Trying to catch the big one!

[Seabassslayer229]

I got a pretty good size pond at my house in southern Oregon that we put a few 5lb bass in about 10 to 12 years ago. They reproduced year after year and are pond in now full of bass, they’ve eaten off all the bull frogs and bluegill so I know there in there! 

 

Every time i go down there to fish I always catch the small ones like 8 to 10 inchers, I’ve tried lots of stuff and can never get a big one to hit, what’s your guys ideas? There’s lots of weed cover like 10 feet from the shores and they don’t seem active enough for top water no matter what time of day or year...

 

 

[jbmaine]

Hollow body frog or popper at night.

[Glaucus]

If it was a decade ago, and they've depleted the food source, you may not actually have many big ones, if any.

[Seabassslayer229]

Wouldn’t they eat there babies if they got hungry? Lol

[papajoe222]

Over population has numerous effects, one of which is an abundance of stunted, small fish. Big fish need a lot of forage to stay healthy. Grant you, little fish can fill that need, for a while at least. The problem is that, unlike bluegill and other sunfish species, small bass, perch and catfish don't co-inhabit areas with bass and once that forage has been exhausted it becomes a matter of chasing down a meal that likely won't provide enough nourishment for the next chase.  What you end up with is a bunch of 10in.-12in. fish that can survive  because their nutritional needs can be met. 

If you're looking to get that pond back to producing some nice fish, you're going to need to remove a lot of small fish and introduce a forage base that replenishes itself quickly. 

[WRB]

Your 5lb bass are long gone. They were middle aged adults that more then likely died within 3 to 5 years after being transplanted.

Tom

[jr231]

There is a lot of documentation on northern strain LM living well in to their late teens and also some 20+ years old. I've actually heard of one being dated by otolith rings being 23+ years. 

 

So there's a chance they aren't gone. 

 

Otters , herons and other animals can kill your bass though.   Not to mention other anglers sneaking in... 

 

How bad you wanna know if they're in there ? 

 

Try a smaller swimbait (around 5") like the jackall gantarel jr. 

 

[WRB]

Life spawn of northern strain LMB is 15 years max under ideal conditions. Smallmouth bass in regions that freeze have been documented to live 20 years. Southern Oregon isn't a cold region and doubt the OP stocked 5 lb smallmouth bass in a pond.

The question is can this pond support a population of 5 lb or larger LMB?

Tom