Fishing Pressure...

[PondBassin]

Hey guys,

I've got a couple of questions regarding how to approach fishing at a neighborhood pond. The pond I'm fishing at is closer to a lake than a pond; it's pretty big. BUT, here's the important part. It is fished by only ONE person. This person however, fishes the lake EVERY day for multiple hours. He's mastered the lake as it's in his backyard and he's fished it for over 10 years. He brings in constantly big fish every time, but has also seriously pressured the fish of the lake. Every single fish in this lake knows the sound of his paddle boat or the splashing of his canoe, yet he still manages to catch them. Me, on the otherhand, not so much luck. I've fished with him before and I don't know if it's the season or the pressure but the number caught has gone down significantly. He usually sticks to the same baits, zoom trick worms, buzzbaits, and zara spooks, and for the first time in his fishing career, has switched baits and is now almost exclusively fly fishing. This has been going on for aboout three or four months, also the amount of time since I've been there.

The question I'm asking is should I just go to one of his old successful baits? Or should I try something new (any suggestions?)? The pond at its deepest point is eight feet and is a couple of acres. It has points and droppoffs (though not significant) and it has two VERY shallow creeks. Should I try up in or near those creeks? Where should I be looking now that it is fall time? This is my first time serious bass fishing in the fall, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions just post a reply and I'll answer em.

Thanks, PB

[pussiwillow]

i would play with some new ideas for sure, things the bass havent seen, i would try throwing some swimbaits, creature baits like baby brush hogs (my goto bait), and some jigs. fall is my favorite time to fish, i use crank baits and swim baits to mimic the bait fish in my area, once the water gets a little colder into the 40's which is late fall for me (today my high temp was is the 90's so the water is still pretty warm)i fish standard jigs and hair jigs. i fish natural looking baits, plastics i fish pumpkins, browns, green pumpkins on overcast days or stained water, muddy water i use same colors dipped in chartrues attractant like jj's magic or black with reds in it, sunny days or clear water i use lighter more natural greens like watermelons and even pumpkins, pumpkins and green pumpkins work pretty much in any condition. im by far no expert and you will get alot of different answers, but this is what works for me, and i hope theres something useful you can use from my post! good luck tight lines and have fun, half the fun is catching fish on different techniques and lures!

[Bassn Blvd]

Perhaps he spent the past 10 years learning how to catch the fish in his pond, whereas you have yet to begin.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Ive heard bass cant get conditioned to plastics, I dont believe it, but many do. I would mess around with whatever you feel confident with, so my suggestions would be off from what you would be confident with. Go out there and put some solid time in with a few baits you KNOW you can catch fish with.

NGaHB

[zenyoungkoh]

Im very sure that fish can get conditioned to plastics. The fish at the pond by my house knows almost every single lure in the world. Try throwing a senko, its killer, and since he doesnt throw it, it'll become a serial killer!

[Khong Y.]

Hey guys,

I've got a couple of questions regarding how to approach fishing at a neighborhood pond. The pond I'm fishing at is closer to a lake than a pond; it's pretty big. BUT, here's the important part. It is fished by only ONE person. This person however, fishes the lake EVERY day for multiple hours. He's mastered the lake as it's in his backyard and he's fished it for over 10 years. He brings in constantly big fish every time, but has also seriously pressured the fish of the lake. Every single fish in this lake knows the sound of his paddle boat or the splashing of his canoe, yet he still manages to catch them. Me, on the otherhand, not so much luck. I've fished with him before and I don't know if it's the season or the pressure but the number caught has gone down significantly. He usually sticks to the same baits, zoom trick worms, buzzbaits, and zara spooks, and for the first time in his fishing career, has switched baits and is now almost exclusively fly fishing. This has been going on for aboout three or four months, also the amount of time since I've been there.

The question I'm asking is should I just go to one of his old successful baits? Or should I try something new (any suggestions?)? The pond at its deepest point is eight feet and is a couple of acres. It has points and droppoffs (though not significant) and it has two VERY shallow creeks. Should I try up in or near those creeks? Where should I be looking now that it is fall time? This is my first time serious bass fishing in the fall, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions just post a reply and I'll answer em.

Thanks, PB

Observe him more, it isn't the switch to fly fishing. He only switched to fly fishing so that he can try out a new technique. If I fished in the same pond or Lake for 10 years, i would like to try something new too. If you didn't notice, he might have tried to master the lures and technique and where and when to fish that particular lure.

You should do the same and you'll figure out a pattern and technique too. Remember, season, weather, forecast, temperature, clarity, day of time etc... changes the mood of the bass too. Using what type of lure works best and knowing where the bass are will help you fish successfully. Color also makes a difference in water clarity. Not so much in deep water fishing but shallow around 1-10feet.

