Need some advice 2024

SGT Rico reply :

Lets say you have permision to fish a 2 acre pond. The pond is stocked with catfish, brim, crappie, bass, and roaches. They might be some other stuff there that I have no clue about. Anyways, The brim fishing is excellent, but the bass fishing is horrible. I just can't figure out this place. So my question is, how would you fish a place that gets no fishing presure (only by the owner that fishes only for crappie and brim)? The pond has never been drained, and its been there since the early 80's,or atleast that's what the owner told me today. I've fished it with everything in my arsenal, jigs, worms, all kinda of cranks and rattle lures, senkos,......etc. The biggest fish I've pulled from there was last year in the summer, she weighed about 3 pounds. I fished that placed all summer, and caught a couple of dinks and that 3 pounder. What would you do if you had this problem?

FYI-The owner has three bass mounted that he caught many years ago in that pond. The biggest weighing 14 pounds, and the smallest weighing 12 1/2 pounds.

BASSclary reply :

Keep at it.

Patience will prevail when you hook into a hoss.

Crestliner2008 reply :

Have you tried to fish it at night?

SGT Rico reply :

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Have you tried to fish it at night?

I haven't, and to be honest, I have not thought about that!!!!

SGT Rico reply :

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Keep at it.
Patience will prevail when you hook into a hoss.

Thanks for the motivation, I got spanked there today...lol..

BASSclary reply :

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Keep at it.
Patience will prevail when you hook into a hoss.

Thanks for the motivation, I got spanked there today...lol..

Just remember, even pro's have no fish days, they just don't air that! ;D

Missouribassman95 reply :

Have u tried live bait??

SGT Rico reply :

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Have u tried live bait??

Yes, I've tried freshly caught bluegills and shiners. I only fished that way for a couple of hours.

WRB reply :

Ask the owner where he caught his big bass and what he used.

Does the pond have running water into and out? If it does, concentrate on those areas and any deep water.

I would try a buzzer at night and 10" T-rigged Power worm.

Keep about 10' back from the bank, pond bass often cruise the shoreline looking for prey and are very wary of movement.

Vinny Chase reply :

Throw some moving baits, then go for the jugular with a senko.

These are the two baits I almost always throw in the spring time to figure them out.

fishermantony reply :

The pond might be out of balance.

WdyCrankbait reply :

you did not mention spinnerbaits in what you have tried. Have you tried one of those? I would say keep trying to replicate the bluegills or crappies either with hard swimbaits or different manufactures cranks. One of my favorite cranks is a Rapala XRSH-6 or 8 yellow perch. One killer bait there. (Sorry, but I am not tech savy enough to post a picture of the lure.)

WdyCrankbait reply :

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The pond might be out of balance.

He could have a very good point there!

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

SPRO Frog

SGT Rico reply :

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The pond might be out of balance.

He could have a very good point there!

I am no pro by any means, and maybe I am doing something wrong, but this makes a lot of sense. I've thrown everything at this pond (except at night) which I will be doing tomorrow!!

Something just is'nt right. I will try tomorrow night and will report here asap!!

SGT Rico reply :

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Ask the owner where he caught his big bass and what he used.
Does the pond have running water into and out? If it does, concentrate on those areas and any deep water.

I would try a buzzer at night and 10" T-rigged Power worm.

Keep about 10' back from the bank, pond bass often cruise the shoreline looking for prey and are very wary of movement.

There is no running water unless it overflows. The biggest bass was caught on a black and silver brokeback Rapala. The rest were caught on Zoom u-tails. The owner of the property is not a bass fisherman, so his knowlegde of bass fishing is very limited. His son gave him the brokeback rapala, thats the only reason he had that lure....lol....

SGT Rico reply :

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you did not mention spinnerbaits in what you have tried. Have you tried one of those? I would say keep trying to replicate the bluegills or crappies either with hard swimbaits or different manufactures cranks. One of my favorite cranks is a Rapala XRSH-6 or 8 yellow perch. One killer bait there. (Sorry, but I am not tech savy enough to post a picture of the lure.)

Yes I have, willow blade, Indiana blade, and colorado blades. Blue,Gold, and silver are the colors I've thrown in there. Whats also funny is that there is another pond on the property, this one is a tad smaller, but I've always been able to catch fish there.

Glenn reply :

That pond is definitely out of balance, which is very common. It's time to thin the herd. Keep everything you catch.

bwell reply :

I would work a drop shot, keeping the bait in the strike zone longer will increase your chances of a strike on a pond like this...

SGT Rico reply :

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That pond is definitely out of balance, which is very common. It's time to thin the herd. Keep everything you catch.

that sounds like a plan. I am going to talk to owner today to see what we can do.

Lund Explorer reply :

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SPRO Frog

LIVE Frog!

Hook him through the lips with a 2/0 weedless hook, pop a big air bubble under the skin on his back, and toss him out in the middle of the pond.

If Mrs. Hawg is anywhere around, this should bring you the answer.

