I need to add a new bait or technique to my limited repertoire

[oldnewguy]

I started fishing with my kiddo earlier this summer.  We caught panfish on worms and bobbers, and we were both happy.  I caught the bug, and now I fish in the mornings, 4 or 5 times a week.  I can get out for an hour or two, about an hour after sunrise.  Fishing on suburban ponds, from the bank. 

 

I picked up some 4" and 5" stickbaits, some Zoom Flukes, 3/0 EWG hooks and 1/0 wacky hooks, and that's mostly what I've been using.  I've caught some bass with a weightless Texas rig, but nothing on the flukes or wacky rig.  This is after a month of regular fishing in ponds that I know hold bass.

 

Someone suggested inline spinners and rooster tails, and I picked up a couple of each.  The ponds I'm fishing are pretty shallow and generally covered with gunk on the bottom.  The only way I've been able at fish either of these is under a float, otherwise they come back dragging weeds.  But again, I haven't caught a single fish on either.

 

Other than a Texas rig, the only other ways I've caught a bass is with a smaller live fish, and once with a jighead and Gulp minnow. 

 

It's just getting a little frustrating.  Any suggestions for something new I might try? 

[Texas Flood]

Swim Jig or Chatterbait

Topwater baits(buzzbait, frog, spook,)

Floating jerkbait

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

To me the fundamental lures are Texas rig, jigs, spinnerbaits, frog, and buzzbait. Take your pick. You even could narrow it to the first three. Some ponds are difficult with a jig, though. Heck the fish in ol muddy pond back home in NC will not eat a spinnerbait no matter how hard I try. Dunno. Learn your fish but those are what I consider the foundation.

[oldnewguy]

I should have added, I'm using a couple of 7' MF spinning rods and 2500 Daiwa reels with 10# mono.

 

Although I'd like to try out a baitcaster as well.  I assume that would open up different baits to use.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 minutes ago, oldnewguy said:

I should have added, I'm using a couple of 7' MF spinning rods and 2500 Daiwa reels with 10# mono.

 

Although I'd like to try out a baitcaster as well.  I assume that would open up different baits to use.

Given this is your setup, I'd be throwing 6" Roboworms

 

You can't throw many of the baits I'd recommend well or at all with a spinning setup like that.   You need at least one baitcaster setup with something like a 6.3:1 ratio, and a good MH 6'6" and above rod, and need to be using at min. 12lb test on it.    14-15lb would be ideal to cover a wider range of techniques and lures.

 

Sounds like you are just getting started out, if so just enjoy the process.   Everybody's lakes are different, but if you keep fishing yours long enough, you'll improve without question.    Time on water is all that ever matters in fishing.  

[oldnewguy]

I've ordered a Tatula 6'10" MHF casting rod, just need to choose a reel to go with...

[JustJames]

Weightless worm both wacky rig or Texas rig, like roboworm, zoom finesse or trick worm and 3 and 4 Roboworm Ned worm.

[NavyToad]

1/8 - 1/4oz jighead with a 3-4” white or smoke grub. Simple - cast and slow to moderate retrieve. If you have a muck bottom keep it off the bottom. You might have to adjust the weight for depth/retrieve speed. Best done with spinning gear and is also easy for kids.

[Jar11591]

25 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

Weightless worm both wacky rig or Texas rig, like roboworm, zoom finesse or trick worm and 3 and 4 Roboworm Ned worm.

Yep. If you’re struggling to catch fish and aren’t very familiar with artificials, a weightless plastic worm is the way to go.  

[oldnewguy]

19 minutes ago, NavyToad said:

1/8 - 1/4oz jighead with a 3-4” white or smoke grub. Simple - cast and slow to moderate retrieve. If you have a muck bottom keep it off the bottom. You might have to adjust the weight for depth/retrieve speed. Best done with spinning gear and is also easy for kids.

 

I'll pick up some 1/8 jigheads and grubs.  And I'll practice finding a speed that keeps it off the bottom.  Otherwise, is fishing these on some kind of a float not usually productive?

[NavyToad]

57 minutes ago, oldnewguy said:

 

I'll pick up some 1/8 jigheads and grubs.  And I'll practice finding a speed that keeps it off the bottom.  Otherwise, is fishing these on some kind of a float not usually productive?

