Pond Fishing

[martijw]

Granted, this isn't the norm for big bass, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice for working some ponds over for Mr. Largemouth and his buddies. Most ponds I fish are usually shallow and kind of murky (of course this changes based on weather patterns). I have to pondfish a lot for now because of accessibility issues (IE no boat for now :'() and the most annoying thing is seeing a bass sitting there and not being able to get them to bite on anything I have. I fish a lot of crankbaits and have been told BigGulp worms are the way to go with ponds. Anyone out there as desperate as I am to fish that they rely on ponds to satisfy their life needs?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

You need to start playing with soft plastics more.  Senko, obviously but also some shakey head stuff and finesse stuff.   Those bass that are in view are probably very hip to many offerings as it would seem thay are accustomed to seeing people on the bank.

[Alpster]

WELCOME to the forum!

Check out this post by Road Warrior, it might be of help to you.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137/0#top

Ronnie

[squid]

SOME OF THE PONDS THAT I FISH......ARE JUST FILLED WITH BASS.   I PUT ON MY WADERS AND WADE UP TO MY WAIST AND GO FOR THE BIG ONES UNDER THE MUCK.

I USE A WEEDLESS TOP WATERBAIT AND THROW RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MUCK AND JUST USE DIFFERENT RETRIEVE WHEN BRINGING THE BAIT BACK.  I ENJOY WATHING THEM HIT THE TOP THROUGH ALL THAT MUCK.  THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS ABOVE THEM, CAUSE NO ONE FISHES THE PONDS THIS WAY.  THEY MIGHT THINK IT IS A FROG HOPPING ACROSS THE MUCK...WHO KNOWS...JUST PLAIN OUT FUN FOR ME..

[martijw]

That link is pretty solid advice...thanks Alpster

[skillet]

Martijw,

 Welcome to the board. I pretty much only get to fish small lakes or farm ponds, but I don't look at it as a bad thing. I really like it!!!

 I will fish pretty much fish any bait that you fish in larger lakes except crank baits. It's not that I don't like them, I just don't like swimming for them when I get hung up.

 I was always under the impression that if you could see the fish, they could see you and won't normally bite. That's if they don't take off like their tails on fire, leaving a  nice pretty V wake where they were  ...

                                                                 As Ever,

                                                                  Skillet

[Nick B]

What kind of ponds are these, community, farm? The amount of pressure these ponds get will also determine how you should go after them.

[Clayton]

i have pond fished all of my life and I love it!  Your core baits are what I had most of my luck with.  White spinnerbait, chart spinnerbait, worms (purple believe it or not) senko (watermelon) weedless texas or wacky through the moss.  Topwaters in the summertime and spring early in the morning.  When I was in highschool, I used to go by the pond and fish for an hour catch five or 6 then go to school!!  On the topwaters throw some poppers, or confused minnows.  key in on cover that you can see going down into the water or that you can see out in the water.  when it warms up just get out there all the time.

[calumet]

SOME OF THE PONDS THAT I FISH......ARE JUST FILLED WITH BASS. I PUT ON MY WADERS AND WADE UP TO MY WAIST AND GO FOR THE BIG ONES UNDER THE MUCK. I USE A WEEDLESS TOP WATERBAIT AND THROW RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MUCK AND JUST USE DIFFERENT RETRIEVE WHEN BRINGING THE BAIT BACK. I ENJOY WATHING THEM HIT THE TOP THROUGH ALL THAT MUCK. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS ABOVE THEM, CAUSE NO ONE FISHES THE PONDS THIS WAY. THEY MIGHT THINK IT IS A FROG HOPPING ACROSS THE MUCK...WHO KNOWS...JUST PLAIN OUT FUN FOR ME..

He's right; I own a pond in KY (stocked 10 years ago) and this is the route I take when fishing. My dad and I are the only ones who fish it but, still, this is the best way to "tackle" the problem.

[Pond Hopper]

I fish mainly ponds and the baits I use 90% of the time are spinnerbaits(especially murky water), t-rigged worms, something like a horny toad, buzzbaits, and then an occassional jerkbait.  If not many people fish these ponds they will often bite a variety of baits.  They can be 'stupider' but it is still fun as hell catching them.  My firs advice is to figure out the bottom contour with a t-rig, jig, or carlina rig.  This while be a big help.  One thing I am doing this year also (we have safe ice) is putting structure on top of the ice (rocks, sticks, xmas trees) which will give me some good structure to fish come open water.  And just because they see you, you can still catch them.  My last advice is where natural colors, brown, green, blues, that sort of thing.  Red and white are not good colors from experience.  Go have fun and let us know how you do.

Corey