The winter pond fishing is kicking my butt so far and winter hasn't hardly started

[plawren53202]

Up until about 2 weeks ago, here in MO we were still running highs in the upper 40s or 50s and lows in the upper 30s. I would guess water temps were in the mid to upper 40s on my local pond. I was having a really good jerkbait bite on a 110 Jr and Lucky Craft Pointer 78SP, also catching several on a Red Eye Shad.

 

Then the temp dropped, highs in the low 40s and overnight temps in the 25-28 degree range. After 2 weeks of this I'm sure the water temperature in the pond is around 40 (if not a hair lower). The last week my jerkbait bite has stopped dead (as in one little dink in 3 outings) along with everything else. I have to imagine that the fish in my pond have all headed to the deepest part (it's a featureless bowl, so I'm sure they're laying flat on the bottom out in the middle, which is just at the furthest range of my casting, with my best setup and an easy to launch bait like a 1/2 oz. Red Eye Shad). Over the last 3 trips out I have thrown: 110 Jr/LC 78SP, Red Eye Shad, 1/4 oz. tungsten finesse jig with mini Zoom chunk trailer, 3" Easy Shiner, Neko rigged 4" Yum Dinger, Ned rig (original TRD). I'm sure I'm forgetting something else. All fished at mainly "winter crawl" speed, sometimes trying speeding it up just a tad. 

 

So here's a few random questions that I'm trying to figure out. (1) Since we've just entered the first long pretty cold spell, is it taking a little while for them to acclimate and maybe will pick up after they settle in? (2) I recently heard Mark Menendez tell his theory that cold affects small bass more than big bass, and there are only dinks in this pond; (3) everyone talks about a winter reaction bite, but these last few times out I've seen absolutely no evidence of interest in a reaction bite (like the jerkbaits)--am I resigned to slow dragging small baits on the bottom out in the deepest part? (4) the fact that the deepest part of the bowl is at the furthest limits of my casting with heavier baits is a challenge for slow/deep dragging small baits--e.g., there's no set of circumstances under which I can get a Ned rig out in the deepest part unless I were to upsize the head to something very un-Ned like a 1/4 oz. head.

 

I did just run across the Free Rig and I'm going to give that a shot. I think with a 1/8 oz. bell weight, the bead and the weight of a moderate size plastic, I could put that on my longer spinning rods and get it out to the deepest part. I also think that slow flutter of the rig might work well for winter fish. I am thinking about giving it a try with a Super Fluke.

 

Any other thoughts much appreciated. This is my first winter of really trying to just muscle through the cold, determined to learn winter fishing, but it being just barely December I'm not feeling super optimistic at this point LOL.

[galyonj]

1. Put the lure on a tiny RC boat
2. Motor that out to where you want to cast but can't reach
3. ???
4. Profit!

[DitchPanda]

My only advice...be thankful you live where you do my ponds all have ice and will likely stay that way for at least 3 months!

[Hook2Jaw]

A dropshot will throw a long way.  Huck one out and fire up a Perdomo.

[Michigander]

Drone drop off or surf cast a jig.

[plawren53202]

4 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

My only advice...be thankful you live where you do my ponds all have ice and will likely stay that way for at least 3 months!

Oh yeah, don't mistake my question for ingratitude about still having actual water. My pond does freeze up a couple of times a winter and I am not a happy camper while that's going on.

 

And to the suggestions about a drone or RC boat...I can't say that I haven't considered similar ideas so far. I'd go to great lengths to get a 1/10 oz. Ned rig out there in the dead middle ?

[BlakeMolone]

I went from 8lb big game to 6lb xl on one of my finesse spinning combos with a spray of kvd line and lure the night before I use it and just going to a smaller line has helped me get a lot more distance on my casts. 

[plawren53202]

7 minutes ago, BlakeMolone said:

I went from 8lb big game to 6lb xl on one of my finesse spinning combos with a spray of kvd line and lure the night before I use it and just going to a smaller line has helped me get a lot more distance on my casts. 

That's a good idea. Also, the water in this pond has gotten REALLY clear as the temps get colder. It's probably a good idea to size down the line for that reason as well.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Spinning rod only, open the bail, put bait in slingshot and let it rip. 

 

I have actually done this to increase distance in ponds with no boat access. 

[Koz]

Have you tried upsizing instead of downsizing? Check the seasonal articles  on this site. Lots of pros upsize with swimbaits or throw A-rigs.

 

If you’re not catching anything it can’t hurt to try.

[Bluebasser86]

Have you tried a small blade bait? If there's not much on the bottom it could be something to consider that would really launch out there and could be fished very slowly.

 

In the ponds around here, when it gets really cold, I downsize my jerkbait to a 65 pointer, Duo Rozante 77 or 63, or the 2.75" Yo-Zuri 3DS suspending minnow and fish it on 6 or 8lb test on a spinning rod with very light twitches.

[PhishLI]

Try a Carolina rig with a short 12 in mono leader. Go as heavy with the weight as your longest rod will allow. Rig a small elaztech bait on a light worm hook, skin hooked if its mucky, and super glue it near the eye. Yuk it out as far as you can, which should be a whopping distance if the weight is 3/4-1oz. Let it soak for a bit, then start bringing it in with occassional pauses and soaks. Belly down fish, or ones suspending just above the bottom, will bite it if they're in the mood. If you haven't yet thrown a C-rig do some research. You'll need space for the cast.

