need advice for tomorrow's fishing trip

[woody9409]

I am going fishing tomorrow at a small 3 acre pond in southeast virginia. My question is how will the change in weather from hurricane ophelia affect the fishing. The pond is anywhere from 3-20 feet in depth, has lots of fallen trees and stumps, has some vegetation, and has plenty of bass. The forecast is for 30% chance rain, cloudy, and definately windy. Any suggestions?

[Chris]

Spinnerbait the shallow stuff.

[roadwarrior]

I'm having pretty good luck on some ponds I fish with tubes and Kut-Tail worms, T-rigged and unpegged. If you think a weighted presentation is going to keep you hung up, try a Fat Ika weightless.

A shallow crank might keep you out of trouble and onto fish. I've been having some luck with the Bomber Square A and Norman Fat Boy, bluegill pattern. Both lures can be fished from the bank without too much worry of being hung up.

As far as the weather goes, WOW! It might be perfect. I have had some pretty big days in front of a big storm.

[bowjunkie35]

Spinnerbait the shallow stuff.

Chris is right here. If it is going to be windy, use a spinnerbait. They aren't only for spring you know!  

Anytime there is some chop on the water, especially in ponds, chances are good that you will do well throwing one.

Good Luck!

[woody9409]

Thanks for the info. Got the spinnerbaits rigged and ready to roll. Also got the cranks ready. Just hope the wind isn't too bad. I will be by my self in a 10' jon boat w/out trolling motor. Will be paddling my rear off if  the wind is bad.

[bassackwards]

I'd try to keep tabs on the barometric pressure. once it starts fallin, from then until it stays steady (whether at low pressure or not) should activate their feeding.

since it is a hurricane (or tropical storm, whatever it decides to be at the time), I imagine the barometric pressure starts fallin way before the winds and rain come, sicne its such a big system. so it may start to fall, and stay at a low pressure for some time. some point in there they should start feeding, and I'm guessing it would be once it starts fallin until it has been steady for some time.

to find out active they are, start at a quick pace for a retrieve and begin slowing down. if using a spinnerbait, bouncing it on the bottom may work,

I'd hit some sort of cover, if they're feedin they'll be in attack mode.  steadily retrieve it and as it passes some cover, kill it.  

I would think a trick worm would be irresistable. retrieving it like tap tap-pause-tap tap tap-pause- and so on.

[justtrying]

1) find wood [stumps, trees, limbs, etc...

2) throw To, Around, Behind, On, Bump, Crash, etc., every piece of wood you can find with a crankbait

3) put the fish in the boat!

[Sam]

Start with a buzz bait and have some fun first.  It is super watching the bass swirl around the buzz bait and then setting the hook is fantastic.  Good luck.  

Let us know how you did.

[Redtail]

I use to fish senkos about 80% of the time - on a suggestion from RW I tried a Fat Ika - I hardly use senkos anymore.  It's by far my most productive bait for LMB.  I caught 2 over 6lbs in the last 10 days using it on a very small private pond.  Give one a try!

[woody9409]

Thanks for all the tips.  I had a great day.  Fished for about 4 hours, caught 7 bass.  One was over 5lbs, 1-4lbs,1-3lbs, and a couple1.5 lbs.  Your call on the spinnerbaits and cranks was right on.  I caught 3 on each.  The 5lb was caught on a white trick worm.  Most of the fish were caught in 4-6 foot depths.  Again, thanks for the pointers.