[Catt]

If bass were capable of “learning” or capable of becoming “conditioned” to our lures we would never catch another bass ever.

Proof positive is the fact that this person has consistently caught these bass for 10 years now using the same lures.

Consistently catching bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and structures that are non-productive and duplicate structures and patterns that are productive.

Anglers often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and your fishing success.

[PondBassin]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'll probably try the trick worm out for a bit, then switch to something new Maybe a brush hog,though not sure yet... any more suggestions or lures?

But to add on to the conversation earlier, I'm almost 100% certain bass can get used to plastics. Another very small pond that I fish nearby proves that whenever I am sight casting for bass and through my good ole trick worm nearby. What used to be aggressive strikes is now just swim over, look at it, and sprint off into the distance!

Thanks again, PB

[Khong Y.]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'll probably try the trick worm out for a bit, then switch to something new Maybe a brush hog,though not sure yet... any more suggestions or lures?

But to add on to the conversation earlier, I'm almost 100% certain bass can get used to plastics. Another very small pond that I fish nearby proves that whenever I am sight casting for bass and through my good ole trick worm nearby. What used to be aggressive strikes is now just swim over, look at it, and sprint off into the distance!

Thanks again, PB

Yes, they do learn pattern and it can become a habit, but I'm sure this is rare. If you take a Bass and put it in the 50gallon Tank and feed it. I'm betting it knows when you are coming to feed it. Even if you put a shad or feeder fish up high, it'll jump for it. It picked up a habit or pattern and will respond too. Just switch to a diffferent lure and you'll see a different outcome. Now as for how many pattern a Bass will remember, I don't know.

If a Bass know how to migrate, i'm sure they can learn pattern or habit. They have to in order to survive in the habitat they live in.

But the best thing about catching the bass is TRICKING IT to bite. This is the reason why you are fishing.

[Catt]

Plastic Worm (Texas rigged) It’s a long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish. Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities. Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit. Doug Hannon

Studies have proven that the plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER!

That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them. That’s why you cannot continue to catch them on your honey hole with the same lure over and over. Bass will stop eating that which will eradicate them. Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them.

[WRB]

I agree with Catt on the subject.

We often like to blame the bass for not striking the lures of our choice instead of figuring out where the bass are located and what the bass pefer to eat at the time.

High pressure isn't one skilled angler fishing a pond for 10 years. More than likely the majority of adult size bass in that pond have never been caught because the skilled angler fished a few lures and colors that target bass of his choice.

Broaden your presentation techniques and use lures the bass will strike where they are located; only you can make that choice.

There isn't a panacea or magic lure, there are some high percentage lures and live bait that big bass will tend to strike if you present them to the bass properly.

Spend some time talking to the successfull angler and ask what the bass eat in this pond, what was found in the stomach for example. Catch some of the bait fish and crawdads and determine the size of the prey and color when alive and wet.

If possible fish during the low light hours or at night. The pond being shallow (8 feet deep) allows the bass to roam the entire water column; bottom to surface year around. Find the all the structure elements like isloated rocks, posts, stumps, small sharp depth changes, ditches, channels and any dam building materials (if there is a dam) that can provide places for prey to hide and bass to eat. Learn all you can about this pond, it's small and shouldn't take too much time. Any cover elements like weed edges located near an isloated structure is a prime target.

Tom

PS; Anglers fly fish because they enjoy they it.

[zenyoungkoh]

May i invite those who think that bass cant be conditioned to a point that they stop biting a specific lure to fish in this pond: http://maps.google.com/?ll=34.182158,-118.769701&spn=0.002328,0.00328&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6

[North Ga Hillbilly]

I'm a fan pf small ponds myself, as I can learn them well and target them from the shore. But no matter what your trowing, you will have periods where they are turned onto one type of presentation. When the blue dragonflys start hitting small ponds here in GA there is no other lure that rivals a blue dragonfly fly, pretty much constant action. Either way, this one fella hasnt ruined the pond for you, try talking to him about is tactics. I've never met some one that likes to talk as much as a fiserman!

NGaHB

[Shifty]

Here on the Colorado River Ive noticed the Bass will tend to follow the Carp around and eat what the Carp flush out.

Either the Bass are smart or maybe they are just lazy.

Point is...Bass are capable of learning.

[Bankbeater]

My guess is when the guy started fishing this pond he was in the same boat you are in now. After 10 years of fishing the same place he probably even knows where all the cover is located.

[zip pow]

Try some tube baits I prefer strike king brand watermelon chartuse in 4.5inch model on a 3/16 oz jig head these have always produced for me in farm ponds as longs there were some bream in it