pond fishing….bass, blue gill, ect.. some tips?
December 4, 2009
my friends and i have been trying to catch A fish for the past couple days and we cant seem to do it. We have been fishing in various ponds, that i know have fish in them because i have seen people pull 10-12 pounders out of them. we obviously dont know the first thing about fishing and would really like some help.
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14 Responses to “pond fishing….bass, blue gill, ect.. some tips?”
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I’ve fished a million spots like this. There are some key things to remember that aren’t the same as river or lake fishing.
In a pond, there’s not alot going on, around it, or on it. Therefore, it’s very quiet, other than some light wind, some bugs, and the occasional splash of a frog or a bird whistle. Shadows are unusual too. All this means that it’s absolutely crucial to basically sneak up on them. Come in from the side across from the sun if you can, and keep low. Be quiet. Don’t talk in loud voices. Avoid talking if you can. Crouch down if possible. If none of this is possible, kick back after you arrive and stay quiet in your fishing spot for 10 or 15 minutes, then try it.
Wear natural colors of clothing like green and brown.
Use lures that look like their food source. A large cork bumblebee on a size 4 hook is great. Throw it as far as you can (don’t use a sinker), then let it set for about 30 seconds. Then, twitch it. A very light twitch too. The elastic feelers will continue to vibrate and it will quiver in the water like a bug that fell in. I picked up a 4 lb bass like this once. It really works.
Next thing to try: Depending on the pond, crawdads may be a major food source. The best crawdad lure (in my humble opinion) is the rebel mini-craw crawdad. They have 2 small treble hooks on them. If you hook a fish with a small mouth with both hooks, they aren’t going anywhere. So, to make my life easier, I clamp down the barbs w/ some needle nose pliers. I’ve probably lost a few fish because of this, but the lure is small enough that a bigger fish can get it in their mouth. You’ll tear the fish up if you don’t clamp down the barbs. No biggie if you are eating them, but if you aren’t, then, there’s no reason to do the damage. Even if you are eating them, it makes it easier to deal with them after you catch them.
Another lure to try: small silver and black 2 inch rapala minnow. Sinking or floating will be fine. Try both and if one doesn’t work, try the other one. Cast it, then let it set a moment. Sometimes you’ll get a hit after about 10 seconds. If you don’t get a hit, then twitch it. Start giving it a steady twitch, and only reel in line when you have too much slack to keep twitching. That being said, try to keep the slack out, and your pole low. that way, you are ready for a strike when it happens.
Fish as far from you as you can. If you can fish the opposite side of the pond, then, that’s good. If not, cast off at angles from where you are. Start with the edges of weed beds and gradually go deeper. Cast each cast sequentially in a fan shape like you are going around a clock.
I knew a guy once that could consistently catch big bass out of crystal clear farm ponds in Kansas out of a belly boat, using rubber worms. He could watch the fish while he worked his worm, and learned to worm fish that way. I never did learn that, but it’s just an interesting point.
Another lure that I’m not in love with, but it works sometimes in ponds, is the roostertail spinner. Fish it as slow as you possible can and still keep the spinner moving.
If I had to pick one lure to catch fish off of, and only one with no other options available, I would pick the rebel crawdad. I won’t go fish without about 4 or 5 of them. You’ll notice that they are frequently out of them in busy tackle stores. There’s a reason for that.
Good luck w/ the fishing. I hope this helps a little bit.
- Kevin
A bobber fished about 4-5 ft above a live minnow is hard to beat for pond bass, and for blue-gill, simply small up the hook and bobber size and fish with earth worms,or crickets….
It might be the bait that you’re using, or the time of day you’re fishing. Some are morning feeders, some are night feeders and others can be stubborn as mules.
Most of the fish you’re talking about, will go for bait dangled from a bobber, so try using one….and try different parts of the pond.
I like to use worms, powerbait ,and clams, but experiment and see what works for you. Bread and cheese balls are almost always good for bluegill and crappie. ( moosh the white part of the bread up with shredded cheese, and then form into little pea-sized balls)
Some fish will come out into the open, and others like to hide, so you have to experiment a bit. Just make sure that they don’t see you, or see your shadow.
Few fish are bottom feeders, so make sure your bait isn’t resting on the bottom - either by adjusting the height of your hook, or by using a bobber (float)
And above all, be quiet about it…… fish can hear you talking, so just enjoy the silence. That’s my favoite part of fishing - I may not catch anything, but I enjoyed doing it.
I also found this, so maybe there’s something here that will help….
Good quality tackle is a pleasure to use and will improve your chances of handling a good catch.
Look up all the different kinds of freshwater fish to gain knowledge on size potential, behaviour and feeding habits.
For general float fishing, beginners are recommended to buy a 13 foot specimen float rod with a1Ib test.
Always get the correct bait for the type of fish you are aiming for. Maggots and casters are among the most effective baits for all coarse fish, and for those that want to experiment; sweetcorn, bread and luncheon meat can be a tasty treat to certain fish such as carp, tench and perch.
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A. K. Best: "The Fishing was good, it was the catching that was bad."
Paul O’Neil: "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."
ma be you should ask them what kind of bate the use
I’ll give you a tip from a Pro here ans it has very well been earned to say that.
Right now, we are in to March and this is when the Bass have been hanging off the shallow banks just in the deep water. They move up and down the side waiting as pre-spawn begins.
As the weather warms up they will be biting less.
Right now is a good time and has been since February.
When April hits you should see them on the beds.
Fish with worms for Bluegill bottom or float doesn’t matter.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FHOEU/ check out the files here. you should be able to find what you are looking for. if not then sone here can answer your questions for you.
