Pond fishing during the fall

[JermridVA]

Early fall, (early October) was great. I fish a decent size pond maybe 1 acre on a dock which extends about 4 foot into the water.  Pretty clear as far as the pond goes. You look left and right for a couple yards and can see the bottom looks sandy, kinda rocky maybe muddy. At the beginning of the fall I used dropshot rig, flukes, and topwater(popper).  Now I’m fishing throwing everything I got spinners, flukes, buzz bait. Haven’t caught anything. Not to sure how deep it goes out. But to the left and right it’s shallow. New to the page just wanted to see what y’all think, if y’all expiernced anything like this. I know the fish are there just can’t get them to bite! Tight lines!

[MossyBackDaddy]

I don't have any answers for you but I'm interested in the responses as well since I'll be fishing small pond this fall/winter too.

[JermridVA]

I’ve tried everything I have lol. Just haven’t got them to bite

[Dorado]

Late November - late winter, the weeds finally start to recede where I live. As an active pond fisherman myself, that's when I'll finally whip out the drop shot from shore. What are you using for your drop shot rigs? Last year, it was all about the Roboworm 4 1/2" straight tails (SXE Shad and Desert Craw). Migratory birds, like cormorants, start to head to our ponds and urban lakes from the north. I'll follow those shad-feeding birds with my drop shot and discovered that catfish and bass are usually on the bottom of those frenzies. 

 

Last year, same time, I experimented more with finesse jigs and tiny Netbait Paca Chunks. Those took some decent LMB around docks and areas with sandy bottoms when we had a warm streak. If that doesn't all work, add a 2.5" Gulp! Alive Black Shad to your drop shot and fish it SLOW. For my waters, all three of those methods should result in something during this time of the year. Not a large swimbait angler myself, so downsizing with slow finesse presentations is the theme for my late fall/winter pond tactics. Good luck

[JermridVA]

Thanks for your comment! And I’ve been using a variety of different soft plastics, I believe it’s a 1/32 ounce weight. I’ve tried a junebug sweet beaver, and caught a decent fish on that earlier in the year maybe 4 weeks ago, I’ve used about a 4 inch pumpkin seed trick work, a bubble gum senko, junebug senko, a small clear white lizard with red and green sparkles in it and I believe that’s it. I’m going to try what your suggesting this weekend I appreaciate it! And when you mean jig head do you mean like a football jig? If so how do you normally work it during the winter? Run it pretty low to the bottom, letting it sit there jigging it slow or are you working it kinda fast? Just curious on how you work it! Thanks a lot!

[Dorado]

For Ponds, I’m referring to the cheap Strike King Bitsy Bugs. If I’m bank fishing, I prefer throwing cheaper Jigs because I get hung up frequently.

 

 

 

 

On docks,  shake it after it hits bottom, then slowly drag it a few feet.  Shake it. Repeat. 

 

Those open water sandy areas were 100% on the initial drop. For Ponds, those lightweight finesse Jigs fall slower which is critical for catching highly pressured fish. 

 

 

Paired with the Toledo Special. 

 

 

[Christianmcc]

This time of year I always catch a decent amount out of my pond. it sounds similar to the one you’ve been fishing. I get them on a reaction innovation skinny dipper. Tight lines!!

[JermridVA]

Dorado thanks for you help And time I appreaciate it good luck to ya and tight lines!!