Mr. Ranger Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Let's talk about Lures. Here's what I'd be interested to know- What is your go-to lure for each major pond here in the Memphis area? Example: For Grove, I like a yellow buzzbait For Kroger - i'll take a good pumpkin rage tail on a blue/black finesse jig And so on. This would be beyond helpful for us newer guys on the Memphis Pond-Hopping Circuit. Quote
Basstracker 95 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Fished Appling Lake this evening and ended up with 5. No size to any of them though. I know its some good ones in there I just haven't figured out how to catch'em yet!! I am determined to catch something at least 3 pounds out of there LOL! 1 Quote
MFBAB Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I don't think of it that way, meaning I don't think it's a good idea to let your game plan be fishing with one specific lure on any given pond no matter what the conditions are. It's got to be a little more situational than that, IMO. I don't even fish the same buzzbait for every pond or set of conditions, there are different blades for different conditions just like there are different spinnerbait blades and plastic worm tails for different conditions. Just take a look at the conditions you see, and then start checking them off on the list one by one. 1 - Is it Windy or Calm? 2 - Muddy or Clear? 3 - Hot or Cold? 4 - Cloudy or Sunny? 5 - Dark or Light? 6 - Cold Front, Stable or Pre-Frontal? 7 - What time of Day? - The first 5 on that list are leading you towards power fishing on the left side and finesse fishing on the right. A combination of rights and lefts might indicate baits in the middle of the spectrum. An example would be: - Power Spinnerbait: Big Colorado Blade with a twin tail trailer - Muddy or Night - Medium Spinnerbait: 3/8 Oz w Double Willows - Medium stained water with a breeze - Finesse Spinnerbait: 1/4 Oz. willow w a grub and no skirt - Clear water with a little breeze and partly cloudy - The next step down is a swim jig: Clear water and Calm Just apply that type of logic to all of your baits. In other words, the finesse worm (not covering water - fished slowly on structure) that might be your best bet on a sunny/windless day in the afternoon at Grove, might be a terrible choice on a breezy early morning when a spinner bait or topwater (covering water) would almost always be a better choice - assuming reasonably warm water temp. Hope that helps someone, there's no guarantees in fishing but you better believe you can play the odds and get more consistent results. Having said all of that, never leave home without a few shaky heads and trick worms :) Quote
jwemtp Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I fished the Lowe's lake and caught a small bass on the third cast. He was about 12" long and I put him back. Used a navy blue lizard, weightless with chartreuse tail on spinning rod.Saw lots of baby fish around bank. Didn't stay long as I went there straight from a night shift. The chick fil a lake / neshoba had lots of little fish, but not a productive day after sitting on southwest bank fishing for bream. Little fish ate bobber bait, also ran a drop weight rig with night crawlers and no luck. I assume that lake is rock bottomed, lots of stuff to get snagged on. I also threw a frog topwater and cicada crankbait with no luck. Quote
Mr. Ranger Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I don't think of it that way, meaning I don't think it's a good idea to let your game plan be fishing with one specific lure on any given pond no matter what the conditions are. It's got to be a little more situational than that, IMO. I don't even fish the same buzzbait for every pond or set of conditions, there are different blades for different conditions just like there are different spinnerbait blades and plastic worm tails for different conditions. Just take a look at the conditions you see, and then start checking them off on the list one by one. 1 - Is it Windy or Calm? 2 - Muddy or Clear? 3 - Hot or Cold? 4 - Cloudy or Sunny? 5 - Dark or Light? 6 - Cold Front, Stable or Pre-Frontal? 7 - What time of Day? - The first 5 on that list are leading you towards power fishing on the left side and finesse fishing on the right. A combination of rights and lefts might indicate baits in the middle of the spectrum. An example would be: - Power Spinnerbait: Big Colorado Blade with a twin tail trailer - Muddy or Night - Medium Spinnerbait: 3/8 Oz w Double Willows - Medium stained water with a breeze - Finesse Spinnerbait: 1/4 Oz. willow w a grub and no skirt - Clear water with a little breeze and partly cloudy - The next step down is a swim jig: Clear water and Calm Just apply that type of logic to all of your baits. In other words, the finesse worm (not covering water - fished slowly on structure) that might be your best bet on a sunny/windless day in the afternoon at Grove, might be a terrible choice on a breezy early morning when a spinner bait or topwater (covering water) would almost always be a better choice - assuming reasonably warm water temp. Hope that helps someone, there's no guarantees in fishing but you better believe you can play the odds and get more consistent results. Having said all of that, never leave home without a few shaky heads and trick worms :) Very helpful, and more specific than I was even asking! Thanks! I guess the reason I ask, is historically I have fished rocky, clear lakes in Missouri, and rarely fished muddy river water or murky pond water. So color is more what I was asking about. Call it a sunny day in muddy water, what colors work down here? Again, thanks for the great response. Very helpful. Quote
