What to do?

[Keepin_It_Reel]

Where i live there is three little ponds that have big bass in them, but they are hard to catch. The only thing i have caught them on this summer is buzzbaits when it is almost dark. The only cover is rocks and a few weeds that are growing right next to the bank. I dont know what to do because their is no cover and i get mad because i cant locate any bass.  Any thing i can do?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

What else have you tried other than a buzzbait?

[Keepin_It_Reel]

I have tried senkos,zoom trick worms,tubes,carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits and only caught two fish on those all year. I think that bass or crappie could be chasing minnows because i see baitfish on top swimming around in the middle of the ponds. I was going to try a jerkbait but i really am not sure what that is or what to buy.

[Marty]

Jerkbaits are long, slim lures that dart erratically when paused on slack line after being jerked or twitched.

There are hard jerkbaits, such as Rapala Husky Jerk or Smithwick Rattling Rogue, and soft jerkbaits, such as Slug-Gos and Zoom Super Flukes.

You can find these in any store or at any online store or catalog to see what they look like.

[Raul]

I would certainly follow excellent Marty 's advice. When fishing minnow shape baits with spooky fish what I do is not to retrieve the bait at all, I cast it near cover and leave it there, then I just twitch the bait to keep it in the place, thewhen you pull the line the bait dives, rolls on it 's side and darts sideways and floats back, I only reel in the slack line I created. Don 't expect the fish to blast the bait, in most ocassions they only suck the bait, when they do so I let them mouth the bait for a few second and then set the hook. Patience when doing this technique, it can take you a good half hour or more to retrive tha bait completely.

[Keepin_It_Reel]

That was a great idea I went and picked up a few husky jerks and used them tonight caught 3 bass 15in, 18in, and 13in. While driving around I found a new 5 acre pond can't wate to try it out.

Thanks Marty and Raul

[Guest avid]

I would try a crankbait and jig/pig around those rocks.  reel the crankbait so it hits a rock then pause.  The strike usually comes on the pause.  With the jig, just crawl it along those rocks like a craw fish.

I would try these tactics if the topwater bite isn't on.

[basswest1]

Other topwaters should work well too.  Try using a popper in a bluegill or sunfish color.  Try different retrieves.  Real slow, real arratic and fast or dead drift.  Try small shallow diving crankbaits like Strike King's Model 1.  

[Guest DavidGreen]

Keepin_It_Reel,

Here a tip for ya. Next time you catch one of those fish, feel the teeth and if they are sharp, the fish are eating shad, if they are flat/broken down then they have been feeding on craws. I would then start to turn over some of those rocks and see what color crawdads are under them.

Then as Avid mentioned I would be jigging those rocks also.

Tight Lines!

[Keepin_It_Reel]

ReelMech

The ones I caught last night did have sharp teeth they tore my thumb up when I held them . If they are eatting shad what should I use?

[bassackwards]

don't use nothing.  your thumb is proof and bragging rights that you caught lots of fish.  lol

[Guest DavidGreen]

Keepin_It_Reel,

If that is the case then you have found your answer in the above posts.

bassackwards,  is right also

your thumb is proof and bragging rights that you caught lots of fish

Tight Lines!

[Kendammit]

could also be eating frogs, bluegill, or whatever other soft bodied creatures are in or enter into the water.