04-29-2004, 12:29 AM
Anatomy of a Bass Pond
A guide to reading the water in a pond near you.
by Ken Schultz
Small bass ponds are found across the country, typically get little fishing pressure, and produce good to excellent results. Yet anglers zoom past them on their way to large reservoirs all too often. It’s time you started paying closer attention. Here’s a cheat-sheet for finding fish in the three most common types. Just be sure to wave to your reservoir-bound fishing buddies as they drive past.
Small Near-Natural Pond
The Layout Most near-natural ponds are created when an earthen dam has been erected to enlarge and deepen a marshy area with a minor inlet. The fringes of the pond consist of shallow flats, where submerged tree stumps are common. There’s often a spring in the deeper sections of the pond.
Where to Fish On the flats, tree stumps provide marginal bass cover. Instead look for fallen trees, particularly those that taper off in deeper water. You’ll also find bass around patches of aquatic plants. Only small bass will stay shallow when the water gets hot, so look to deeper water, where a spring will keep things cool.
If the pond is in the northern part of the country, it’s likely to have clear and fertile water. Fish here will be wary of predators, so long casts and quiet approaches may be necessary.
What to Throw Aquatic plants may limit lure choices at times; crankbaits and swimming plugs are probably only useful in early spring and surface lures may need to be weedless. Spinnerbaits will be very effective early in the season and good in the fall. In the summer, use worms, soft jerkbaits, and surface lures when casting in the deep sections of the pond.
Follow these tips when fishing a small near-natural pond.
1. Creek beds are naturally deep. Don’t neglect them during hot weather.
2. Fallen trees are bass magnets, especially when they taper off into deeper water. You can try a variety of lures, including worms and topwater baits. Be methodical and make sure to work the entire length of the tree, especially the portion in deep water. There should be more than one fish on it.
3. Shallow stumps hold fish, but don’t waste more than a couple of casts on them in the summer, since most big fish will be in deeper water.
4. Old downed trees are common in the deep sections. While the branches will have rotted off, such tree trunks still provide cover. Fish them with worms and crankbaits.
5. Shallow fringes will hold bass in late spring and early fall. Fish them with spinnerbaits.
6. Earthen dams have spillways or outflow pipes. Be sure to work these areas thoroughly with a variety of lures.
7. Springs often exist in the deeper sections of natural ponds. Locate them with a thermometer or even by dipping your hand in the water. Fish near the springs in warm weather.
8. Weedy pockets will hold nice bass in the spring and fall. Work them with a weedless lure. Farm Pond
The Layout Most farm ponds are dug in an area without natural inflow or outflow, and in many cases are surrounded by fields. Often there’s a good drop to 2 feet or so right at the water’s edge, and the bottom tapers somewhat bowl-like to the deepest point in the middle. There’s normally little structure besides an occasional stump. Cattails and other aquatic plants are common along most of the shoreline.
Where to Fish Remember that bass in farm ponds don’t necessarily stay in one spot all the time; they often roam along the shoreline. Don’t be afraid to cover ground you’ve already fished. If you know the pond’s owner, ask if some stumps were left during construction, or better yet if brushpiles were planted to provide cover and foraging opportunities for baitfish, panfish, and largemouths. If there is a diversion pipe, the area nearby will be especially productive when water is moving.
What to Throw Fish cattails with spinnerbaits, plastic worms, and surface lures. Work the brushpiles with jigs and bait for panfish; and with surface lures, spinnerbaits, and worms for bass. Follow these tips when fishing farm ponds.
1. Boat docks will hold numerous fish. Make casts to the pilings and beneath the walkway as well.
2. Inflow/outflow pipes will normally hold fish. Concentrate on them if there’s moving water.
3. A stump in a farm pond always deserves a few casts, even in the summer.
4. Wooded corners deserve special attention if they exist. Bugs that drop off branches attract bass, and so does the shade offered by the trees.
