Barren Fishing Holes

[respecthecheese]

I’ve been struggling lately. Theres plenty of ponds around my area, but they’re really all the same. Man-made with little variety. I feel like I have decent fishing knowledge, at least that bass love cover, structure, points, drop offs and all that but there’s little to none of that around here. I feel lost with what to throw and where. I’ve got no clue what to do. I’d head over to our bigger reservoirs but I don’t have any boat access or much to spend on a rental. There’s certainly fish here, I’m just lost. Any help would be super appreciated. Thanks

[Catt]

Cover the water column 

 

Top water, mid-depth, & bottom 

 

Use you favorite in each category 

 

Fish at various times of the day 

[Oregon Native]

If me....would go with finesse...light line , small baits and talk to a local tackle store that seems like it is complete.  Have fished Arizona in the past and it's a fun place to fish.  But don't believe I have fished you area.  If your around lake Pleasant area....fish the dam and boat ramp areas "early".....this goes for any lake...especially when so close to the concrete jungles.

[roadwarrior]

 

[Vilas15]

  On 12/15/2019 at 9:12 AM, respecthecheese said:

There’s certainly fish here, I’m just lost.

Expand  

You sure about that? Not every ponds got fish.

[WRB]

It's been awhile since I have fished the Phoenix area. I went to ASU and my inlaws were snowbirds for 4 months in Mesa and visited often. 

The ponds are usually associated with a golf course and need permission to fish those. The Salt River has a few bass ponds/small lakes with public access near Tempe-Mesa area. The Verde River has some bass fishing and open to the public.

If you are willing to drive beyond Payson the Mogillon rim lakes several have bass and are fishable from shore.

The major big reserviors like Roosevelt, Pleasant, Apache, Canyon and Saguaro require a boat do to the steep terrian and rattle snakes, the marinas are always a good area to fish.

 Golf ponds are your best bet is early and late using finesse presentations like drop shot, slip shot soft plastic worms or smaller surface lures and work shore line all the way around, very few bass away from shore unless there is a areation fountain, always target those.

Try going to your local bass boat / tackle shop and inquire about ponds and small lakes they recommend.

San Carlos reservior had excellent shore fishing years ago with little traffic because you need permission from the Indian Reservation and pay a small fee. 

Good luck,

Tom

[camman]

Are you looking at the urban ponds around Phoenix?  Like Tempe Town lake, Papago or El Dorado?  It’s been a few years since I’ve fished them but found the most consistent way to get fish was drop shotting with 4lb test and a 4 or 6” Robo worm.

[Fishes in trees]

You got permission on golf course ponds?  Bust out the Ned rig.  When the thought crosses your mind to try something else, lose that thought, keep throwing the Ned.  Clearer water sometimes helps with the Ned, but it really doesn't matter.  Ned invented that rig on waters that routinely have just a foot or so of visibility.