Big Pond Breakdown

[RenzokukenFisher]

Hey Y'all! I've finally fished a 37acre pond I've been keeping my eye on and after yesterdays trip I'd like to start hitting this place hard. Only 3 fish but 2 were 3lbs and it is a place known to kick out a few double digits per year ontop of lots of healthy 7 and 8lb fish. The trick is its heavily heavily pressured so bait selection I hear is more limited. Drop shot, weightless worms, small jigs, and spinnerbaits. My fish yesterday were all caught on a 4.5inch roboworm split shot rigged, and a weightless t-rig senko.

 

I could really use help though in finding prime locations on this lake! I have ideas but want to hear your thoughts. I have some pictures of the lake with some rough markings for depth. Its fairly shallow, half is about 0-15ft with 2 creek arms, and the other half is pushing 20-30ft deep with a dam and a point. The yellow markings are aerators, curious if running a spinnerbait through those could produce? Anyone pattern aerators hahaha. Its predominately a weedy fishery with the shallower ends creating small mats this time of year, trip flipping and pitching those to no avail. Theres also plenty of reeds on the lakes edges, which I also failed to pick up fish pitching and flipping weightless senko and small jigs. Maybe they produce under other conditions just not yesterday. The main ticket yesterday was fishing deeper weedlines and small channels that extend from the deeper water into the creek arms. I dont have a depth finder so I just try to wing it. Its been over 110 degrees for a week here in California, I think the fish are deeper. Anyways at this point I'm ranting. Any heads ups? Open to any questions here to learn!

 

Water clarity: 2 - 4 ft.

Red shallow 0 - 15ft

blue "deep" 15 - 30ft

yellow aerators

[Stan_The_Bass]

I am not sure if you get out onto the water or you are fishing from the bank. If you are out onto the water my recommendation would be to set up your fish finder and set out onto the water WITHOUT ANY RODS. Your goal while you are out is to chart the entire pond (you could also do this with a rod with the DEEPER). Set up the ability to drop waypoints on structure and try and find as many brush piles, underwater rock piles, stumps, trees, grass / grass lines and other things under the water. once you have those identified it can help really cut the pond down to a fraction of 37 acres and can give you some real high percentage areas to focus on. 

 

Here are my best producing baits for ponds ( I am in texas in an area equally as hot )

 

- Wacky senkos /  weightless t-rig senkos (the key here is to constantly experiment with color, most people dont do that)

 

- finesse jigs (heavy to either stroke or drag)

 

- neko rig

 

- chatterbait

 

- frog

 

- flipping grass

 

- popper

 

- wobble head jig 

[FishTax]

I'd be thinking about what they eat, and where that's located. Where would I sit for optimal comfort and protection, near a buffet of snacks? Bass are just like us. They want a recliner with pretzels in the ac. Find those pretzels. 😎

I'd pay attention to the ledge where the water goes from 10-20' or whatever the slope is, in addition to shade and any cover you can find. With no electronics, you may try dragging a jig to determine depth and bottom composition, if it's not too junky down there. 

[Swamp Girl]

Quote

Anyone pattern aerators

 

I sure would. Bass crave oxygen.