In cover, or roaming, or what?

[EGbassing]

Where do fish go when it's overcast? I've always just randomly fancasted around the pond and hoped to get lucky when it's not sunny because they don't seem to be on shallow cover, but I've noticed recently that everybody seems to just be fishing cover when it's overcast. Do fish not roam from cover to feed when it's overcast? Do they prefer deeper cover/structure when it's like that?

[CrankFate]

I can’t say. But they don’t always eat. Some fish might be eating once every 10-15 days at times and eating 10-15 times a day at other times. They don’t always bite and that throws everything else we know off a lot.

[papajoe222]

Most pond bass don't roam in the way most define roaming. They do position themselves differently under different conditions as well as become more, or less, active under different conditions.  Overcast skies, by themselves, are a poor indicator of weather conditions which have more of an affect on bass behavior than light penetration. They can appear pre or post warm or cold fronts. The one thing that's certain is a reduction in light penetration and if that were the only factor, their presence would indicate an increase in activity. 

Active fish will normally not bury themselves in, or hold extra tight to cover, but inactive fish will.  If you're not getting bit fan casting, first make sure you're covering different depths and changing up your retrieves. Then start targeting specific cover, above, below, and outside the target. Lastly, if no luck, get right in the thick of things.  One last tip, slow down as you progress through the steps mentioned.

The benefit of fishing a pond vs. a lake is the fact that the fish have no place else to go, so they must adapt to the conditions.  You, as an angler, must also adapt.

[WRB]

I will assume you are asking about largemouth bass in a small lake or pond under 20 acres. The smaller the body of water the more LMB tend to roam patrolling the shoreline hunting prey because that is where most of it's food is located. The larger the body of water the less LMB tend to roam unless looking for spawning sites.

Low light equals good hunting opportunities for bass, including night. 

Tom

[Glaucus]

Bass in ponds don't act like bass in bigger bodies of water. I find that in decent temps they are always shallow. Overcast helps so I don't get the problem. They are less visible to prey and elements.

[EGbassing]

7 hours ago, Glaucus said:

I find that in decent temps they are always shallow. Overcast helps so I don't get the problem. 

I never catch any in shallow cover when it's overcast, but then when the sun comes out I start catching them in those spots. 

9 hours ago, WRB said:

I will assume you are asking about largemouth bass in a small lake or pond under 20 acres. The smaller the body of water the more LMB tend to roam patrolling the shoreline hunting prey because that is where most of it's food is located. The larger the body of water the less LMB tend to roam unless looking for spawning sites.

Low light equals good hunting opportunities for bass, including night. 

Tom

Look at my reply to Glaucus above this. I wonder if these bass just aren't normal bass because evereybody's saying they should be in shallow cover but they're definitely not in shoreline cover unless it's sunny. ?

[Mobasser]

Overcast days have always been good for me. In my experience bas tend to roam a little more, and become more active. The overcast sky is a form of cover