MFBAB Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Sun and Muddy water both tend to position fish tight on/in cover. Muddy to me is big flipping jigs w rattles, colorado blade spinners bumped into something solid, large profile creature plastics w appendages, present it tight to cover-any available cover, use scent, fish slower, try to help the fish find it. If your worried about color, go dark. Everyone says to use dark baits in muddy water, but every fish I ever caught out of muddy water was bleached out, white-ish in color, so why not imitate that? It's the least important IMO, if you're doing the other stuff. I caught fish this morning in muddied up water equally well on black and white skirted baits at the same pond, I started with a white skirt and a very big bass wanted it more than me (my fault for not changing my line enough), so I had to switch baits and still caught fish. I had the biggest blow-up of the year so far later on the black one, but no hook-up, it looked like someone threw a cinder block in the lake And no, I ain't sayin where!! If anyone is thinking about respooling, DO IT!!!!!!!! My line broke at the reel, on the end of a long cast where the big fish hit. I must've had a bad spot or a kink from a backlash or something, who knows. The bad thing is, I already knew I was due for a respool and didn't take the time. I found some time later this morning though 1 Quote
Basstracker 95 Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Fished Johnson Rd Park this morning. Between the 2 lakes I ended up with 10 overall, all small. Caught all of them on topwater. Small fish but fun morning. 1 Quote
MFBAB Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Picked up a fiver at Grove this morning, and lost a bigger one.....as usual I Only had 2 bites there. If you bat 500 in baseball, you're a millionaire. If you bat 500 on big fish, you just have a lot of sad stories! Quote
FishWitWiz Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 You should ditch that yellow cloth necklace for a nice gold chain. The small picture made me think you were one of my Italian uncles for a sec. Quote
Mr. Ranger Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Herb Parsons. I've heard this lake is over-fished, but then I hear that it is the best place in town to go fishing. Whats the story on this lake? Quote
Basstracker 95 Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 In my opinion, I wouldn't spend to much time at Herb Parson's. I feel like they have poorly managed this lake for many years. It is also full of Yellow Bass. I'm not saying you cant catch bass, but there are much better places to go. Glenn Springs, Lake Graham, Gibson County Lake. These are all good lakes and you can catch quality fish from all of them. Quote
FishWitWiz Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Hope everyone is having a great Father's Day! We are expecting our first child in September and I can't wait. I hit Johnson Park (Germantown) yesterday morning and caught 3 smaller fish on a chart/white spinnerbait after throwing just about everything else. All were caught on the western pond. Went back around dusk and got skunked. Hit Daycare on my way home (pregnant wife wanted a Sonic shake) and hooked into a nice 3.5 pounder who hit it like he was gonna be my new pb. Bugs, snakes and high grass out there are getting out of control. Quote
Skeeter Dan Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Got Skunked at Glenn Springs yesterday afternoon. Only fished a couple of hours. My water intake on motor got stopped up so to insure I had enough juice left on trolling motor battery to put my boat back on the trl. I made it a short afternoon. Got to the house put the hose and muffs on the motor and water pump is doing its job again. Quote
M35Man Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Hey whats going on! New to fishing and the forums here. Was wondering of any public bank fishing for bass around town here? Quote
FishWitWiz Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Hey whats going on! New to fishing and the forums here. Was wondering of any public bank fishing for bass around town here? Welcome to the forum! TONS of information in this thread. Grab a cup of coffee and read from the beginning and you'll be in good shape. Lots of bank fishing options here. Quote
M35Man Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Welcome to the forum! TONS of information in this thread. Grab a cup of coffee and read from the beginning and you'll be in good shape. Lots of bank fishing options here. Thanks for the reply! I kinda skimmed through it but really dont know the locations that well! Was hoping of somethin a little more specific. Quote
