been getting bites, probably from small ones.... should that mean bigger are nearby?

[fishhugger]

i fish a small pond, in california.  i've been getting bites in the evening, and it feels like they're small ones. i was using a pop-r, and then a square bill, both in sexy shad.  i caught one - a 9" lmb, on a square.  the pop-r -- it's like some little feller is slappin' at it??? 

i often fish on top of the earth dam --- i cast out, but focus mainly on the water near me -- that is, sort of the shallows, or near what little veggies there are, or under some overhanging trees. 

so, should i figure the larger ones are probably nearby also? or might there be so many little guys, that the big 'uns could be anywhere in the pond....  i'm figuring the small fry must be eating something, or being there for a reason......  or should i fish in the slightly deeper water near the shallows.... maybe a lipless crank to get deeper?  

note: open to any suggestions on technique, since other guys read this -- but i'm currently working on my crankin' technique ..... 

thanks in advance!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Sounds like your catching males who are guarding fry.   

 

If the females aren't totally done with spawning, they'll pull off the banks but not that far.  The real problem is they spend that time recovering, and don't want to chase a bait more than a few feet.      Catching females immediately after they spawn is never an easy thing at least for me.  

 

This assuming your fish are/have spawned being in CA.    

[fishhugger]

11 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Sounds like your catching males who are guarding fry.   

 

If the females aren't totally done with spawning, they'll pull off the banks but not that far.  The real problem is they spend that time recovering, and don't want to chase a bait more than a few feet.      Catching females immediately after they spawn is never an easy thing at least for me.  

 

This assuming your fish are/have spawned being in CA.    

except the bites all feel like small fish............  i caught a 9" lmb.... and this other guy was grousing that he's catching all these little ones....  he was fishing nearby --- altho i did hear him pleading with a fish to bite. i assume you don't do that unless it's a larger fish. or at least, i wouldn't!

no idea of the spawning, etc....  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Males are small fish generally speaking.   

[MediumMouthBass]

Some places might only have smaller bass, whether thats due to over population of a certain species or something entirely different.

Do you know if this pond has had bigger bass caught in the past?

 

I would definitely recommend a lipless crankbait, you can fish it at any water depth depending on weight and how fast you reel. Plus they can be casted very far. You might just need to fish some slightly deeper water.

 

And spawn-post spawn is always a tough time fishing for most of the country, might just be that.

[fishhugger]

it seems fishing in this pond has been really slow in the past year, or longer. before covid, i fished there, and even i caught larger bass ---  but there was a lot more of the vegetation (along the shores, milfoil, or whatever it is).  now - hardly any veg at all.

right now - guess you guys r right...  maybe the fish are tired out from spawning...........  

i'll try a lipless though.  it's my favorite pond to fish.  we seem to agree that we're fishing just to get out there.................

[WRB]

Bass between 6” to 10” are Juvenal from last yeas spawn and will strike anything that moves, forget them,

Using a crank bait when the adult bass are not willing to strike is practicing casting!

If you want cast and retrieve try a swim jig like a 3/16 oz ball head with  a Keitech 3.3” baby bass. You work the entire water column until you find adult size bass,

Tom

[fishhugger]

43 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bass between 6” to 10” are Juvenal from last yeas spawn and will strike anything that moves, forget them,

Using a crank bait when the adult bass are not willing to strike is practicing casting!

If you want cast and retrieve try a swim jig like a 3/16 oz ball head with  a Keitech 3.3” baby bass. You work the entire water column until you find adult size bass,

Tom

thanks, tom....  yes, the 9" seemed like a kid to me.  i'll try the swim jig you suggested.  and yeah...  i do prefer cast and retrieve, over significantly slower techniques.