Fall pond fishing dilemma

[JWall14]

First let me describe this pond. It is about 1-1.5 acres and in a circle shape. It has an estimated max depth of about 10 ft. Fish species are largemouth, carp, sunfish/bluegill, and little clear minnows (1-2in) that sit just below the surface near the bank. Bottom feels like gravel and weeds. It has weeds that break the surface all around the edge for about 4-6 ft off the bank. For about 6-8ft from the bank there is a layer of dust from the gravel path ways. Visibility is about 8in year round 

 

I have thrown:

-spinnerbait

-buzzbait(2)

-crankbait

-frog(1)

-beaver(1)

-TRD(1)

-popper(1)

-other finesse(2)

 

the only fish above 1lb was a 2.5lber on the buzzbait in the fall. I know there are huge fish because I have seen them bust and jump out of the water. I fished there yesterday and got no bites on a t-rig craw except when I was calling on my phone. I had let the craw sit for about a minute when it was hit. By the time I set the hook the fish was gone. 

 

Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this pond?

[Pond fisher]

Leave your phone at home.

[SWVABass]

The fish jumping almost sound like carp. If it were me I would try a neko rig and a weightless senko fished on the weed edge and in any holes in the weeds

[thedilettantedad]

I've had great luck in ponds with both the Booyah Pond Magic Spinnerbait and Buzzbait, both white or they may call the color shad. I also have thrown a wacky rigged senko with success, green pumpkin and black. Also, using 8lb mono if it makes a difference. I would go closer to dawn or dusk, and throw a senko while still pretty far from the bank on the approach.

 

Good luck!

[JWall14]

@Pond fisher yes I know but that’s the only way I can get a ride home.

[LionHeart]

This fish jumping are possibly, if not likely the Carp.  I hate carp.

 

Try dragging a big worm dude.

[JWall14]

I know some of the fish are carp but I have seen BIG bass jump a foot out of the water so I know they’re in there!

 

thanks guys

[looking45]

Try a fluke or a weightless trick worm

[soflabasser]

Any of the lures you mentioned can work but I would focus more on buzzbaits,spinnerbaits,hollow belly frogs,weedless swimbaits,flukes,senkos,and trick worms.You got smallmouth bass where you live, I would be fishing for them more and spend less time on the northern strain largemouth bass.

[MrFrost]

11 hours ago, soflabasser said:

You got smallmouth bass where you live, I would be fishing for them more and spend less time on the northern strain largemouth bass.

I have to second this.  I live near the Fox River, and the largemouth pond fishing has been so tough in the burbs of Chicago lately, I decided to hit the river.  Glad I did.  Caught my first couple smallmouth ever (only been fishing since June) and I think I will be fishing the river more.  

[JWall14]

Good idea. I’ll try to hit the dupage river soon before it gets too cold to wade without waders. And then I’ll fish it from the bank.

[MrFrost]

You could hit the DuPage River, a small lake, and even smaller pond within feet of each other if you go here in Carol Stream...

[JWall14]

Yeah I’ve heard of that area. I will check it out sometime. Thanks!

[the reel ess]

If visibility is that low, I'd probably slow roll a black spinnerbait with Colorado blade and try a black/blue jig and trailer with rattles. Work it slowly. Seems like you got a bite when the bait wasn't even moving so you probably can't go too slow. I'd still stick with the frog. You have to try one every time you go to a pond ringed with weeds or lilies-it's the law. If all else fails, go somewhere else. The bite just sucks every place at certain times.

[Harold Scoggins]

You could cheat and throw a Senko. (just kidding) I'd throw a Mann's Blackberry Jelly Worm, if there's a bass in there, she will find it.

[Joshua van Wyk]

Why not try to catch a carp? They are one if the hardest fighting freshwater fish and they're not to hard to hook, it'll be a hell of a fight on a bass rod! Next time you go out just pack some bread on a small baitholder hook and drop it in while you throw lures

[The Fisher]

Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.3 or 3.8" Baby Bass or Bluegill Flash, on a Keitech Super Round Jig Head 1/8oz 1/0

[ItsHardwick]

On 9/30/2018 at 9:22 PM, LionHeart said:

This fish jumping are possibly, if not likely the Carp.  I hate carp.

 

Try dragging a big worm dude.

 

Everybody hates the carp. I used to see them jump and mistake them for bass and get excited. Now I see one jump and it’s time to move. Here, when there’s one carp, there’s 100. It’s out of control. I had one dang near jump into my boat the other day. 

[Cheetahsneverprosper]

If it's anything like the ponds in my area with weeds ringing it around all the edges, the bass may very well be hanging out on the outer edge of the weeds, waiting for small fish to swim past.  I've had good luck throwing a swimbait diagonally outward and reeling it back towards (and partway along) the weed edge.  But kill it just a foot or two before it reaches the weeds and let it fall.  The bass can't resist darting out and hammering it as it flutters down like an injured or unsuspecting baitfish.

[Muddy wolf]

Try a jig and twister tail

[Heron]

Might try a chatterbait

[Otter17]

On 10/1/2018 at 8:59 AM, MrFrost said:

I have to second this.  I live near the Fox River, and the largemouth pond fishing has been so tough in the burbs of Chicago lately, I decided to hit the river.  Glad I did.  Caught my first couple smallmouth ever (only been fishing since June) and I think I will be fishing the river more.  

Yeah the pond Largemouth have been tite lipped in these Chicago burbs for me too as of late. Gonna focus on ever smallmouth now.

Canned Corn Kernals even better! 

[Otter17]

This is going to sound really stupid. But totally true. 

 

I fish a pond out here in the Chi-burbs a lot because it’s got some nice size fish in it. There’s Largemouth, Carp, Big bulleads, and blugils in there, like the one mentioned by the OP. I was using every lure under the sun to catch the bass in there for a couple days. Nothing, not a bite. So I gave up on the bass and began fishing for the nice sized bullheads in there. My go to for bulleheads is raw hickory smoked bacon on a Jig Head. But on this day, to my suprise, I caught a 2.5 Largemouth on it! I couldn’t believe it. I never thought that would happen. After several more that day, and a few the next, it was no longer a coincidence. They wanted that bacon.

 

My only theory is that they just loved the salt content in the bacon. Hey, and if they don’t want it on a particular day, I get to eat the rest!

Its a Win Win. ?

[Joshua van Wyk]

3 hours ago, Otter17 said:

This is going to sound really stupid. But totally true. 

 

I fish a pond out here in the Chi-burbs a lot because it’s got some nice size fish in it. There’s Largemouth, Carp, Big bulleads, and blugils in there, like the one mentioned by the OP. I was using every lure under the sun to catch the bass in there for a couple days. Nothing, not a bite. So I gave up on the bass and began fishing for the nice sized bullheads in there. My go to for bulleheads is raw hickory smoked bacon on a Jig Head. But on this day, to my suprise, I caught a 2.5 Largemouth on it! I couldn’t believe it. I never thought that would happen. After several more that day, and a few the next, it was no longer a coincidence. They wanted that bacon.

 

My only theory is that they just loved the salt content in the bacon. Hey, and if they don’t want it on a particular day, I get to eat the rest!

Its a Win Win. ?

You wouldn't believe how many bass I've caught while catfishing!

[scaleface]

Try lures that will fish in and on top the weeds effectively . A  weightless worm with the hook buried and frogs are a couple .