know there are some good fish and know exactly where to catch them. But I'm not catching them, I started with my normal colored senkos/jigs/cranks/lipless and even topwater, everything I usually use-nothing. So I changed to other colors/retrieves/rigging and still nothing. I can see several large fish (by that ponds standards) swimming around or about 2-3 feet from the shore in shallow water doing absolutely nothing. If I pitch to them with a jig or senko and work it back by them they just look at it for a second and swim away. If I swim a jig or a crank past them same thing, Im pretty sure I've even hit some fish on the retrieve and still nothing. Im at a point where I just have no idea what to do. Have I fished this pond to much? Should I leave it alone this year?

 

Any help would be awesome.

Also, any suggestions on other lures to try if any?

[Airman4754]

Keitech style swimbait, drop shot, and a ned rig.

 

One of three will work. I promise.

[jsh32]

I've tried the ned rig but the bottom of my pond is very soft, and I pick up junk sometimes on it and the fish don't really seem to notice it. I just bought some lighter ones so I may have to give them a try.

[roadwarrior]

Time to learn how to fish the Ned Rig.

 

[Hawkeye21]

With it being this early you may need to slow it down even more than you're use to.  May have to leave a work lay there with a couple twitches occasionally.  I'm not having any luck here in Iowa but I've also never fished open water this early in the year before. It's tough.

[HeavyDluxe]

I haven't fished the Ned Rig yet, though I'm guessing that oughtta be on my list for this coming year, too.

 

In general, downsize and slow down for finicky fish.  I'd switch to a smaller plastic and fish it slow.  Dead-sticking senkos (as @roadwarrior suggests in his 'Guaranteed to Catch' thread) is almost a certain producer, but the patience it takes to WAIT is incredible.  

[jr231]

Ok.. I fish alot of ponds and small lakes and a few rivers. They all fish differently. One thing I've learned about ponds... Is the bass become conditioned to you !! There is one pond I fish that has a big momma in it.. last time I caught her was this past summer n she was 24" . The first time she was 23" . This has been a span of 4, going on 5 years. Every time I caught her it was on something different... The first time, a senko, the second time it was a top water popper, and the third time it was a shad rap... I've tried them all numerous times again and never caught her.. this is in a 3 acre pond. So she can't go far... And has to eat.. anybody can say what they want about a bass and their intelligence... But im convinced she's on to me... Basically what I'm saying to you is change it up.. I don't mean change the color of your worm or how fast you fish it. I'm saying change your whole approach.  Try something you haven't. Whether it's a swim jig, surface Walker, shakey head etc.. don't go back with the same old , same old and expect the same results.. because IME it doesn't work that way. 

 

Now the weather has been goofy where I'm at too... I haven't been doing so hot but truthfully haven't got more than a couple hours each time I went... My best bait this winter was a blade bait... In a 1/4 oz size... Sometimes I feel like rattles turn them off... Silent with a flash has landed me some fish recently. Maybe try a flutter spoon . 

 

Everyone talks about the keitech swing impacts... Try a keitech live impact either drop shot or on a light round ball jig head... 

[UPSmallie]

1 hour ago, Yeajray231 said:

Ok.. I fish alot of ponds and small lakes and a few rivers. They all fish differently. One thing I've learned about ponds... Is the bass become conditioned to you !! There is one pond I fish that has a big momma in it.. last time I caught her was this past summer n she was 24" . The first time she was 23" . This has been a span of 4, going on 5 years. Every time I caught her it was on something different... The first time, a senko, the second time it was a top water popper, and the third time it was a shad rap... I've tried them all numerous times again and never caught her.. this is in a 3 acre pond. So she can't go far... And has to eat.. anybody can say what they want about a bass and their intelligence... But im convinced she's on to me... Basically what I'm saying to you is change it up.. I don't mean change the color of your worm or how fast you fish it. I'm saying change your whole approach.  Try something you haven't. Whether it's a swim jig, surface Walker, shakey head etc.. don't go back with the same old , same old and expect the same results.. because IME it doesn't work that way. 

 

Now the weather has been goofy where I'm at too... I haven't been doing so hot but truthfully haven't got more than a couple hours each time I went... My best bait this winter was a blade bait... In a 1/4 oz size... Sometimes I feel like rattles turn them off... Silent with a flash has landed me some fish recently. Maybe try a flutter spoon . 

 

Everyone talks about the keitech swing impacts... Try a keitech live impact either drop shot or on a light round ball jig head... 

 

Definitely some good advice.  I've always had my best luck in pressured areas throwing baits that no one has thought of using or that the fish have never seen before.  Relatively new lures always seem to do well the first few years they are in circulation before the fish start catching on.  Good luck.