I’ve never fished them on a float and I don’t use a bobber/float for anything really, other than live minnows. I can fish a grub 6” under the surface or 3’ under the surface by changing my retrieve speed. If you have 3 feet of water you shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping it off the bottom.

 

[JackstrawIII]

Buy a couple packs of 3.3" Keitech Swing Impact FAT paddletail swimbaits. Rig them on a small underspin jighead.

 

That combo is money in ponds. Works great in larger bodeis of water too. 

[JayMac89]

I am also new. Started with texas rigged worm, got bit by the bug and went crazy. You'd think i was a vet looking at all my tackle. But the easiest to learn and what has given me the most success is chatterbaits and swimjigs with a paddle tail trailer. Lipless cranks not as much success but some. 

 

Iv been throwing jigs and spooks and jerkbaits as well trying to learn to fish them, but they are difficult. The chatterbait, swimbait, and lipless crank are beginner friendly in my opinion, as a beginner myself. 

[king fisher]

     More information might be helpful.  What is the water clarity, and surface temperature?  What is the primary forage for the bass?  What other fish are in the pond?  Besides weeds, is there any other cover, such as trees, or rocks?  How is the pond for access, can you move around easily and cover water or are you only able to fish a few locations?  How deep is the pond?  How much fishing pressure does the pond get?  All of these variables can make a big difference in deciding what technique may work best.

[WRB]

I suggest you change your line from 10 lb mono with your spinning combo to 8 lb or line diameter .010 diameter maximum.

Generic stick baits should be Yamamoto 5” Senko #330.

Also suggest using a slip shot rig, search this site for details.

Rapala J11 jointed black-silver is a very good pond lure.

Tom

[Lead Head]

In ponds, I am usually pretty successful with a t-rigged craw, or baby brushhog. In my experience, color seems to make a bigger difference as bodies of water get smaller or clearer. I try to have something dark, something natural, something bright (white or chartreuse or a combination), and especially something fairly natural but with orange. With a Muck bottom, I will want the lightest weight possible and lean on z-man plastics for some added buoyancy. 

 

A 1/15oz (actually better to go lighter if possible) ned rig is usually productive. Z-man TRD, or one of the variations is best for me (again for the buoyancy).

 

I can't remember a beetlespin ever letting me down in ponds, it is the ultimate skunk dodging lure for me.

[papajoe222]

How deep do you start picking up vegetation? With your current combo, you have a lot of options in baits that will run from just under the surface down to 8ft.-10ft. I'm talking hard bodied lures like spinnerbaits and cranks.

With a float, you should be able to pin-point the depth that the weeds top out and pick something that runs just above them and occasionally catches the tops.

One suggestion; Use a weedless hook when wacky rigging to reduce the problem with catching the weeds.

[Drawdown]

A pond combo that’s been money for me whenever there’s cloud cover or lower light has been a Junebug colored Zoom UV Speed Craw, Texas-rigged with a 1/8 oz weight and 2/0 or even 3/0 hook. Stained or clear water. It has a fantastic ability to swim or have a compelling appearance of a craw running on the bottom. So it’s good where you’ve got craws, frogs, and bluegill.
 

Either constantly doing light bounces on semi-slack line, reeling just enough to keep the same semi-slackness after each little pop—or (especially if there’s a little breeze) a steady retrieve with jerking the rod tip. Strikes tend to be subtle with the former approach, not very subtle at all when they like the latter.

[Jmontgomery87]

A lot of great suggestions have been made. I would add a drop shot to keep your plastics up off the muck bottom.

[El jefe]

Whopper Plopper size 90 in bone color could be really good in the mornings this time of year on a pond.

[oldnewguy]

2 hours ago, king fisher said:

     More information might be helpful.  What is the water clarity, and surface temperature?  What is the primary forage for the bass?  What other fish are in the pond?  Besides weeds, is there any other cover, such as trees, or rocks?  How is the pond for access, can you move around easily and cover water or are you only able to fish a few locations?  How deep is the pond?  How much fishing pressure does the pond get?  All of these variables can make a big difference in deciding what technique may work best.