M35Man Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Is herb parsons good? Heard it has alot of bass! Quote
CamMTX Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Hey Guys, I have been a long time stalker on here and figured I would finally make an account. There sure is a lot of good info in this thread! I have lived in the Germantown area for my entire 27 years of existance and have really seen the fish numbers drop in my go to spots. I have never heard of Grove Lake and plan on hitting it up tomorrow for sure! I will let you know how it goes. Also, I know this isn't bass related, but does anyone know if there are any catfish or grass carp in the Grove or where there are some? I love fishing for some big ones, but finding them is the issue. Also I only practice Catch and Release to put your minds at ease.Thanks! Cameron Quote
MFBAB Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 Hey Guys, I have been a long time stalker on here and figured I would finally make an account. There sure is a lot of good info in this thread! I have lived in the Germantown area for my entire 27 years of existance and have really seen the fish numbers drop in my go to spots. I have never heard of Grove Lake and plan on hitting it up tomorrow for sure! I will let you know how it goes. Also, I know this isn't bass related, but does anyone know if there are any catfish or grass carp in the Grove or where there are some? I love fishing for some big ones, but finding them is the issue. Also I only practice Catch and Release to put your minds at ease.Thanks! Cameron Ha, I laughed out loud when I read that about carp. I've had a few times recently where I accidentally threw my buzzer or whatever I was using right on their head this year, in the dark....It sounds like someone threw a bowling ball in the lake when they take off!! That sound will let you know you're alive, for sure!! As far as finding the carp, just start going to ponds and walk the banks with polarized glasses, they are not hard to spot. Ponds with grass and silted ponds usually seem to hold a lot of them. Herb Parsons has carp too, I caught a 40 lbr once there on a redeye shad, in the mouth. I fished a pond recently that had a fish kill (or I should say I had planned to fish it). There were 4 or 5 40-60lb carp floating, probably 30 buzzards hanging around, and a lot of nice bass carcasses on the bank, it was a very sad sight. Catfish are just about everywhere, I think I've heard mention of one being caught at Grove on a Senko If you're not worried about size, Glenn and Herb Parsons stock a ton of cats and people seem to catch them off of the bank pretty easily. I caught a cat on my buzzer the other night at a private pond too, that was a first. Good Luck! Quote
FishWitWiz Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 MFBAB, where was the pond with the fish kill? Quote
Basstracker 95 Posted June 27, 2015 Posted June 27, 2015 I have a question about a pond and wanted to get some opinions from the forum. There is a pond at W.C Johnson Park that is far off the road, its actually behind the two smaller ones that are located to the left just as you come into the park. I looked at it for the first time today and it looks good. Its pretty good size and a little grown up but walkable. Has anyone here ever fished it? I have never seen anyone talk about it on here.I'm going to try it out soon, just wanted to know if anybody knew anything about it. Thanks Quote
FishWitWiz Posted June 27, 2015 Posted June 27, 2015 Basstracker, it is a fairly popular lake for crappie fishermen. It is a shame that no boats are allowed because you really need a kayak to fish it. Lots of structure for snags, have never got a big fish out of it. Quote
MFBAB Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Wiz, It's just a little sd pond, nothing on the regular park rotation. I have a non fishing friend there, they don't live right on the pond and didn't even realize it had happened. The strange thing about it was that there were thousands of bream still alive in the pond, they were all feeding up top on an insect hatch when I was there, but as I said, there were dozens of bass carcasses picked clean by the buzzards all over the bank. I don't know if this is normal for some species to survive or what caused the kill. One resident said she thought it was ecoli. Quote
Pater Posted June 29, 2015 Posted June 29, 2015 My son and I hit Johson park Sunday morning for a few hours. Started by the bridge on the lake with the fountains. No luck there so went to the lake in the NE corner behind the basball fields. Couple other guys fishing the banks but didn't see anything come out. On the way back to the truck he tossed his line in the small lake adjacent to the baseball field and immediately hooked about a 1.5lb'r. We fished it for another half hour with no luck but at least he had one to tell his mother about. 1 Quote
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