Can You Guys Clear This Up For Me?

[RMcDuffee726]

***Disclaimer,  I live in NH...Fishing here is slightly different than most warm fishing locations lol.

 

I fish a few ponds that are not too deep.  The average depth of all of these ponds is around 8'.  I wouldn't call the bottoms of these ponds unique either.  Primarily the bottoms compositions are soft and muddy with large amounts of leaves mixed in.  There is no unique structure in these bodies of water, besides when vegetation (lily pads, milfoil, etc.) grows in.  When I fish these ponds pre-vegetation growth I cannot see largemouth and usually cannot catch them either. When the pond is in its "summer-state" the fishing is much easier.   What are these fishing doing when this pond is "empty" (pre-vegetation growth).  Are the bass sitting on the bottom or maybe roaming around?  I have no idea.  Please help.

[Bluebasser86]

Probably roaming around mainly. Bass tend to wander aimlessly when they have nothing to hide by.

[Catt]

When we have a lack of well defined structure subtle changes in the bottom become prime structure.

 

When ponds are dug they are done with track how's or bulldozers, neither leave smooth surfaces. Six to twelve inch changes is more the adequate to hold fish. 

 

"besides when vegetation (lily pads, milfoil, etc.) grows in.", this describes changes in bottom composition; also know as structure.

 

Probably ain't gonna help ya now but may clarify your understanding of " structure ".

[NYWayfarer]

Is there anything hanging over the pond? Tree limbs, bushes, etc?

 

I fish a similar pond and have found Bass congregate around a bush that is growing out half into the water. They also gather near the shade of a overhanging tree limb. They are there even at this time of year when the tree is bare of leaves. The shade alone seems to attact them.

[RMcDuffee726]

1 hour ago, Finesse Wayfarer said:

Is there anything hanging over the pond? Tree limbs, bushes, etc?

 

I fish a similar pond and have found Bass congregate around a bush that is growing out half into the water. They also gather near the shade of a overhanging tree limb. They are there even at this time of year when the tree is bare of leaves. The shade alone seems to attact them.

There is some downed trees in the water, but the bass were not located there yesterday.  No doubt in the summer they will be there.

[N Florida Mike]

• I would fish the deepest hole in the hottest part of the day for starters .

• Fish Anything that amounts to structure

• Fish all drain outlets thoroughly.

• I dont have a problem using live bait.It works!!

[Quarry Man]

I think they swam away...

[blckshirt98]

Are you sure there are bass in those ponds to begin with?

[jakebrake]

I assume the water is stained and murky? I used to fish that same pond, in another state...

 

they will move around with nothing to connect with...(put them in a white pool, they will meander aimlessly....then put in a black line...they will congregate near that line)

 

live bait, go near the trees, slow your retrieve  (we in the northeast have our work cut out for us), try one step at a time...you'll find the missing part.

[flechero]

On 4/24/2017 at 7:36 AM, Catt said:

When we have a lack of well defined structure subtle changes in the bottom become prime structure.

 

When ponds are dug they are done with track how's or bulldozers, neither leave smooth surfaces. Six to twelve inch changes is more the adequate to hold fish. 

 

"besides when vegetation (lily pads, milfoil, etc.) grows in.", this describes changes in bottom composition; also know as structure.

 

Probably ain't gonna help ya now but may clarify your understanding of " structure ".

 

ALL water has structure, to Catt's point- even a tiny change in an otherwise "swimming pool smooth bottom" can stack fish up. When the cover (pads, milfoil, etc.) fills in, they go there because it holds or attracts food. 

 

Until the vegetation (cover) grows, I'd methodically comb the bottom with a c-rig and find the subtle changes... and then fish accordingly.  There is likely a lot more there than you think. 

[WRB]

All bass regardless where they are located go through their seasonal periods cold water, spawning cycle broken down to pre & post spawn and nesting/egg laying or the spawn, warm water summer period and fall transition to cold water.

Your pond is no different. Pond bass tend to roam or patrol the bank at various depths hunting prey, they must eat or starve. Determine what the prey source is the bass are looking for and use lures at the depth and location the prey is located at. 

Is this pond spring feed or stream feed?

Tom

[RMcDuffee726]

4 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

I think they swam away...

Haha...

[RMcDuffee726]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

All bass regardless where they are located go through their seasonal periods cold water, spawning cycle broken down to pre & post spawn and nesting/egg laying or the spawn, warm water summer period and fall transition to cold water.

Your pond is no different. Pond bass tend to roam or patrol the bank at various depths hunting prey, they must eat or starve. Determine what the prey source is the bass are looking for and use lures at the depth and location the prey is located at. 

Is this pond spring feed or stream feed?

Tom

Hey Tom, I believe the pond is spring feed.  Normally if I see an outlet of flowing water into a pond I will fish that without hesitation, but that is not the case with this pond.  The bass are just being stubborn.  Hard to fish a pond when you cannot find anything definitive for the bass to hold to.

[Sam]

On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 1:26 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Probably roaming around mainly. Bass tend to wander aimlessly when they have nothing to hide by.

 

X2.  And they are probably deep.

 

Watch for them to hit the shallows to sun and enjoy the warm water.

 

Also, check the water temperature to note if they are on their beds.

[AdamV _bassin]

If you have a fish finder of a friend with one you might be surprised at how many submerged logs, stumps , ledges and underwater gas lines there are. Also if your pond has a inflow and a outflow there should be a creek bed that not only holds fish but some of the biggest in the pond espicaly in the summer.

["hamma"]

 I know this pond, as I fish a few of these up here myself.

 

 Are they on bottom or roaming?,.. Both, depending on conditions, with suspended added in there for giggles. 

 

 These fish are bass, just the same as bass found on definitive structure/cover. They just have a different set of options available. Recognizing the cues and clues, or "ever so slight" changes, will answer your questions.

  

 Match their forage correctly, fish where they are, at the right time. 

As many will attest to, right bait, right place, right time.

 

 These shallow clear water mudholes are a task, I will attest that it seems the fish have been beamed aboard the starship Enterprise for the spring months, or have left for Florida over the winter like the geese, and retiree's, and have yet to return. But trust me, they are there, and as you move around the pond, casting away at the usual targets, the fish are usually right beneath your mode of floatation, hugging the bottom, feeding voraciously on something, be it baitfish, crayfish, insects,.. whatever.

 These ponds?,. this time of year???  Tough deal, but not impossible.  "Follow the yellow brick road",... consider ALL of the variables to piece the puzzle together. And that right there??  is the key

[Airman4754]

Ned rig time. You will find them in a hurry.

 

I recommend this to everyone fishing ponds they aren't too sure of. Tie on a C-rig or just a barrel sinwel. I prefer a C-rig, might as well fish, right? Then drag the whole bottom and make notes of any bumps, humps, rocks, etc. In a mud bowl a 1 foot dip can hold a ton of fish. It will literally reload in the time you land a fish.

[WRB]

Spring feed pond or small natural lake the bass stay close to the spring during winter and mid summer because it provides comfortable water temps. Decaying bottom debris uses up oxygen the bass avoid muck areas. Aquatic green growth creates oxygen and is a life source for baitfish and prey of all types for bass to feed on. 

Lures that stay off the muck bottom work good, any hard bottom area with sand/ gravel or clay bottom bumping lures are OK.

I would try mid depth lures like the original Rapala minnow, slip shot rig with floating soft plastic on mono line, small surface crawler lure and fan cast the entire pond.

Tom