[galyonj]

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Have you tried a small blade bait? If there's not much on the bottom it could be something to consider that would really launch out there and could be fished very slowly.

 

In the ponds around here, when it gets really cold, I downsize my jerkbait to a 65 pointer, Duo Rozante 77 or 63, or the 2.75" Yo-Zuri 3DS suspending minnow and fish it on 6 or 8lb test on a spinning rod with very light twitches.

Maybe something like a spoon would work, too. Those'll cast a fair way.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, galyonj said:

Maybe something like a spoon would work, too. Those'll cast a fair way.

A fur piece, you say?

[galyonj]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

A fur piece, you say?

All the way over yonder.

[plawren53202]

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Have you tried a small blade bait? If there's not much on the bottom it could be something to consider that would really launch out there and could be fished very slowly.

 

In the ponds around here, when it gets really cold, I downsize my jerkbait to a 65 pointer, Duo Rozante 77 or 63, or the 2.75" Yo-Zuri 3DS suspending minnow and fish it on 6 or 8lb test on a spinning rod with very light twitches.

I did throw a small blade bait for a little while, a Damiki Vault (forgot to include it in my list). I haven't used a blade bait before so I didn't have a lot of confidence in it. It was also at the point when I was about to throw in the towel on moving baits altogether. And it does in fact cast a mile. I probably need to give this a little more of a chance.

8 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Try a Carolina rig with a short 12 in mono leader. Go as heavy with the weight as your longest rod will allow. Rig a small elaztech bait on a light worm hook, skin hooked if its mucky, and super glue it near the eye. Yuk it out as far as you can, which should be a whopping distance if the weight is 3/4-1oz. Let it soak for a bit, then start bringing it in with occassional pauses and soaks. Belly down fish, or ones suspending just above the bottom, will bite it if they're in the mood. If you haven't yet thrown a C-rig do some research. You'll need space for the cast.

Great suggestion, I'll give this a shot. I have thrown bigger C rigs fishing deep ledges, but this is a good adaptation to the current situation.

[PhishLI]

12 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Spinning rod only, open the bail, put bait in slingshot and let it rip. 

...furiously digging out my Wrist Rocket from 1978! WaaaaHoooo! 

[Bird]

Have a pond in my yard, crystal clear water with the deepest section of 4ft.

 

Have various fish stocked in it and last week the water temp fell into the 30's.

All fish, easily seen are gathered in the 4ft section and have been motionless for several days. 

 

We all have different experiences but once the water temps dip into the 30's , I can't catch bass on anything and with our current weather trends, I'll be off the water for a while. 

 

Only thing I can tell you is try fishing that pond in late afternoon on sunny day, couple of degrees could make a difference. 

[Luke Barnes]

17 hours ago, Koz said:

Have you tried upsizing instead of downsizing? Check the seasonal articles  on this site. Lots of pros upsize with swimbaits or throw A-rigs.

 

If you’re not catching anything it can’t hurt to try.

If I remember right @J Francho has said to upsize baits in ponds and use as big as you possibly can. Someone said i know that much. 

[MGF]

I went to a little public pond Sunday. The main goal was to take a look at some new baits I bought but I did some fishing too. the back drop here is that I don't there are many fish left in this pond. I use to catch lots of bass and you could see the millions of pan fish but I think otters got in there r something. But there are a few bass left because I catch one once in a while.

 

I started with a blade but it just dredged leaves up off the bottom. I tried a little hair jig but that grabbed the leaves too. I went to a Zoom finesse on a split shot rig and covered that little pond pretty thoroughly. without a bite.

 

It was getting late and my wife was already sitting in the truck with the motor running but my next try would have been a drop shot.

[Bankbeater]

Are there fry and small baitfish swimming around the bank?  Over the years I have noticed that the bass don't move much if their forage is holed up somewhere.

 

[MGF]

37 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

Are there fry and small baitfish swimming around the bank?  Over the years I have noticed that the bass don't move much if their forage is holed up somewhere.

 

In my pond there's NOTHING on the bank...well I did see one turtle. LOL

[TnRiver46]

I can’t recall ever catching a bass out of a pond in the winter . I’m sure I’ve done it but not many. Small bodies of water like that have such rapid temp fluctuations, I’m sure the bass can just shut it down for cold stretches. On the flip side they should warm quickly on sunny warm  days 

[plawren53202]

54 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

Are there fry and small baitfish swimming around the bank?  Over the years I have noticed that the bass don't move much if their forage is holed up somewhere.

 

Nope, nothing. It's barren up there. Up until just a few weeks ago I could see small bait scatter as I walked the bank with polarized glasses on. 

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

I can’t recall ever catching a fish out of a pond in the winter 

That's my fear, LOL, not having fished seriously in the winter before. 

[roadwarrior]

41 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I can’t recall ever catching a bass out of a pond in the winter . 

 

What?

I have about 28 small Germantown park ponds. We catch bass, and some are good

ones, all winter. January and February are two of my best months! I'll recommend 

the Fish Head Underspin with a LFT Live Magic Shad trailer.