Gainesville retention pond 8/8, 8/10, and 8/11

[cport]

conditions: First day, sunnny then overcast, breezy, late afternoon, water about 85
                 Second day, overcast, windy then t-storm, cleared to overcast and breezy, late afternoon,   water same
                 Third day, early morning, clear, no wind, water a little cooler

Water is tannic and clear

I have been working this little pond that I haven't fished in a while. It is shallow, only 5-6' at the deepest point, and is full of this grass that looks kind of like this



Its not choked with it, but its enough on the bottom that you have to clear your lure every so often, and some of it floats around in clumps. Anyway, I have had good success in the past at this pond throwing watermelon red flake flukes, but that first day not even a follower. It started to cloud up, so I put on my bass thinking cap...hmmm...tannic, overcast, something darker...small pond, maybe something a little more compact...got it, blue pit boss. Used a 3/0 offset worm hook with a 1/8 bullet, and started casting. Started off working it slow, crawling and dragging, but I picked up a lot of grass. So I started using quick little hops to keep me above the grass. Was almost finished with a cast and was kind of pumping it in a little faster, but still not straight reeling when BAM 5 feet from shore I got drilled. Nice fish about 18 to 19 inches, jumped and tossed. Now I might be on to something. I threw it back around the same area and worked it quickly and got freight-trained in mid jerk, and landed a nice 18.5" bass. (all pics at braggin rights board). I got one more that came unbuttoned then I had to go, but I knew I would be back.

Day 2

Took off a little early on Friday to fish that pond, armed with more blue pit boss bags from wally world. I hooked and landed a 13, then the thunder rumbled and the skies started opening up. Sat in my car watching Forged in Fire on my phone for about a half hour, then went back out after the lightening stopped in a light drizzle with clearing clouds. I hooked and landed two 14 and change fish, and lost my FLBR limit twice-one to a broken line on a heavy fish at hookset  and the other on a large fish that spit my hook in the air; cool to watch them come out and shake that big head, but sucks at the same time 
Knew I'd be back out in the morning for a limit and hopefully some culls

Day Three

Got there at sunrise, nice and calm. Thought I would parallel the shore since it was early (almost all other bites and fish from the middle of the pond previously) but only one bite, a 16 incher. LIMIT! so I start tossing back to the middle of the pond. Lost another with a bad hookset, then I threw one really far, perfect cast. Hit the water, and almost immediately the line went tight on a nice 17 incher that fought well. Bite slowed, started trying the other side of the pond for a bit, but it wasn't happening. Finally, I seriously made the last cast I was going to make, and at this point I was kind of working it lazily. So I started jerking it in and something crushed it! Man a nice heavy fish, pulling a little drag. Finally got in an 18 incher that fought like a 19. Hurray, two culls!

In summary, it is experiences like this that make me think that we really have to dip out of our usual repertoire, especially when conditions change. A few years back, I might have kept working that fluke just because I like them and I had caught a few fish on them at that pond previously. Using the knowledge we acquire from reading, videos, and fellow anglers can often turn a fruitless day into a fish catching day. All three days I spent no more than an hour to and hour and a half fishing. Finding and identifying patterns early in the trip is important, and can make the difference between having a thumb like a baby's bottom, or that awesome mutilated bass thumb!

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the three day report Chris and I will be sure to stop by the Bragging rights thread and get a look at your fish.  I'm sure glad I didn't have to use any of my ink and paper today. 

[cport]

Thanks for the three day report Chris and I will be sure to stop by the Bragging rights thread and get a look at your fish.  I'm sure glad I didn't have to use any of my ink and paper today. 

Me too, although I can't figure out how you can still print after this

[FloridaFishinFool]

Great report Chris!

[Lipripper]

Me too, although I can't figure out how you can still print after this

I know somebody who knows somebody that knows somebody at HP and they shipped me a new one over night. 

[cport]

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[SFL BassHunter]

Thanks for the report! You went all out 3 days in a row there. Glad you caught some fish.

[BarryFL]

Nice report, Chris. Black/blue is a great color in tannic water or overcast days. Have you tried the black/blue stick baits? Bitters makes a black/blue fluke that I've had success with fishing deep.

~Barry~

[FlatsNBay]

Man, way to put it together!! Nice job !

[big g]

Nothing like a sandpaper thumb!  Way to figure out something productive.

[cport]

Thanks guys. I'll check those out Barry.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[basss]

Sounds like you gave them the ole' wat fur!