How would you fish this pond? 2024

YoTone reply :

Im going away on vacation starting next week in MA and its next to this pond that i plan on hitting up on my kayak.

Ive been seeing reports of small mouths and large mouth bass so im eager to do well. where would you guys target considering the warm weather.

visagelaid reply :

I think I would fish this like I would fish anything else in the summer time. Given the water temperature, I would target fish from 5-10 feet of water in the morning time. Once the morning bite ended, I would target cover from 12-20ft on humps, ledges, and points. Then in the evening I would target shallow again. This is all dependent on visual activity of bait balls and whatever else you can see if shad are the primary forage. Also dependent on the type of grass mats or algae present in the lake. I was ripping a lipless crankbait through bait balls on Guntersville a week or so ago, and had great luck. This is just my opinion from the cheap seats as I am not a professional. Good Luck and I hope you catch tons of fish.

YoTone reply :

thanks bro! ive never really fished where i can access those depths. im usually a bank angler so im kinda intimidated by the challenge. this is also the first time looking at a map like this and trying to base where i fish off of it.

NYBasser reply :

If there are weeds, try flipping a jig or texas rigged bait in holes or along the edges. Dropshotting in 20-30ft of water may also produce some smallies.

Torn Thumb reply :

I'm not familiar with that pond but the second page of that PDF is probably from late 1980's to mid1990's like most Mass lakes and ponds. The species list may not be up to date and the pond might look a little different in my experience with the MA division of wildlife and fisheries maps.

Just a heads up. I doubt too much has changed but I wouldn't put all your eggs in that map/basket.

BassB8Caster reply :

On 8/18/2016 at 10:16 PM, Torn Thumb said:

I'm not familiar with that pond but the second page of that PDF is probably from late 1980's to mid1990's like most Mass lakes and ponds. The species list may not be up to date and the pond might look a little different in my experience with the MA division of wildlife and fisheries maps.

Just a heads up. I doubt too much has changed but I wouldn't put all your eggs in that map/basket.

These are they exact same type of maps i have to go by here in Maine. The state has them for basically all the lakes and ponds. Like stated above, take it all with a grain of salt. It is better than nothing, but they are definitely not exact. This time of year you can find success in the shallows where grass, lillies and cover exists (especially late in the day through the night and mornings). Then they can be found in deeper water off shore. Spend some time around any inlets with fresh cooler water and cover close to drop offs. Dont be afraid to get up in the thick stuff with the kayak.

YoTone reply :

so it seems every ones take is to go shallow early. where would you target if the bass arent in the shallows? should i target those lines where it marks the deeper part starts?

visagelaid reply :

If they arent shallow early, then I would go straight to the 12-20ft range.

BassB8Caster reply :

On 8/18/2016 at 11:39 PM, YoTone said:

so it seems every ones take is to go shallow early. where would you target if the bass arent in the shallows? should i target those lines where it marks the deeper part starts?

Drop offs near flats and or inlets, points, humps, grass and weedlines, 10 to 20 foot deep structure. Search these areas with cranks, spinners etc. Once you find them pick the area apart with jigs, soft plastics, drop shot etc. Pay attention to how they hit your bait and how deep they are at (on bottom vs suspended). May need to vary your retrieval until you figure out how they want it.

timsford reply :

Concentrate on any deep water structure such as Creek channels, points, and humps while it's hot and sunny. Also anywhere the water is cooler by at least a few degrees like where water enters and exits the pond, and under any shade from trees or weedbeds. When it's cloudy or at night (best time to fish during summer for both bites and comfort imo), look near shallow cover that is close to deep structures. The clouds or darkness usually makes the fish more active. Early in the morning a round daylight and in the evening around sunset can produce great top water bites. As far as baits go match the main forage forms for bass in ponds like bluegill, crappie, craws, and frogs. I use the same types of lures in ponds as I would use if I were fishing the same structure in a large lake. My favorite way to fish ponds is slow rolling a pan fish imitating swimbait like mattlures gills, hudd gills, and similar bitesaround any cover or structure

Fish the Mitt reply :

Bass will be shallow if there are reasons to be shallow. Look for the signs. If there is nothing indicating a huge shallow presence, feel free to focus deep. Like many have said, a lot of what anglers do is start shallow early and progress out as the day goes on. Conversely, as the day approaches evening, begin to make your way back in. However, for me, my gameplan would be dependent on how the lake looks now-a-days. So, with that in mind, I figured I'd help you along:

YoTone reply :

thanks, so ive highlighted in purple where i think i should target first. am i correct for hitting those spots?

Fish the Mitt reply :

On 8/20/2016 at 4:17 AM, YoTone said:

thanks, so ive highlighted in purple where i think i should target first. am i correct for hitting those spots?

