Stunted bass pond

[TheRodJerker]

Was inherited 2 acre bigmouth bass and bluegill pond from my Grandfather, he is 92 years old and neglected it for about 10 years now. He fed them pellets off and on, that's about it. All the bass but one were under 1 pound and under 12 inches. It's about 25ft deep in the middle and very muddy water. So I was suggested to start culling the small bass from my pond, and maybe some bluegill since it's so overcrowded.

My issue is, what lures should I use? Everything I got is for bigger fish. Needing recommendations on what I should use to start culling my bass pond of smaller bass. They don't seem to react to anything topwater.

Thanks, Rod Jerker.

1 hour ago, TheRodJerker said:

All the bass but one were under 1 pound and under 12 inches

Wanted to say that I mean, ALL THE BASS THAT I HAVE CAUGHT. Which I have caught well over 30-40 from the pond in the last 3 months or so. Bluegill are doing great(size wise), bass are not.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, TheRodJerker said:

My issue is, what lures should I use? Everything I got is for bigger fish. 

 

Are you sure about that:

 

2 hours ago, TheRodJerker said:

All the bass but one were under 1 pound and under 12 inches.

 

Wanted to say that I mean, ALL THE BASS THAT I HAVE CAUGHT. Which I have caught well over 30-40 from the pond in the last 3 months or so. 

 

 

More seriously, if you caught 30-40 already it seems like just use what you've been using.

[OmegaDPW]

Weightless finesse worm. The smaller the better for the real dinks. Probably get some of the bigger bluegill at the same time. 

 

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

More seriously, if you caught 30-40 already it seems like just use what you've been using.

 

  This too 100%. 

[GreenPig]

For smaller bass in a muddy pond, it's hard to beat a small Spinnerbait or Beetle Spin. 

[Pat Brown]

Inline spinner / small Jerkbait will catch everything that swims in a hurry.

 

It doesn't take a lot of work to get a 2 acre pond on the right track and you may very well have some large fish hiding in there.

 

You'll know for sure in the spring next year.  🙂🙂🙂🙂 

 

Don't underestimate pop n' fly type rigs especially right now.  Can be hours of fun with small sunfish and bass and really help culling.

[TheRodJerker]

Found out there's been two muskrats in my pond and had to trap them out. I'm sure that's what's scaring the fish off a bit. And a great blue heron been sitting on this bluegill bed every morning for a few weeks now, my dogs aren't awake early enough to chase it off lol. Got to get me a deterent to keep the big birds and muskrats away.

Been SLOWLY getting the dinks out by using a weight/length chart I got. Thank you all for the advice. Brought my confidence back up and now I'm committed to restoring this gorgeous pond. Cheers.

[Bazoo]

I don't have any problem catching small fish on a 1/4 oz H20X squarebill and weightless texas rigged curly tail/ribbon tail. worms in the 6" or less range.