Going Feb 27th to a pond with trophies...

[the reel ess]

And there are likely some PBs in it. I chose the 27th because it's full moon so I hope it's a decent day, something you just can't count on in Feb., in SC. Water temp will likely be around 50 unless there's a warming trend beforehand. Tell me what you would be throwing there.

[Dens228]

You're messing with us.

You already know the first answers will entail......size, depth, vegetation.........

But I always have a jig on one rod and a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or swim jig on another. 

[the reel ess]

7 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

You're messing with us.

You already know the first answers will entail......size, depth, vegetation.........

But I always have a jig on one rod and a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or swim jig on another. 

IDK all those things because I haven't fished it. But it's somewhat of a local legend because double digit bass have been caught there. Looking at it on Google Maps, it looks like about 3 acres with standing and fallen timber at the shallow end. A very typical pond in these parts. I'll try to post a pic from Google Maps.

 

It is my experience that I can usually fish with 2 or 3 rods in winter. But I'll take the arsenal, complete with kitchen sink.

[GreenPig]

Pond with big ones. I'd definitely crawl my Hudd Gill(weedless) & 68 Special(weedless).

[txchaser]

None of this is terribly useful without knowing the questions above.... but maybe a starting place.

 

1/2 Oz GP/Red jackhammer, with a falcon lake special (Gp/red) rage menace, fished slow; or normal if you are on a warming trend and they've seen it shallow; alternatively a fire craw or a bluegill presentation depending on water clarity

regular jig, slow

flat-side squarebill, slow

snack-sized bluegill swimbait mid-column

if they haven't see a lot of keitechs, a bigger fat impact

 

if they are spooky or sleepy: 

Fat Ika

finesse jig

 

Texas waters are likely a little different, but the list above accounts for most of my bigger fish in 10ac or less waters.

 

If you can get a jon boat or a kayak in there I'd expect your chances to go way up. But put it in place, drop the anchor, and be really still.

 

In something that small assume every bit of noise, including walking around the bank, is heard by half the pond. Might not matter if it's really low pressure, but if not making a couple of casts from way far away from the bank may make a difference. 

[Hammer 4]

I would also take some Hudd 68's, and jig/craws, along with some 1/2 oz spinnerbaits in white/shad.

[the reel ess]

12 minutes ago, txchaser said:

None of this is terribly useful without knowing the questions above.... but maybe a starting place.

 

1/2 Oz GP/Red jackhammer, with a falcon lake special (Gp/red) rage menace, fished slow; or normal if you are on a warming trend and they've seen it shallow; alternatively a fire craw or a bluegill presentation depending on water clarity

regular jig, slow

flat-side squarebill, slow

snack-sized bluegill swimbait mid-column

if they haven't see a lot of keitechs, a bigger fat impact

 

if they are spooky or sleepy: 

Fat Ika

finesse jig

 

Texas waters are likely a little different, but the list above accounts for most of my bigger fish in 10ac or less waters.

 

If you can get a jon boat or a kayak in there I'd expect your chances to go way up. But put it in place, drop the anchor, and be really still.

 

In something that small assume every bit of noise, including walking around the bank, is heard by half the pond. Might not matter if it's really low pressure, but if not making a couple of casts from way far away from the bank may make a difference. 

Thanks. I do have a kayak. This is a new place for me so I don't want to presume I can use it until the landowner says so. But he may do that after I've fished there once. He's an old acquaintance of my dad's and I went to school with his daughters. I just haven't spoken t him in years.

[txchaser]

 there are probably three spots on that lake that are the best cover/structure on the whole lake, and they are small spots. Next to deep water etc etc. Not a lot of elbow room around, and the big bully fish can and will run off everyone else. So if you are on normal size fish it is unlikely you are also on big fish. It's almost like it gets taken to an extreme in little water - big LMB behave like a different species, and they are mean and territorial. 

 

[Dens228]

Spinnerbait conditions I'd start with that......or a jig amongst the wood.

Not spinnerbait conditions I'd go with a chatterbait.

Clear water, which I doubt, I'd use an underspin.......

 

Can you tell I like jigs and their relatives!

[Luke Barnes]

Im no big bass angler but in my opinion i would throw big swimbaits to try to weed out the dinks. Big jigs to pitch to the timber and cover. 

 

My luck, I would use a ned rig haha. 

[the reel ess]

20 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

Spinnerbait conditions I'd start with that......or a jig amongst the wood.

Not spinnerbait conditions I'd go with a chatterbait.

Clear water, which I doubt, I'd use an underspin.......

 

Can you tell I like jigs and their relatives!

As do I my friend. And I doubt very clear water will be an issue here. Most likely it will be dark stained from roots. Thanks.

[Dens228]

53 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

As do I my friend. And I doubt very clear water will be an issue here. Most likely it will be dark stained from roots. Thanks.

Boom!  Spinnerbait or chatterbait.....

Then a nice big jig......screen out the little bass............

[Mr. Aquarium]

Fish a jig or glide bait 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Going on the 24th or 30th would probably give you the best chance to catch the bigger fish feeding.  I would make sure I had a chatterbait and a JB tied on.  You can fish a CB fast or slow and cover the entire water column.  JBs don't cover as much water, but they can fire em up.  The third bait I would have ready would be a small swimbait like a 3" hazedong or 3.5" easy shiner with the lightest weight jighead you can get away with.  If the fish wont hit the CB follow it up with the small swimbait.

[PotatoLake]

Swim Jig. I fish a pond locally that has very big fish for my area. I catch most of the fish over 4lbs. on swim jigs. Doesn’t matter the conditions or time of year. Most strikes come when I collide it with cover.
 

I’ve tried glide baits and bigger swim baits. Not a lot of luck.

[the reel ess]

16 minutes ago, PotatoLake said:

Swim Jig. I fish a pond locally that has very big fish for my area. I catch most of the fish over 4lbs. on swim jigs. Doesn’t matter the conditions or time of year. Most strikes come when I collide it with cover.
 

I’ve tried glide baits and bigger swim baits. Not a lot of luck.

Me either. I've caught 0 fish on the glide and a total of 1 on a big swimbait. A few times a year I'll make up my mind to fish one of these baits all day with no success. I find I have much more success with larger bass using the spinnerbait and jig.