Dwight Hottle reply :

If all the fish you have caught are slack bellied,carrying no weight then the pond is out of balance and you need to take all fish under 15" out. If some of the fish are fat just short in length your probably ok. Try putting out a soaker with a blue gill fin clipped under a bobber or free lined as an extra rod. Try tossing a senko wacky rigged on your 2nd rod.

senile1 reply :

I think the out of balance idea sounds right. You say the brim fishing is excellent. Are you catching nothing but really large bluegill? If that is the case it could indicate that all of the smaller bluegill are being eaten and you probably do have an over-population of bass.

bradbass reply :

try some crappie or bluegill swimbaits

Hooligan reply :

Didn't read all the answers, but from your description alone I'd just about guarantee there's a huge fish density in the pond, and that 3lb fish is about as big as you're going to see them. A two acre pond can only support so much biomass.

Rolltide09 reply :

I have some places like that around my house where I can only catch them on a weightless zoom finnesse worm. I also agree with the pond being out of balance.

VTechHokie reply :

Sounds to me like the pond probably has a small number of VERY large largemouth in there. The good bluegill and crappie population makes me think that there is more than enough food from the fry that the mature brim produce. this would also explain why there arent too many dinks that you'd usually catch often in a pond like this. Largemouth fry directly compete will bluegill during the early life stages. So a pond that is populated by alot bluegill and crappie can be a very difficult place for a jevenile bass to survive. So these few largemouth have all the food (bluegill) in the pond just to themselves with very few competitors.

Its going to be hard to catch the fish in there because they most likely have their fill off of all the forage for them in there. But I would say keep fishing hard and you will probably get one! And it will be a nice one im willing to bet!!

Keep us updated!

saint romain reply :

beetle spins

cato reply :

Sounds like the bass have plenty to eat so maybe they are not hungry. I would go for strictly reaction bites.

SGT Rico reply :

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Sounds to me like the pond probably has a small number of VERY large largemouth in there. The good bluegill and crappie population makes me think that there is more than enough food from the fry that the mature brim produce. this would also explain why there arent too many dinks that you'd usually catch often in a pond like this. Largemouth fry directly compete will bluegill during the early life stages. So a pond that is populated by alot bluegill and crappie can be a very difficult place for a jevenile bass to survive. So these few largemouth have all the food (bluegill) in the pond just to themselves with very few competitors.
Its going to be hard to catch the fish in there because they most likely have their fill off of all the forage for them in there. But I would say keep fishing hard and you will probably get one! And it will be a nice one im willing to bet!!

Keep us updated!

Thanks for such an educated answer!! I will go hard at it once the water temp gets closer to 60 degrees.

WdyCrankbait reply :

Quote

Quote
Sounds to me like the pond probably has a small number of VERY large largemouth in there. The good bluegill and crappie population makes me think that there is more than enough food from the fry that the mature brim produce. this would also explain why there arent too many dinks that you'd usually catch often in a pond like this. Largemouth fry directly compete will bluegill during the early life stages. So a pond that is populated by alot bluegill and crappie can be a very difficult place for a jevenile bass to survive. So these few largemouth have all the food (bluegill) in the pond just to themselves with very few competitors.
Its going to be hard to catch the fish in there because they most likely have their fill off of all the forage for them in there. But I would say keep fishing hard and you will probably get one! And it will be a nice one im willing to bet!!

Keep us updated!

Thanks for such an educated answer!! I will go hard at it once the water temp gets closer to 60 degrees.

Now I am not arguing with a VT grad since I am as well, but I guess to see if he is correct SGT Rico is to go out to the pond one early morning and see if there any what I call "hand-gernades," (No, not Jersey Shore reference), but huge strikes on the top! Also, maybe go outside the box and try rat lures, snakes something like that. Keep up posted on any progress and good luck!

VTechHokie reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
Sounds to me like the pond probably has a small number of VERY large largemouth in there. The good bluegill and crappie population makes me think that there is more than enough food from the fry that the mature brim produce. this would also explain why there arent too many dinks that you'd usually catch often in a pond like this. Largemouth fry directly compete will bluegill during the early life stages. So a pond that is populated by alot bluegill and crappie can be a very difficult place for a jevenile bass to survive. So these few largemouth have all the food (bluegill) in the pond just to themselves with very few competitors.
Its going to be hard to catch the fish in there because they most likely have their fill off of all the forage for them in there. But I would say keep fishing hard and you will probably get one! And it will be a nice one im willing to bet!!

Keep us updated!

Thanks for such an educated answer!! I will go hard at it once the water temp gets closer to 60 degrees.

Now I am not arguing with a VT grad since I am as well, but I guess to see if he is correct SGT Rico is to go out to the pond one early morning and see if there any what I call "hand-gernades," (No, not Jersey Shore reference), but huge strikes on the top! Also, maybe go outside the box and try rat lures, snakes something like that. Keep up posted on any progress and good luck!

I agree!