If you're going to fish deeper water, try to target structure of some sort (fishfinder?). What you've highlighted is just sloping depths and not indicative of anything outside of the depth changing. Now, if you go to navionics and really zoom in, I would look for shallow, thick cover near drop-offs. However, I've already done it for you and to be honest, there doesn't seem to be alot of emergent cover on this lake. (disclainer: unsure how old the google map is)

If I were there; and I'm no pro or even an expert, I would start shallow early am and work my way deeper as the day progresses (moving back shallow toward nighttime). If you don't have a fishfinder to target structure, paddle and throw a 1.5/2.5 crank until you hit fish. There's not a whole lot for me to go on here. But again, I'm no pro. I don't read maps for a living either

Perhaps others would have some input but to me, it's an open, coverless, lake.

Now, if you were fishing nighttime, there is one spot I would most definitely hit. E/SE of the saddle in the center.

"hamma" reply :

If i'm correct this is sheep pond on the cape? I've never fished it but I can tell you that many of the cape ponds have herring in them, and, green pumpkin is a good color for plastics on the cape. Many cape ponds are crystal clear, I use 8 to 12 pound green stren, and cast as far as possible when faced with such waters

Its not a large lake, but that doesnt really matter as far as the quality of fish on the cape, many of the smaller ponds there hold good bass. And if it does have herring, you may find some monster bass in it if the pond has the right weeds.,... Morning topwaters should be good, a silver patterned jerkbait would be a good bet, and a green/pumpkin plastic on a "ecofriendly" 1/4 oz jighead, or otherwise rigged would get my nod as well. A craw patterned crankbait wouldnt hurt either. Massachusettes is a lead banned state, jigs or weights under 1 oz must be ecofriendly.

Looking at the topo maps I'd say the area just after the ramp where the pond opens up looks like a good drop,... and the hump, with added sunken points in the middle of the pond looks like it will hold some bass too. Seeing as its a smaller pond, you might be done fishing quickly, and if so. The first tourney I ever fished was on neighboring long pond and some beauties are hiding under its waves. There is also a state park nearby thats stocked with trout, that I've been told some nice bass are in those smaller ponds as well.

I wish I had more for you and good luck

Mr. Aquarium reply :

drop shot the deep structure. i heard theres some big smallies in there. chances are the steeper drop off should have fish if you dont have a fish finder. c rigs would work as well! i fish in those kinds of ponds! im from MA, never actually fish this place but i for one can tell ya its going to be a deep water game for smallies. our main forage is perch and shiners! but this place i think has trout in it as well! its a kettle pond so it was made by the glaciers

the deep drop offs and the mid lake flats should be good!!

YoTone reply :

this morning did not go out well. the anchor i have did not hold up to the wind. i tried the ne side and it was a mess with the strong wind making a joke out of the anchor i used. the shallows are all beach like with no structure at all. ill try the north west side and try to locate docks to target. this super clear water is also intimidating because it looks like theres no life in it. like a big sand pit.

i guess i should of invested in electronics. but i still have like 3 mornings left to try to catch something but things will have to improve tomorrow

visagelaid reply :

Dont let it get you down. Im sure you will find them and slay them. Stick with it!

YoTone reply :

well im still not sure where to cover in the deeper parts so i went with what i know. i went shallow and looked for cover along the banks on the north west side of that lake. had a few misses but i managed to catch a lmb that was hugging the banks in some grass on the plopper. ill target the same areas where i saw activity on the surface then move further south along the banks tomorrow. at least i beat the skunk but im still looking for a smallie.

YoTone reply :

update, went out an hour before dusk and fished the plopper in the north west part of the lake in shallows and got this, my first smallie.

"hamma" reply :

Nice,...dont be against fishing a topwater over deeper water in the am. Smallies will hit a topwater while racing up from 40+ foot depths, and usually at this time of year theres more of them deeper than shallow.

visagelaid reply :

Some healthy looking fish. Nice work!

YoTone reply :

went out this morning to attack the north west side just where it started to drop off. tossed the jig with the most realistic craw i had and dragged it till i felt my line heavy and hauled up this 2 lber. tomorrow ill hit that spot first for a few then race down south and work my way up the west side.

Mr. Aquarium reply :

awesome fish

blckshirt98 reply :

Nice job! Solid looking fish with really deep color!

diablojoe reply :

On 8/18/2016 at 11:39 PM, YoTone said:

so it seems every ones take is to go shallow early. where would you target if the bass arent in the shallows? should i target those lines where it marks the deeper part starts?

Honestly if you are bank fishing target the less than 10 ft range in the morning also if you look on the first page top right hand side there is a steep drop off contour lines are very close together which might be a good spot to start from the bank could be a big bass that lives close especially if there is weeds are submerged grass there remember to sneak up on the bank early morning and start your cast parallel to the bank both way before moving further out. Usually from what I have read baitfish are close to shore in the morning and miner out to deep water during the day so bass might try to ambush them at that spot

YoTone reply :

thanks diablojoe, but my vacation is sadly over and i wasnt bank fishing.

the way i had the most action was right at the drop offs on the north western side. my anchor wasnt up the challenge so it was hard maintaining position but i did land a few more in that area.

thanks for the tips guys.

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