[Ski213]

Good advice above. I can't really add much to it, but I've been fishing a 3ish acre pond out on the farm the last couple afternoons with some success.  Similar deal with a mucked up bottom. I'm not a big drop shot guy but that's what I've had the most luck on. I'm fishing it more horizontal than vertical. 2' or so from the hook to the sinker.  The sinker gets fouled but the bait stays up and visible. I cast, pull the slack out, shake, wait, shake, wait, drag a little, repeat. SLOWLY. Using a fluke jr. I'm not saying it's the way but it's been working pretty well for me. Still a slow bite. The other thing that has been productive is a 2 tap red eye shad in chigger craw. Real rapid stop and go retrieve. Been able to pick up several good reaction bites that way. Just some thoughts. 

[the reel ess]

Try a crappie tube jig under a float. Bubble gum or red/white are some favs. Throw it out and let it sit a while. If no takers, slowly reel and see. If still no takers, reel-stop-reel. My buddy caught a 9 pounder in winter on a crappie jig. It'll also catch crappie and big bluegill.  

 

If still no takers, tie on a Zoom Finesse Worm in a neutral color or black, weightless. Let it sink and just barely drag it.

 

My #1 winter bait has been a lipless crank. It had been the Trap, but I just switched to a Super Spot because my buddy flat wore me out one day. They were on sale at BPS 5 for $10 and he gave me a couple in gold. Reel as slowly as possible without getting caught in the weeds if there are any on bottom.

[RoLo]

 

"Should I leave it alone this year?"

 

Absolutely not!  The greater the challenge, the greater the motivation.

I second the Ned Rig, but when you grow tired of that revolving-door of runts,

you'll have more patience with a Magnum 7" Ultra-Vibe Worm     

 

Roger

 

[Dorado]

I fish ponds a lot where I live. Mostly at night. These work day and night. I use these three baits year-round when I've tried everything and want to beat a skunk:

 

1) 2.5" Black Shad Gulp! Alive! on a drop shot. Bass LOVE this set-up and a catfish or crappie is always a nice bonus.

2) 3" white grub on a chartreuse roadrunner underspin slow rolled on the bottom or faster retrieval sub-surface.

3) Sassy Shad in black and silver on a chartreuse underspin. Same techniques as the grub.

 

Threadfin Shad is our main forage here in AZ, so I'm not sure what your pond's main food source is. I still recommend this list bc it mimics minnows in general and I believe it appeals to even neutral bass. These baits are helpless, easy, none energy exerting snacks to fish. Think about yourself, do you eat a snack in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner- even when you're not hungry ? I do! Get my drift?

 

yeah they're not cool to brag about but these classics are timeless for a reason. Spring time, try tubes too!

[the reel ess]

23 minutes ago, Dorado said:

I fish ponds a lot where I live. Mostly at night. These work day and night. I use these three baits year-round when I've tried everything and want to beat a skunk:

 

1) 2.5" Black Shad Gulp! Alive! on a drop shot. Bass LOVE this set-up and a catfish or crappie is always a nice bonus.

2) 3" white grub on a chartreuse roadrunner underspin slow rolled on the bottom or faster retrieval sub-surface.

3) Sassy Shad in black and silver on a chartreuse underspin. Same techniques as the grub.

 

Threadfin Shad is our main forage here in AZ, so I'm not sure what your pond's main food source is. I still recommend this list bc it mimics minnows in general and I believe it appeals to even neutral bass. These baits are helpless, easy, none energy exerting snacks to fish. Think about yourself, do you eat a snack in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner- even when you're not hungry ? I do! Get my drift?

 

yeah they're not cool to brag about but these classics are timeless for a reason. Spring time, try tubes too!

Of course, Jimmy Houston is sponsored by Blakemore, but he claims a Road Runnder will catch fish anywhere and 1/8 oz. is his go-to when bass ignore everything else in the box.

 

I'd like to add 1/8 oz Rooster tail. It was the best lure in the box last time out. It was bumble bee color with gold blade.

[smr913]

What size head are you using on the ned rig? The general idea is that you use a little weight as possible so it won't hang up. It just softly lands on the bottom and the buoyant  elaztech will keep the bait standing up. If you are using more than a 1/16 oz its too heavy. 

[jsh32]

I just bought some 1/15th, I think the other ones I have are a lot heavier, like 1/5 or so.

[Midwest Fisherman]

I fish our local ponds and was struggling with my normal lures then I started throwing a few different vibrax lures and everything turned around. Just a thought 

[fisherrw]

Micro dropshot or small spinner

[jsh32]

I tried some of the suggestions this weekend and guess what, I actually got some fish to give chase and even had one nibble a little bit, but was a little late on the hook set (I think I forgot what to do). My one bite came on the dropshot with a small white fluke type soft plastic. I only used the ned rig for a little bit of time but I was on a much larger pond and Im not sure where the fish actually were. Had a cold front come in (air temp went from high 50s-mid 60s to high 30s-mid 40s and heavy wind) so I tried going back into some of the little coves to get away from the wind but didn't have much cover I could reach from my spots on the shore.

 

Thanks for the advice though.