I would probably try the same thing! ;D

SGT Rico reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote
Sounds to me like the pond probably has a small number of VERY large largemouth in there. The good bluegill and crappie population makes me think that there is more than enough food from the fry that the mature brim produce. this would also explain why there arent too many dinks that you'd usually catch often in a pond like this. Largemouth fry directly compete will bluegill during the early life stages. So a pond that is populated by alot bluegill and crappie can be a very difficult place for a jevenile bass to survive. So these few largemouth have all the food (bluegill) in the pond just to themselves with very few competitors.
Its going to be hard to catch the fish in there because they most likely have their fill off of all the forage for them in there. But I would say keep fishing hard and you will probably get one! And it will be a nice one im willing to bet!!

Keep us updated!

Thanks for such an educated answer!! I will go hard at it once the water temp gets closer to 60 degrees.

Now I am not arguing with a VT grad since I am as well, but I guess to see if he is correct SGT Rico is to go out to the pond one early morning and see if there any what I call "hand-gernades," (No, not Jersey Shore reference), but huge strikes on the top! Also, maybe go outside the box and try rat lures, snakes something like that. Keep up posted on any progress and good luck!

I agree!

I would probably try the same thing! ;D

I got a couple of brand new cavitron buzzbaits that I've been dying to try.....lol... I've thrown buzzbaits in there before, but never in the morning. I work as a bow techician in a tackle shop, so my days off are very numbered..lol.. Monday I am off, I will be there early morning, and will also try night fishing on Monday.

Bassnajr reply :

My $.02...

I would throw a large hard swimbait (wake model) morning and night....problem is cost and equipment. The Akita swimbaits on Ebay are $10-$15 dollars but you have to have a rod able to throw it. Sounds like the bass are used to alot of food, but made not one BIG meal. Less energy expended for more food...maybe a winner.

Good luck!

By the way...I am sure everyone here wishes they had your problem!!!! ;D

SGT Rico reply :

I have a couple of 4" floating BBZ's I can try?

Bassnajr reply :

Try em....I agree with some others that probably a topwater/wake bait of some type will get you bit. IMO the size will be key. IMO big fish would rather one HUGE meal than have to battle the dinks (who are much faster) to get many smaller meals. Also how deep is this pond? I admit I didn't read all the responses..sorry. The post about being too close to the bank is right on too. I know it's hard to sneek up on these big ones from shore, especially if the water is clear. If this is a manmade farm pond, I am gonna assume it is bowl shaped. These big bass are hiding somewhere during the day...right???

SGT Rico reply :

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Try em....I agree with some others that probably a topwater/wake bait of some type will get you bit. IMO the size will be key. IMO big fish would rather one HUGE meal than have to battle the dinks (who are much faster) to get many smaller meals. Also how deep is this pond? I admit I didn't read all the responses..sorry. The post about being too close to the bank is right on too. I know it's hard to sneek up on these big ones from shore, especially if the water is clear. If this is a manmade farm pond, I am gonna assume it is bowl shaped. These big bass are hiding somewhere during the day...right???

You are absolutely correct, it is bowl shaped. the owner said that the middle is about 12-16 feet. I would agree with him because I once went fishing on a jon boat there and I was amazed that my jig kept falling. typically around here, ponds are not that deep. I have no clue why that pond is that deep.

WdyCrankbait reply :

What is the latest SGT? Have you had any better luck there?

BassThumb reply :

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Lets say you have permision to fish a 2 acre pond. The pond is stocked with catfish, brim, crappie, bass, and roaches. They might be some other stuff there that I have no clue about. Anyways, The brim fishing is excellent, but the bass fishing is horrible. I just can't figure out this place. So my question is, how would you fish a place that gets no fishing presure (only by the owner that fishes only for crappie and brim)? The pond has never been drained, and its been there since the early 80's,or atleast that's what the owner told me today. I've fished it with everything in my arsenal, jigs, worms, all kinda of cranks and rattle lures, senkos,......etc. The biggest fish I've pulled from there was last year in the summer, she weighed about 3 pounds. I fished that placed all summer, and caught a couple of dinks and that 3 pounder. What would you do if you had this problem?
FYI-The owner has three bass mounted that he caught many years ago in that pond. The biggest weighing 14 pounds, and the smallest weighing 12 1/2 pounds.

What are roaches?

TheLastRodBender reply :

If you want to make a project out of it, and have some fun doing it. Go down to the bait shop, pick up 2 dozen minnows and catch as many crappie as you can, then have a heck of a fish fry. Do this a few times and make sure you only keep fish OVER a certain size, it'll help balance out the population and be enjoyable doing it.... that is with permission of the pond owner.

You could mention to him if he has any kids/grandkids, that it probably wouldnt be a bad idea for them to come down and weed out some of them by fishing for them.

Also i would downsize GREATLY... just to see if you have ANYTHING in there thats bass related. Throw small jerkbaits, inline spinners, grubs. I know you are gong to have a lot of competition with the ohter species of fish but it'll still make for an enjoyable outing if you outfit yourself with some ultralight gear!

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