Question about timber?

[playmaker47]

I just got permission to go fishing on a 5 acre pond that is loaded with standing timber and trees that have fallen on from the bank. I fish with a small 10' aluminum boat. If anyone has some advice for catching the bass in this pond I would apreciate it.

Also I heard that it has some monster crappie in it. Does crappie in a pond that size effect the bass population?

Thanks for any advice.

[bmo30]

There is no better cover for large bass then standing timber, try to locate the depth that the fish are relating to in general and find timber that is at that depth and you should have a productive day.  Crappie have an affect on bass population because they eat the fry sized bass but on the other hand bass eat crappie to, even very large ones. Ive fished lakes that have been for the most part taken over by crappie and other panfish.

[ernel]

If you can find timber that is near a drop it would be the best place to start. Some ponds have drops, and some don't. If yours doesn't then go for timber on a point. Try laydowns on points as well.

As BMO stated, crappie can ruin a good pond. Most wildlife agencies recomend not putting any crappie in a pond. Main reason being is that they not only eat more than other pan fish, but also have more off spring when they spawn.  

[Nick]

It's just five acres, fish all of the timber. Some will be better, some won't. Use baits that are timber friendly.  Depending on your latitude, you could have some very thick water.  You will know very soon if there is a good population of bass in it.

Funy I have a pond in my subdivision that has had a very interesting bass to crappie ratio over the years. I can tell you that both can co-exist in good numbers provided you have an excellent forage base. The crappie in my 2 acre pond eventually overcrowded, but at the same time, the bass provided two super spawns and the little bass survived well enough. I counted 8 big bass beds last year, and the fry of 2002 are now 8-10 inches. Somehow q

[squid]

Quick story about a farm pond.  This pond was never fished before, and in 2 hours with just topwater bait we caught over 22 bass, not one under 2 pounds.  The guy I fished with could not beleive the luck we were having...told him it wasn't luck, they were just hitting something they have not seen on here.  Never had a day like that again...lol...he never invited me back.  

[squid]

sorry forgot to tell you...it was a flooded field of timber, was just an awesome view with trees coming out of the water.  Had to use a flat bottom boat that leaked so bad that is why we were only out for 2 hours.  We scraped over some stumps too, but must have only been 3-5 feet deep.

[Nick_Barr]

I Would prefer fishing isolated laydowns with a Kreature Bait or a Stanley Jig with a Yum trailer

[roadwarrior]

The Fat Ika can be rigged weedless so you can fish the gnarly stuff like you would with a jig, but you won't get hung up as much. I fish them weedless and weightless, they are VERY effective.

[BASSMAN1301599783]

Find the diagonal standing timber in the middle of the vertical standing timber.  These areas have a much greater percentage of holding bigger and more bass because they offer more cover than the standard vertical standing timber!

Good Luck!

[Zac_White]

if its a pond with grass and stuff on the bottom then u'd probably want to use a spinner bait that way u limit the amount of grass u pull in (slow retreve). but if the bottom if mosty leaf cover then bottom baits(jigs,lizards & plastic worms) work pretty good. you can put the bait right there next to the tree and if theres a bass there chances are that they'll hit it.