Small Pond with some STUD BASS

[rowyourboat]

ok guys, i found this place about a mile from my house. it is a VERY small pond, water is murky and has tons of logs and stuff in it. I saw several very nice small mouth swimming around (3-4 lbs). But I cant get them to hit anything at all. any suggestions? this place see a lot of pressure i believe if that helps any

[J Francho]

it is a VERY small pond, water is murky and has tons of logs and stuff in it

You sure they're smallmouth?  Doesn't sound like smallmouth habitat at all.

I'd throw a jig, however.

[L a r r y]

If its a VERY small pond........just jump in and go swimming with the fishes 

[rowyourboat]

yes, they're smallmouth. the pond is right next to a river so my theory is they got in whenever the river flooded.... it use to be a pond for a towns water supply, but it was shut down several years ago.... i could tell they were small mouth and i also saw bluegill swimming around.

[Gangley]

Bluegill Crank or bluegill swimming jig

Otherwise, go with a jig and trailer.

[Bass_Akwards]

Lake Fork Craw Tube

[mrbassky]

Fish early and late in the day. With small ponds the fish really seem to focus feeding around low light conditions. Most of the time in the warmer months I wont even fish ponds until the last 2 hours of daylight or the first 4 hours in the morning. You may also want to try night fishing. 

[natalex1208]

Great suggestions above and mine just reiterate.

Disclaimer: I do not EVER use live bait for bass fishing and never will.  However I do not judge others that do or that might want to, such as the situation we have now.

However you could try live bait to catch ONE and make sure what you think you are seeing is in fact what you are seeing.

night fishing with a spinner bait can be great for smallies esp if they have some size.

Otherwise jigs, and small plastics.

Fish during low light conditions.  Dusk/ dawn/ and cloudy esp if right before a rain.

[webertime]

I'd throw:

2"-4" silver minnow-type baits (Yo-Zuri Pin's Minnow) 

1/8 oz. jighead with a smoke/silver flake curly tail

3" Senko with green or brownish (Hegimite colored)

or...

Bust out a flyrod and toss Bead-head Wooly Buggers or a Meat Whistle

[J Francho]

Disclaimer: I do not EVER use live bait for bass fishing and never will. However I do not judge others that do or that might want to, such as the situation we have now.

However you could try live bait to catch ONE and make sure what you think you are seeing is in fact what you are seeing.

That's a great idea. A big old nightcrawler or soft shell crawfish on a bait hook should do the trick. I like the fly rod idea too. If the pond is that tiny, at least make it interesting.

[Dan:]

topwater! I'd also question the smallmouth designation but you've seen them and I haven't.

[BassThumb]

If it's murky, then I bet it's muddy and unsuitable for wading, so unless you can get a little boat or canoe in there, flyfishing isn't really realistic.

I would try a white or Arkansas Shiner Zoom Super Fluke, small lipless crank, tube jig, susp jerkbait, or an 1/8 oz buzzbait.