Only Bluegill? Really?

[Preytorien]

I'm in a certain period of life right now that sees me only realistically be able to fish four or five medium sized ponds near my office at work, probably until late September.

 

They aren't your typical barren looking retention ponds, they seem to have been built quite a few years ago and have decent amounts of brush around them as well as varying "fishy" looking characteristics like some grass, a few laydowns here and there, some culverts with riprap along the bank. 

 

I have given them all a decently fair shake of fishing, all with ZERO bites. I see some bluegill fry every once in a while scatter from the close shore, and even when attempting to "match the hatch" I get no bites other than little bluegill ambitiously chasing a crankbait or senko. Nothing. I never see bass, never see bass fry. Nothing. 

 

Given the age of the ponds, and that bluegill are in-deed present, would you keep trying to find bass, or just assume they're not in there?

[the reel ess]

I might even fish for some tiny bluegill and put one on a hook below a bobber.

[flg2010]

just because there are bluegill does not mean there are bass.  I have run into several ponds like that on abandoned farms...

[MasterBasser]

I used to fish a pond as a teen that only had bass, there was nothing else stocked.  

 

You would think if the ponds are a few years old, the gill should be pretty large by now, will make for plenty of fun. 

 

[Junger]

My neighborhood pond is exactly like that, all I see are stunted bluegill, the biggest ones are 4-5", and lots and lots of fry and way too many frogs. I've thrown senkos, horny toads, swim baits, poppers...to every part of the pond and not one bite. I'm 99.99% sure there are no bass in there...only bluegill and some mudcats.

 

I'm planning on fishing for some LMB at a local lake and putting 2-3 in there.

[flg2010]

biggest bluegill I have seen are in the 8 or 9 inch range..

[WRB]

Not knowing what is in the ponds you should contact whomever is maintaining them and ask. If the water clarity is good enough to see down 3' or so you can try broadcasting some oatmeal or bread crumbs in various locations and watch for any larger fish coming around the small bluegills feeding, bass are curious fish.

The original Rapala minnow in size J11 or J13 broken back model is an excellent pond bass lure.

Tom