"Big" Bass, Small Ponds

[hokiehunter373]

7 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

okay so its all really about forage and structure for the bass. I used to fish a pond that had tons of vegetation, Frogs out the wazzu, huge bluegill and tons of small bluegill, toads, crayfish, and dragonflies that got stuck in the water. thats a ton of food for the bass, and they can get in the 4-7 pound range,

You basically just described the pond I fished growing up with my dad.  It's only about an acre and I have no idea how deep it gets but it has A TON of food.  Biggest bluegills I've ever seen.  More frogs than you could imagine.  One corner covered by trees.  The majority of the rest of it is lined with tall grasses.  I just started fishing this pond a few weeks ago again and so far I know it still has 4 pounders.  15-20 years ago my dad caught a 6, an 8, and a 10 in the same summer out of it so I have high hopes that quality is still there.

[the reel ess]

12 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

okay so its all really about forage and structure for the bass. I used to fish a pond that had tons of vegetation, Frogs out the wazzu, huge bluegill and tons of small bluegill, toads, crayfish, and dragonflies that got stuck in the water. thats a ton of food for the bass, and they can get in the 4-7 pound range,

There are lots of variables. But having that endless supply of forage is definitely going to help size and probably overcome the other variables. Some of those variables matter a lot more when the forage is limited. I fish a place that apparently has plenty of forage and there are lots of 6-7 pounders in there. But it's about 30 acres. And there aren't many people taking any big bass out of it.

 

[soflabasser]

I read all the responses on this thread and it reminds me how fortunate I am living in Florida. The places I fish has a very healthy population of 4-8 pound bass and there is always a good chance at catching a 8 pound or better bass. I catch these bass from land in public waters so you can do very well from land in Florida if you know what you are doing.

[Jamers]

On 6/24/2021 at 10:49 AM, Luke Barnes said:

I would be throwing a frog over every Lilly pad if I were to fish there. Also throw a big bait, maybe a bigger bluegill swimbait, ought to keep the gills off of it. 

Tried fishing it again to no avail still cant cast to the pads (theres a huge pocket wih just pads but it's literally unaccesable for me)

On 6/26/2021 at 12:26 AM, soflabasser said:

I read all the responses on this thread and it reminds me how fortunate I am living in Florida. The places I fish has a very healthy population of 4-8 pound bass and there is always a good chance at catching a 8 pound or better bass. I catch these bass from land in public waters so you can do very well from land in Florida if you know what you are doing.

I live in Ontario and here is a very unhealthy no bass anywhere but lake simcoe and little lake in barrie not even dinks (I would glady fish for half pound bass all day long but theres nowhere that has numbers or a reliable way to catch a bass

On 6/26/2021 at 12:26 AM, soflabasser said:

I read all the responses on this thread and it reminds me how fortunate I am living in Florida. The places I fish has a very healthy population of 4-8 pound bass and there is always a good chance at catching a 8 pound or better bass. I catch these bass from land in public waters so you can do very well from land in Florida if you know what you are doing.

I live in Ontario and here is a very unhealthy no bass anywhere but lake simcoe and little lake in barrie not even dinks (I would glady fish for half pound bass all day long but theres nowhere that has numbers or a reliable way to catch a bass ( thereare places but they are hour plus bike rides Sinde I dont have a vehihle)

[soflabasser]

@TitanBeats Canada has amazing muskie and northern pike fishing which makes up for its less than ideal largemouth bass fishing. Every place has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to fishing. With that said I prefer multi species fishing over bass fishing so Florida is my favorite place to fish in all the places I traveled so far. I would like to visit Canada since it has awesome fishing for northern species of fish.

[Jamers]

On 6/29/2021 at 10:43 PM, soflabasser said:

@TitanBeats Canada has amazing muskie and northern pike fishing which makes up for its less than ideal largemouth bass fishing. Every place has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to fishing. With that said I prefer multi species fishing over bass fishing so Florida is my favorite place to fish in all the places I traveled so far. I would like to visit Canada since it has awesome fishing for northern species of fish.

I get that but I prefer species that can be unhooked easily, and dont destroy half of my baits (I've already lost at least 6 $15 baits) I guess my only problem is the place I live is a dead zone (On lake simcoe) theres not a single pond with bass until I decide to bike for 2 hours (30 minute drive but I dont have a vehicle)

[Fishingintheweeds]

On 4/14/2009 at 11:19 AM, J Francho said:

Paul, I think for the majority, you are right.  But I still think there are others, with bigger catches that aren't reporting on the internet.  To us, its a ubiquitous part of our social lives, to others, its something completely unknown.  I also do think there are a select few that keep their cards close to their vest.  They may be onto something, e.g. a new state record, that needs to be kept quiet.  Who knows.

