Pond fishing

[squirrel73]

So I have been fishing local ponds for weeks now and i have noticed the bass slowing down a bit. I have had to work a Niko rig a lot slower to even get a bite. When they do bite it's like their not truly biting it. It's like they tap it and then stop. Any suggestions? Should I be fishing deeper water?
The ponds are murky with some cover. I use a watermelon color sinko worm.

~RC~

[squirrel73]

Well, guess I'll figure it out.

~RC~

[kdubracing]

I fish ponds very little. But when I do, I don't necessarily treat them like a lake. IMO, and I am by no means any type of expert, they don't use the same migration/feeding/time of year "rules" that larger lake bass do (save for spawning time). I do believe that they relate to available cover the same, as they are still ambush predators. When I pond fish, I take many types of baits and change frequently if I'm not getting any bites. All levels of the water column, colors depending on the water clarity, reaction, finesse. I may hit all of those within an hour if I'm not getting bites.

[FlatsNBay]

With a limited amount of information, it's difficult to know what to recommend. You could try changing depths and try different areas of the pond. I would probably try topwater or frog early in the morning or late in the day to try and catch a big fish. A good catch all for me when the going gets tough is a Texas rigged finesse worm.

If you want to go into more detail about your pond or even snap a few pics the next time that you are out, I'm sure that many will jump in and offer suggestions.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

[squirrel73]

What other information could I supply? Water color is fairly dirty. They have some cover like fallen trees, etc. Not a lot. Water levels are down a little due to no rain. Smaller ponds.

~RC~

[Capt. BassinLou]

What other information could I supply? Water color is fairly dirty. They have some cover like fallen trees, etc. Not a lot. Water levels are down a little due to no rain. Smaller ponds.

~RC~

That's a good bit of information believe it or not.

With dirty water, bait color is pretty important. A bait or lure containing some a degree of chartreuse or brighter color might help. Depending on the time day, for example the warmer part of the day, focusing around the fallen trees may help. If the water levels are down, focusing your attention at or near by any ledges or holes, could yield you a fish. When the rain returns, concentrate around the newly flooded areas. 

[squirrel73]

Bassinlou, so when is the brighter colors typically better?  Do the bass just bite less in cooler water? And thank you, I wasnt trying to be rude by any means. After reading my own comment again I thought some could take it that way since they do not know me. But I promise I wasnt. Just dont know what other info I can give. I learn daily so I know there is a lot I dont know and that was my point. Just tell me what other info you need and I'll do my best. That also helps me the next time I need to give details. I'm new to the way you guys use colors and certain baits.  I bass fished for years in local ponds and just used what I had. Never learned much of the other like crank baits etc. But I want to learn. That's for sure. Thanks again BassinLou

~RC~

[Smallie_Stalker]

Sorry Rick for my late response I've been MIA for a couple of days dealing with some family stuff.

Lou nailed this one IMO. I will just throw a few small other things out there for now.

1. Bass are primarily sight feeders, so when the water is dirty they have to depend on other senses to find food. Along with color changes that Lou mentioned, sound, smell and vibration become more important.

If you are fishing plastics try adding a scent to them. Also try more active presentaions like lifting and dropping the lure more often, as this creates more falls giving off more vibration which can help draw the bass in. Dragging the bait a bit more aggressively and/or bumping it into objects can also help. If they happen to have scent to them that may help them commit once you get their attention like that.

Try fishing moving baits like a spinnerbait, lipless crank or regular crank. These give off a lot of vibration and if they have rattles the extra sound can help the fish zone in on the bait even more. Vary the retrieve speed and cadence to try and figure out how the fish want it. One thing I fnd that works well in the small ponds I fish is to take a lipless crank and make a long cast, then let it fall to bottom. Instead of winding it in the normal way lift and drop the bait all the way back and repeat. Every few times you do it make the lift a bit stronger so you can feel the bait vibrate as you pull it up off the bottom. Be aware that most strikes will come on the fall so make sure you learn to become a line watcher.

Last bit of advice on this one is to get yourself a couple of jigs. When fishing the laydowns make sure to bump the jig into the wood. Start with the deepest end and work your way down all the way along both sides of the laydown. Again, all you're really doing here is creating vibration and sound to help the bass find your offering. As for jig colors for the dirty water I would reommend a brown jig with some blue mixed in. NuTech makes a bunch of great jigs that you can get with that skirt color. If not that then either black/blue, black/red or black/chartreuse. And you can never go wrong with green pumpkin. 

2. When water levels are low the bass sometimes move out a bit deeper. If you've been catching them up near shore around bushes or shallow laydown try making your presentaion to the deeper end of the wood or bushes etc a little farther out from where you have been catching them.

That should give you a couple of jumping off points. Lures and techniques are tools. Expand your tools as money and time allow and spend as much time on the water as you can with them. It can be a slow process but through experimentation you will learn what works best for you in the waters you fish.

Hope that helps even a little.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Bassinlou, so when is the brighter colors typically better?  Do the bass just bite less in cooler water? And thank you, I wasnt trying to be rude by any means. After reading my own comment again I thought some could take it that way since they do not know me. But I promise I wasnt. Just dont know what other info I can give. I learn daily so I know there is a lot I dont know and that was my point. Just tell me what other info you need and I'll do my best. That also helps me the next time I need to give details. I'm new to the way you guys use colors and certain baits.  I bass fished for years in local ponds and just used what I had. Never learned much of the other like crank baits etc. But I want to learn. That's for sure. Thanks again BassinLou

~RC~

No worries.
In regards to your questions, typically brighter colors are used in dirty/stained water. Natural colors in cleaner/clear water.

As far as bass biting less in  cooler/cold water, that depends on the water temp and what part of the country one's fishng in. Hopefully someone will chime in from your part of the country and answer that cold water question for you in more detail.

Lastly, a good rule of thumb when asking questions here on UB, is as follows: Provide as much detail as possible in the body of the question, and you will recieve very detailed answers.

Good luck!!

[D.W. Verts]

Did I miss where you are located? This could be the most important item of all?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Did I miss where you are located? This could be the most important item of all?

Kentucky if I'm not mistaken Dale.