Finding the big one in the pond

[Matt Ashby]

Been catching a lot of 2-3’s lbs but can’t seem to catch the big one. Any suggestions? On how to get one over 5 out of a 1 1/2 acre pond?

[RRocket]

Big baits? 

[Mobasser]

Are you sure there's a bigger one in there?

[N Florida Mike]

Use Shiners ! 😉

[Pat Brown]

When targeting big fish I like to do extremes. Extremely big bait, extremely small bait, extremely fast presentation, extremely slow presentation.  Fishing extremely late or extremely early, or in extremely heavy wind or maybe extremely calm etc.

 

I really like lures where I can kind of control the depth that the lure is doing its thing because I feel like big fish are more likely to come up to attack something that is kind of dancing around in their face and there's a lot of different presentations that sort of achieve this hovering dance that they seem to like so much.

[LrgmouthShad]

If the environment/ecosystem/*insert some scientific word* is not right, larger bass will not be there. 
 

I like plastics and swim jigs in small ponds along with some other things. If the forage is larger, a larger bodied plastic creature or worm may help

 

Ponds are not rocket science. Easy places to fish.

[MAN]

Your probably not going to like my answer....but catch a small perch or some shiners and put them under a cork.  You will find out real fast what you have in that pond. 

[GreenPig]

Going bigger and fishing slower during inclement weather works for me.

[Terry_]

If you are catching tons of little ones, it may to too heavily populated to grow bigs. They need a crazy amount of forage for weight gain. 

 

I see you are in Texas, try a little night time top water this summer. 

[ironbjorn]

1.5 acres is really small and there might not be a bigger bass in there, especially if there are a lot of smaller ones.

[Zcoker]

It's a total commitment deal, meaning that if you focus on fishing for big fish, then that could mean just a few hits a day or even less or even none at all. Have to have that mindset. Need to feel ok with it. The motivation is the unknow factor, yet knowing that in a minute she could slam your bait and be the "one". Move around, try different spots. Try to think like a big bass lol. It's a very dynamic process but does work...eventually. 

[Johnbt]

If you don't know what's there, go to the bait shop and walk by the minnows and buy one or two big expensive goldfish and a bobber. One could last all day and catch multiple fish, but buying two is safer.

[gim]

Go to another pond.  Or a lake.

[Functional]

I'd really make a nighttime trip. If there is a big one and being so small if its pressured I'd just about bet you will get more big bites at night. 

 

Agreed on not holding my breath on a 1.5acre pond though, especially if you are getting a lot of smaller ones. Likely not enough food to support a big one. 

[Bluebasser86]

Not every puddle has a pond monster in it, but some do. My PB swimbait fish was out of a puddle so small that I could cast across it in any direction. I caught her deadsticking a MS Slammer. 

 

The easiest and surest way to find out if there's big fish though, bobber fish a 4" bluegill or a big golden shiner. 

[rgasr63]

The live bait thing works good. But it is time to throw a big size jig. The jig will bring the bigger fish in and you can gauge the average size and estimate if they have a big fish I sometimes refer to as Gertrude . Time and some good work with the jig will give you a great size estimate for what is there 

[DaubsNU1]

Keep hammering...my PR came in a small NE Missouri pond, maybe 2 acres in size.

 

This was a private pond, and I am pretty sure those with access to the pond has been routinely "re-locating" bass from other lakes.

 

I had caught a few 2-3lb bass...one afternoon was pitching my Rainbow Trout colored Slug-Go near some trees...twitch, pause...twitch-twitch...BANG!  8 lb bass!