Predictable early fall slowdown. Help!

[farmpond1]

I have a pond that I fish all the time and for years now, it's the same thing-when late summer/early fall rolls around, the bass just seem to shut off.  I know they are there (somewhere) but they just stop biting.  I've fished at dark with the hopes of them turning on then but darkness, if anything, slows them down even more.  Any suggestions?

[brushhoggin]

yeah it's suckin here real bad too. two weeks of straight sun. drier than a bone here. i'll get lucky during a 5-6 hour trip and catch 2 or 3 loners lookin for a snack. i do the best in the mornings getting out as early as i can, as the lake has had all night to cool down, throwing small spinnerbaits. gets so hot so quick, eventually i can't handle it. other than that, look for deep shade.

[TrippyJai]

For the past few weeks, I've had very limited success in catching bass out of a pond. It seems like they have completed shut off as well.

The baits that do catch me a few on each outings are a Zoom finesse worm and a 1/8oz single colorado spinnerbait, but all I am catching are dinks under 12". Seems like the bigger bass over 2 pounds have moved into deeper water where I cannot access on shore. I've also noticed the water been much clearer as well.

[Big Bass Chaser]

Out here in California, I've found a predictable morning and evening bite, and its been tough in between.  Cranks for those willing to chase, drop shot for those that aren't has been productive for me.

[farmpond1]

Sometimes I wonder if, after the culmination of many days, all the bass have learned my old tricks.  I know there's one scarred up bass who frequents the shore where I often go.  I've caught him one or two other times (one for sure), and now he just stares at my lures like "Oh, yeah, sure!  You expect me to bite that?!!  Oh, and incidentally, one of the points on the back treble hook is getting dull.  Better look into that."

[helms83]

The pond I fish has turned into an evening pond, where the fish are active for about 45 minutes. However, they are very picky; I'll watch them follow many baits but do nothing else. So I found the using a 2/0 offset hook, with a Baby Craw (any color to match the water clarity), and slowly (I mean slowly: no more than 2ft at a slow swim and then letting it sit for at least 15 seconds) sweeping my rod horizontally is the only effective method. They seem to not be able to resist the Craw.

[hookset on 3]

Farmpond, a few tactics for weary worn out bass in a small pond.

1. Early fall is THE best time of year for topwater.What kind of forage is available in your pond? If the pond has sunfish and/or perch,use poppers and spooks that have the same coloring.

2.Use technics the fish have never seen.If you've fished your soft plastics texas-rigged,then start throwing wacky and drop shot rigs.

3.Bass avoid human contact. fish from areas of the pond that you usually don't cast to. Pick up a set of waders and stand in spots you have not cast from before.

Good Luck, hookset on 3

[MMan16]

I've notice that in my local ponds when the late summer/ early fall temps start to drop the fishing shuts down. After a few weeks give or take of the cool temps the fish turn back on. I think the just need to acclimate to the new water temps. During the shutdown most of the fish around here head for the deep water where there is some warm water still.  I like to throw some deep cranks,jigs, or weighted soft plastics.