 

Thanks, I need all the help I can get.

 

The 5 or 6 ponds that I fish all have Sunfish, LMB, Channel Catfish, and most have Bluegill.  There may be other species, I just haven't caught anything else.

 

I'd say clarity is a 4-5 out of 10.  I'd guess water temp is in the mid-80s.  There's usually 2-3' of surface foliage near the bank, and most all have spots with overhanging trees, or submerged trees.  Access is generally 100%.  They're suburban ponds, so they're all fished on a pretty regular basis.  I avoid the ones that are super busy.  And I doubt that any of them are more than ~12' at the deepest.

 

Monday, I'll take some pictures of the spots I think seem the fishiest.

59 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

How deep do you start picking up vegetation? With your current combo, you have a lot of options in baits that will run from just under the surface down to 8ft.-10ft. I'm talking hard bodied lures like spinnerbaits and cranks.

 

There are weeds, but that's not even the issue.  It's just this muck that seems the cover the bottom.  It seems like if my jighead, or anything with a treble hook, hits the bottom, it's coming up with a trail of leaves or dead foliage.

[Dash Riprock]

My primary fishing spot is from the bank of a mucky bottomed creek. I also need to keep things off the bottom so I mostly fish weightless Texas rigs or wacky rigs. Lately I've been killing it with Fat Ika's and they don't get too mucked up even if I let them fall all the way to the bottom. As a bonus they're real easy to cast - might be my new favorite lure. 

 

I used to fish there a lot with inline spinners (some old Shysters I inherited from my dad). Not really sure why I got away from that, they worked. Never really had any luck there with proper spinner baits or jigs. Occasionally they like an OG Rapala silver minnow but hardly any other crankbaits work. 

 

I was out there once during the winter when for whatever reason the muck had cleared off and I had a great day with Ned rigs, but normally that's not doable. 

[islandbass]

14 hours ago, oldnewguy said:

 

Thanks, I need all the help I can get.

 

The 5 or 6 ponds that I fish all have Sunfish, LMB, Channel Catfish, and most have Bluegill.  There may be other species, I just haven't caught anything else.

 

I'd say clarity is a 4-5 out of 10.  I'd guess water temp is in the mid-80s.  There's usually 2-3' of surface foliage near the bank, and most all have spots with overhanging trees, or submerged trees.  Access is generally 100%.  They're suburban ponds, so they're all fished on a pretty regular basis.  I avoid the ones that are super busy.  And I doubt that any of them are more than ~12' at the deepest.

 

Monday, I'll take some pictures of the spots I think seem the fishiest.

 

There are weeds, but that's not even the issue.  It's just this muck that seems the cover the bottom.  It seems like if my jighead, or anything with a treble hook, hits the bottom, it's coming up with a trail of leaves or dead foliage.

Then don’t like your terminal end touch the muck, lol. Just ribbing you and I can relate with you. A lake I fish is exactly like you described. 
 

Keep one thing in mind. No matter how excellent your presentation is, you cannot catch where they are not. This was a tough one for me to accept. 
 

Also accept that the muck and all else your lures stick to is a part of the game. You’ve also learned treble lures aren’t ideal.  Some lures like spoons and inlines can have their trebles replaced with single (siwash) hooks. You still will get some grass and such but it won’t be as bad as trebles. 
 

“Weed-less” presentations make fishing such conditions a bit more bearable/tolerable. 
 

Lastly, you might want to fish other places for a change of pace. 

[padlin]

For inline spinners like Mepps going lighter/smaller and adjusting the speed helps keep the lure up out of the weeds but they are still weed magnets. I use them in the clear spots, but then I'm not shore fishing. Sure is easier to find spots that are easier to fish with a boat of some sort.

 

The most weedless lures I use are T rigged craws and worms, again lighter stay higher in the water although higher isn't always better for bigger bass. I like burying the knot in the plastic and use a small bullet weight with one of the sinker stops then slides over the line before you add the weight. Irregardless, you still get some weeds, kind of the nature of the beast. Where it's real weedy I might try weightless.

[Kongming]

I like to use weighted hooks with twistlocks with my flukes.  Weight is generally 3/32.  Its very weedless, and often I get a strike when I pop it out of some weeds.