Heavy pressured pond fishing

[Bankfisher22]

So I live in south texas, and sometimes I don't have time to go to the lake in my city so I go to a public pond near my house. The pond is always filled with people and it's only about 1 1/2 acre in size and The water has about 4-6 feet of visibility. I've cought several fish from there but it's tough and only getting harder. I've seen people catch them like nothing with sausages and chicken gizzards when I have been out there for like an hour but I refuse to go that route. Do you all have any suggestions on what I can do to catch fish, or should I just give in and use catfish bait to catch bass in that pond? 

[Glaucus]

A heavily pressured 1.5 acre pond that is always loaded with people... If I insisted on fishing that kind of place, I would fish at night.

[LCG]

Maybe take a look at what they are using for lures and use something different. Ned rig comes to mind. 

[thinkingredneck]

Try a weightless t rig trick worm.  Or a 6 inch scoundrel.  Late or early, or at night.  Use dark worms.  Use scent.

 

If that doesn't work, try a bitsy bug jig with a small twin tail grub.

 

Maybe a Ned rig or Senko.

 

If none of that works go really big with an ole monster in Camo or Junebug.  Or use something like merthiolate or bubblegum.  In otherwords, go out on a limb.

[thedilettantedad]

You gotta match the hatch! Get yourself a small jig like a baby boo and trail that thing with some chicken gizzard.  Or try a wacky senko.

[Bankbeater]

I've fished in a couple of ponds where bass have hit catfish bait.  There may not be enough forage in the pond to go around.

[bagofdonuts]

neko rig

[Jcj90]

Goto another pond or lake 

[Jigfishn10]

Maybe French Fries to go along with the chicken gizzards and sausage?

 

Honestly, I'd fish at night like @Glaucus suggested.

[EGbassing]

Fish whatever nobody else is fishing. 

[BigAngus752]

I have experienced this also.  Here's the problem; if the pond is that heavily pressured with people using "live" or "food" bait then you basically have a bath tub full of hand-fed bass and they aren't going to pay attention to your fake food.  Like @Glaucus advised, get there during the times the bass are most likely to feed naturally and when the people aren't there.  Very, very early or late after dark.  If you are fishing next to people who are tossing chicken gizzards at the bass then you better have a pocket full of chicken gizzards.  That pond is just too small.  

[evilcatfish]

Obviously, a finesse technique is a good option, but also consider going big. Those fish have probably seen a lot of Spinnerbaits, but not a lot of big Swimbaits.  

[schplurg]

Throw out a humongous saltwater swim bait just to make people wonder.

[primetime]

I fish alot of places like that when I have time to kill some days, and one of the techniques I have been using and having success with is simply throwing a green pumpkin 4" grub on a 3/16 head, 6-8lb test especially if the water is clear.

 

I would imagine that the bass are lacking in forage, but this time of year, their should be alot of small baitfish in the pond, if bluegill from last year they are a few inches.....I always figure everyone who is bass fishing is throwing the most popular baits, and bass do get conditioned to the same look.

 

If bass will not hit a small grub on a jighead, either hopped on bottom, swim it at various depths, but I usually find if you just parallel the break lines of the first drop off, try to get away from the crowds, you can often catch fish. I believe lighter line is actually the key, same with smaller baits that are less intrusive. Very few people in lakes with Largemouth will break out a curly tail grub in 3-4 inches...You can rig it on a Mushroom head, darter head, ballhead, light texas rig....It will match all forage that could potentially be in the pond..

 

Another option is to break out the light action spinning rod, and downsize to the tiny trap size, 2" rapala, bitsy tubes, crappie baits. If you can't get bit in half hour, move to a different pond. Or go at night. I prefer night fishing on most lakes that get pressure. I get bigger fish at night and can often catch them on topwater which makes it that much better.

 

Hope that helps. I pond hop often and have become much more finesse, lighter line since Pond Bass seem to be in tune with forage, so big baits often get passed up. 4-6 feet is crystal clear water to me, so I would downsize and trust your drag.....

[Sam]

Tokyo rig.

[Dorado]

1 hour ago, primetime said:

I fish alot of places like that when I have time to kill some days, and one of the techniques I have been using and having success with is simply throwing a green pumpkin 4" grub on a 3/16 head, 6-8lb test especially if the water is clear.

 

I would imagine that the bass are lacking in forage, but this time of year, their should be alot of small baitfish in the pond, if bluegill from last year they are a few inches.....I always figure everyone who is bass fishing is throwing the most popular baits, and bass do get conditioned to the same look.

 

If bass will not hit a small grub on a jighead, either hopped on bottom, swim it at various depths, but I usually find if you just parallel the break lines of the first drop off, try to get away from the crowds, you can often catch fish. I believe lighter line is actually the key, same with smaller baits that are less intrusive. Very few people in lakes with Largemouth will break out a curly tail grub in 3-4 inches...You can rig it on a Mushroom head, darter head, ballhead, light texas rig....It will match all forage that could potentially be in the pond..

 

Another option is to break out the light action spinning rod, and downsize to the tiny trap size, 2" rapala, bitsy tubes, crappie baits. If you can't get bit in half hour, move to a different pond. Or go at night. I prefer night fishing on most lakes that get pressure. I get bigger fish at night and can often catch them on topwater which makes it that much better.

 

Hope that helps. I pond hop often and have become much more finesse, lighter line since Pond Bass seem to be in tune with forage, so big baits often get passed up. 4-6 feet is crystal clear water to me, so I would downsize and trust your drag.....

What this gent said. Totally nailed it. My response would’ve been the same too, just not as good. Power to the Grub. Then master the tubes and ned rig.  You will catch bass in any pond, and catch other species so there’s a lifetime bonus. 

[Chase Daniel]

On 3/8/2019 at 2:41 AM, Bankfisher22 said:

So I live in south texas, and sometimes I don't have time to go to the lake in my city so I go to a public pond near my house. The pond is always filled with people and it's only about 1 1/2 acre in size and The water has about 4-6 feet of visibility. I've cought several fish from there but it's tough and only getting harder. I've seen people catch them like nothing with sausages and chicken gizzards when I have been out there for like an hour but I refuse to go that route. Do you all have any suggestions on what I can do to catch fish, or should I just give in and use catfish bait to catch bass in that pond? 

Youreally have two options, really small or really big. Ned rigs, drop shots, shakey heads are great little finesse presentations. Either that or you can throw some huge plastic worm or swim bait that would really convince them that its enough fuel to warrant the effort and risk involved in taking it.