06-17-2008, 06:47 AM
I discovered the small pond bass fun a few weeks ago, right behind my house. I'll give you my 2 cents from what experience I've had.
Top water works well, but the fish will become accustomed to the same lure. I fished a top water rapala and a light spinnerbait running a wake on the water's surface for a couple days with good results. After about a week , these lures went stone cold. Another person fishes this pond as well, with nothing but top water. I think the fish are just too used to seeing something above them.
Throw senkos! I've used Gary Yamamoto's and Wave Worm Tiki Bamboo Sticks in 5", thrown weedless and weightless. In other words, hook them like you would a Texas-rig, but don't put any weight on them. The worms are heavy enough to throw as-is. I throw them with 2/0 to 4/0 hooks and right along the shore, in front of bushes and reeds. 9 times out of 10, if I hit my mark with the lure, I get a whack right away. Watch your line and set the hook with authority. In my case, I think my success with senkos is due to the murkiness of the water. I think the bass strike the lure out of reaction rather than watching it and picking it up slow.
Yamamoto senkos are very soft and generally don't last too long. The Wave Worms seem to be a bit more durable and also cheaper. As for color, as I said I fish a murky pond. I throw light/bright colored senkos with flake in them, mostly red and daquiri (light blue).
I've caught fish with cranks in the pond as well, but nothing works as well or consistently as the senko worms. In fact, when I walk up to the pond, all I take is my worm rod, about 6 or 8 senkos and a pair of needlenosers in case I need to work a hook out.
Fishing that pond has really been a load of fun. Size-wise, it's small enough to hit the middle of the pond from anywhere on shore, but there are plenty of largemouth in there. It's not improbable to catch a dozen bass in an hour on a good day. That sure beats going to one of the local lakes that get pounded and catching 2 or 3 all day.
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Top water works well, but the fish will become accustomed to the same lure. I fished a top water rapala and a light spinnerbait running a wake on the water's surface for a couple days with good results. After about a week , these lures went stone cold. Another person fishes this pond as well, with nothing but top water. I think the fish are just too used to seeing something above them.
Throw senkos! I've used Gary Yamamoto's and Wave Worm Tiki Bamboo Sticks in 5", thrown weedless and weightless. In other words, hook them like you would a Texas-rig, but don't put any weight on them. The worms are heavy enough to throw as-is. I throw them with 2/0 to 4/0 hooks and right along the shore, in front of bushes and reeds. 9 times out of 10, if I hit my mark with the lure, I get a whack right away. Watch your line and set the hook with authority. In my case, I think my success with senkos is due to the murkiness of the water. I think the bass strike the lure out of reaction rather than watching it and picking it up slow.
Yamamoto senkos are very soft and generally don't last too long. The Wave Worms seem to be a bit more durable and also cheaper. As for color, as I said I fish a murky pond. I throw light/bright colored senkos with flake in them, mostly red and daquiri (light blue).
I've caught fish with cranks in the pond as well, but nothing works as well or consistently as the senko worms. In fact, when I walk up to the pond, all I take is my worm rod, about 6 or 8 senkos and a pair of needlenosers in case I need to work a hook out.
Fishing that pond has really been a load of fun. Size-wise, it's small enough to hit the middle of the pond from anywhere on shore, but there are plenty of largemouth in there. It's not improbable to catch a dozen bass in an hour on a good day. That sure beats going to one of the local lakes that get pounded and catching 2 or 3 all day.
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