Kent, awesome post!  10's in your ponds?  For real?  Where's my invitation, LOL!

I do see your point about "professionally stocked, though, and "abundant forage."  Sounds like a BLAST.

These people exist. I've gotten some big ones out of places that I know get fished a lot but most of the people fishing there I'm pretty sure aren't exactly skilled. Until I feel them out, I usually don't mention anything as every passing year sees more people fishing the lakes in the area. Don't get me wrong, that part's great. The part that isn't great (for fishing and continuing genetics) is a scenario like I saw the other day. I was kinda fishing, kinda just hanging around at a smaller lake near us, by the bank with my 4 yr old when a slightly older kid that we know came up. The kids were fishing and learning from each other catching bluegills to use as bait with the worms they dug up and, long story short, the kid hooks into a big one and loses it. I didn't think anything of it until he said how he wished he could've landed it to bring home a big meal for everybody. I know the dad keeps pike to eat and sometimes bluegill and I don't tell people what they should and shouldn't eat but let's just say I'm glad that one got off. If it's the one I caught, it would be exceptionally big for Michigan and so also pretty big in this lake. 

 

Needless to say, I don't tell everybody about every fish I get or exactly where I caught it if I do. I don't care if people keep fish to eat but I care about keeping big fish in our lakes and I've met too many people who have come in with legitimately big fish to keep. Ha, they can do it, I just don't want to help them. 

[Fishingintheweeds]

On 6/24/2021 at 11:03 AM, the reel ess said:

NM. I was responding to a 12 year old post.

Me too.

[the reel ess]

8 hours ago, Fishingintheweeds said:

These people exist. I've gotten some big ones out of places that I know get fished a lot but most of the people fishing there I'm pretty sure aren't exactly skilled. Until I feel them out, I usually don't mention anything as every passing year sees more people fishing the lakes in the area. Don't get me wrong, that part's great. The part that isn't great (for fishing and continuing genetics) is a scenario like I saw the other day. I was kinda fishing, kinda just hanging around at a smaller lake near us, by the bank with my 4 yr old when a slightly older kid that we know came up. The kids were fishing and learning from each other catching bluegills to use as bait with the worms they dug up and, long story short, the kid hooks into a big one and loses it. I didn't think anything of it until he said how he wished he could've landed it to bring home a big meal for everybody. I know the dad keeps pike to eat and sometimes bluegill and I don't tell people what they should and shouldn't eat but let's just say I'm glad that one got off. If it's the one I caught, it would be exceptionally big for Michigan and so also pretty big in this lake. 

 

Needless to say, I don't tell everybody about every fish I get or exactly where I caught it if I do. I don't care if people keep fish to eat but I care about keeping big fish in our lakes and I've met too many people who have come in with legitimately big fish to keep. Ha, they can do it, I just don't want to help them. 

I was fishing our local reservoir in my kayak and there were three guys that I know keep EVERYTHING in a jon boat nearby. I caught a 5 pounder and weighed it in front of them. One of them asked me if they could have it. I said "Nope" and let them see me release it. That feels so good. I also don't mind people taking whatever is legal. But they can't have mine.

[Run2jeepn]

I have 3 Family Ponds I fish. One I've fished for over 20yrs. It's small, but has good vegetation and is spring feed. It has step banks and is about 10-12ft Deep, but it's under an acre. It's man made, but has been fenced off from cattle since I can remember. I've pulled a few 3 and 4lb'er, Dads pulled a 5 and 6 out of it.

 

The other 2 are a 2ac and a 5ac ponds. Both Shallow and for Cattle. They are very old ponds. 100+ years old. the smaller of the 2 is 8ft at it's deepest. The larger one not deeper. 1/4 in Pads, 1/4 of it is about 2-4ft deep. We pull 5lb+ multi times each year. They have a healthy population of Bluegills, Crappie, Catfish and LMB.  

 

I've got limited access to land that Johnny Morris's Family has. He has 4 Ponds that feed into each other. The Largest being 13ac but all 4 add up to little over 30ac... But these Ponds are very protected and only fished by Family and a selective friends group. They've pulled 10lb'ers out of it. Going to bank fish it soon. Not allowed to kayak it. Liability issues. 

[RealtreeByGod]

There's a park pond with a handful of 4-5lb northern strains that I'll see cruising in the shallows that ignore everything thrown at them because they've probably been caught 4-5 times.