Figuring out a new found pond...

[Eric J]

I started fishing a pond a business acquaintance told me about. A couple acres with a healthy carp population, turtles , birds etc...

 

plenty of shade, some overhangs. I've pulled a couple dinks out on jigs with Gitzit tubes but nothing more.

 

I've tried topwater without a single hit but one that was likely a turtle. I'm trying to figure out if there are big bass in there.

 

Is it possible the bass population is small because of feeding competition?  Is it just summer slow down?

 

No real vegetation and stained water. Any clues to this pond?

[J.Vincent]

In northern regions (because of the potential for a deep freeze) the size of bass in ponds or marshes can be very dependent on depth. First thing I would do is find out how deep the pond is ?

[Eric J]

46 minutes ago, J.Vincent said:

In northern regions (because of the potential for a deep freeze) the size of bass in ponds or marshes can be very dependent on depth. First thing I would do is find out how deep the pond is ?

Not more than a couple feet at best

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Eric J said:

Not more than a couple feet at best

Meh.  Find another pond.

[Ratherbfishing]

2 hours ago, Eric J said:

Not more than a couple feet at best

If it's no deeper than this, I'm surprised it doesn't freeze solid in the winter and boil over in the summer.  I'm surprised it even supports carp.  As J Francho says, skip it and find a different pond.  This one isn't much "good" for anything besides watering cattle.

[J.Vincent]

I’m sure there are some bass in this pond but most likely first and second year bass, with a few 2lb fish . But if that same pond were in Florida it would probably hold some pigs.

[bigbill]

These places are my best spots, crankbaits, mepps in-line spinners #3, joes fly 1/4oz bass size firetiger apache, panther martin spin fly orange/ silver #6. Cast parallel to shore where you can. Work the edge of the shade.

 

i fish a shallow swamp like this with 32” chain pickerel and lots of smaller bass. Got told to leave before I could poke the bigger hogs. I was legal fishing from the road but the warden won’t back me up I’m disabled.

[Eric J]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I pass it on my way back from my main local so we'll see. It's a nice quick last cast spot on my way home... ?

[NYWayfarer]

If it is a few feet deep and you want to find what's in it I suggest a 3" Yum Dinger rigged wacky style on 4 to 6# line. Also try some Berkley Atomic Tubes in grasshopper color.

 

These lures will catch the small stuff so you can do a species assessment.

[Hyrule Bass]

to truly figure it out, youre going to really need to just fish it a few times. i wouldnt give up on it just yet as others have stated. think of it like this, you can go to a pond you know holds big bass, but it doesnt mean youre going to catch one of the big bass each trip there. but anyways, i would give it a few tries atleast, if you dont get much then i wouldnt spend my time there, but with the thought maybe come back at a different time of the year and see...