First, fish early in the morning or late in the evening. Fish get lazy in the middle part of the day. Fish also gravitate towards some type of structure. Look for bushes, trees, stumps or rocks in the water and fish around the edges that. Use a small pan fish hook, I think #6. If you’re using nightcrawlers, pinch off about an inch of worm. Don’t use the entire worm for bluegill, use a SMALL floater and don’t use any lead weights. The smaller the floater the easier for the bluegill to sink it. When they take it, don’t jerk the rod back. Grab the line just above the reel and give it a quick tug. Then reel them in….
I like soft plastic baits: Plastic worms (watermelon color with red flakes) for catching big bass.
I also like yo-zuri brand aile gobi…a little teeny amber colored lure. They are a little expensive, but crappie and bluegill love to attack those!
You haven’t said where you are. I will guess that the fish are spawning..in pre-spawn…..so fish near grassy flats.
Lets start with your rod and reel first. I prefer a bait-casting reel because I like the added control it gives me, but for this technique a spinning reel will work fine. Spool your reel with AT LEAST 14 pound line, I would suggest up to 20, you’ll find out why soon enough! Your fishing rod should also be beefy, at least a medium-heavy action. Once you hook those fish, you’re going to need a rod with some backbone to bring them in. Lures are easy; I can fish all day with only one lure. I prefer the Snag Proof brand of lures. They make mice, frogs, weed demons and other sorts; all you need is a rubber frog. There are other manufactures out there too, like Strike King, which also produce similar weed-less lures, but I’ve found that Snag Proof works well. The only other lure I would suggest would be a large plastic worm, a 10 or 12-inch worm will work well, simulating a small water snake. Rig the worm "weedless" so the point is buried inside the plastic, I usually throw this with no weight to keep it on top of the algae or grass.
When fishing a small pond, tactics lend themselves to the
finesse approach — innertube floats, canoes, kayaks, two-man plastic pontoons, even a pair of waders.
Mini-boats come in handy when a pond’s perimeter has been ringed with vegetation, which is almost always the case. How many times have you walked as close to the shoreline as possible, and cast blindly to the middle? Maybe it was the only way to reach open water. Chances are, you were casting away from the best fish habitat, rather than to it. Worse, you wound up stripping moss from your hooks, like peeling a stringy, green banana.
Next time you fish a pond, rather than lumbering up to the water like a thirsty Neanderthal, ease out beyond the vegetation.
Bass, like deer, are "edge" animals, so cast parallel to the weed line.
Focus on the Mepps-style in-line spinners and the Beatle Spin spinner-jig combinations that weigh one-eighth ounce or less. Check your tackle shop for the life-like miniature crickets, crawfish and minnows. These lures float, then dive 6- to 18-inches on retrieve.
For plastic worms, skip the 8- and 10-inchers in favor of four-inch models. Rig them Texas-style, with a hook forced back into the worm. No slip sinker. Pinch a single BB-sized split shot to the line, six inches above the bait. These tasty little baits may weigh a fraction of an ounce and look fragile, but they tend to generate more strikes.
When pond hopping you should have several that you can get into for that day because as on a lake they may not all have biting fish all the time. As on a lake the fish will relate to the existing cover. The dam end will usually hold the deepest water and sometimes the fish will be there. The bite may be better in the early mornings and late afternoons but I have had many midday great fishing experiences. My favorite bait to fish small lakes and ponds consist of one bait. The H&H spinner bait. This lure has been around for a many of years. I like the chartreuse and blue and the black and yellow. Always get the double bladed one and when you open the package the hook will be separate. The first this you do is pull the skirt off and put it back on opposite the way it was on as this will cause the skirt to flare. Now when putting on the hook always have the hooks pointing up. You will probably have to put it on twice to get the right way. I usually do. This little bait can be found at Wal-Mart and most tackle stores. This bait will catch anything in the pond from bass and crappie to big blue gill. .
GOOD LUCK
When the sun starts coming up one of you throw a popper( top water bait such as a storm chugbug chrome blue) the other a buzz bait , white . work the chug bait slow , after about 20 30 casts speed it up a little. The buzz bait the same. After about 2-3 hours if the hits stop switch to texas rigged plastics, simple bullet weight with a 3 ot hook. Use a dark red or green colored plastic , try worm first then try others such as crawls or creature baits but work them slow , up around cover . Try different depths. Hope it helps good luck.
Use a good fat nightcrawler and some patience.
Pond fishing for Bass.
I like a black or purple plastic worm. It doesn’t have to look like a worm. The trick is to let it sink to the bottom let it set there for a minute or so then real it in slooow like a worm might crawl. The bass will hit it (pick it up) don’t set the hook . Instead hit the button again and let the fish swim off with it. You will see the line going out. After the fish stops and then starts moving again set the hook. You need to release the line as quick as the fish hits the first time. If it feels Resistance it may drop the worm and not bite again. Also use a weedless worm.Good Luck
Happy Caving Carroll
Time of day plays a big role buddy…My best times are 6-10:30am then 5:30pm-1am but thats just where im at
BAIT! How good is it, you using fake stuff? Try using some simple worms or corn or bread they work for pond fish
-use bobbers at first to get the hang of it
BE PATIENT! Don’t pull ur pole out of the water to re-cast, just sit back and relax
I fish my father in laws pond in northwest Mississippi,I use wigglers for blue gills attach a floating device give it some room from your hook throw in and wait.I use cut up hot dogs for catfish bait told a friend of mine did not believe at first until he tried it was very surprised by the results.Early in the morning and late in the day seems to be the best time for fishing,be quite when approaching the banks edge fish are spooky.Fishing in general requires Patience,good luck