5. Bare shorelines can produce fish at any time, since bass in farm ponds often roam.
6. Brushpiles will always hold fish in somewhat featureless farm ponds. Ask the pond’s owner where to find them.
Quarry Pit
The Layout Reclaimed quarry pits are found throughout the country. Such pits differ from most ponds in that there is deep water close to the shore. Banks are often high and there’s a good amount of aquatic plant growth (especially cattails and grasses). Numerous shoreline indents provide ambush points for bass, and underwater humps are common.
Where to Fish Hydrilla may clutter some pockets, but give these a good effort with worms or jigs, as there’s shade and depth underneath. Milfoil may exist along flat areas, the edges of which are sure to hold bass. In deep water, bass may be suspended rather than on the bottom.
What to Throw Flipping jigs and plastic worms tight to the bank is very effective. Casting minnow plugs, lipless rattlers, and surface lures parallel to the bank is also productive. Plastic worms are worthwhile in such a pond, and diving crankbaits have merit, especially around points and any underwater humps.
Tips for Fishing Quarry Pits
1. Underwater humps are often loaded with fish. Try crankbaits and plastic worms but remember that the fish may be suspended.
2. Steep banks should be fished with worms and jigs. Often you’ll get strikes on the drop.
3. Hydrilla provides shade; fish beneath it with jigs and worms.
4. Indents on an irregular shoreline provide perfect opportunities for bass to ambush bait.
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A guide to reading the water in a pond near you.
by Ken Schultz
Small bass ponds are found across the country, typically get little fishing pressure, and produce good to excellent results. Yet anglers zoom past them on their way to large reservoirs all too often. It’s time you started paying closer attention. Here’s a cheat-sheet for finding fish in the three most common types. Just be sure to wave to your reservoir-bound fishing buddies as they drive past.
Small Near-Natural Pond
The Layout Most near-natural ponds are created when an earthen dam has been erected to enlarge and deepen a marshy area with a minor inlet. The fringes of the pond consist of shallow flats, where submerged tree stumps are common. There’s often a spring in the deeper sections of the pond.
Where to Fish On the flats, tree stumps provide marginal bass cover. Instead look for fallen trees, particularly those that taper off in deeper water. You’ll also find bass around patches of aquatic plants. Only small bass will stay shallow when the water gets hot, so look to deeper water, where a spring will keep things cool.
If the pond is in the northern part of the country, it’s likely to have clear and fertile water. Fish here will be wary of predators, so long casts and quiet approaches may be necessary.
What to Throw Aquatic plants may limit lure choices at times; crankbaits and swimming plugs are probably only useful in early spring and surface lures may need to be weedless. Spinnerbaits will be very effective early in the season and good in the fall. In the summer, use worms, soft jerkbaits, and surface lures when casting in the deep sections of the pond.
Follow these tips when fishing a small near-natural pond.
1. Creek beds are naturally deep. Don’t neglect them during hot weather.
2. Fallen trees are bass magnets, especially when they taper off into deeper water. You can try a variety of lures, including worms and topwater baits. Be methodical and make sure to work the entire length of the tree, especially the portion in deep water. There should be more than one fish on it.
3. Shallow stumps hold fish, but don’t waste more than a couple of casts on them in the summer, since most big fish will be in deeper water.
4. Old downed trees are common in the deep sections. While the branches will have rotted off, such tree trunks still provide cover. Fish them with worms and crankbaits.
5. Shallow fringes will hold bass in late spring and early fall. Fish them with spinnerbaits.
6. Earthen dams have spillways or outflow pipes. Be sure to work these areas thoroughly with a variety of lures.
7. Springs often exist in the deeper sections of natural ponds. Locate them with a thermometer or even by dipping your hand in the water. Fish near the springs in warm weather.
8. Weedy pockets will hold nice bass in the spring and fall. Work them with a weedless lure. Farm Pond
The Layout Most farm ponds are dug in an area without natural inflow or outflow, and in many cases are surrounded by fields. Often there’s a good drop to 2 feet or so right at the water’s edge, and the bottom tapers somewhat bowl-like to the deepest point in the middle. There’s normally little structure besides an occasional stump. Cattails and other aquatic plants are common along most of the shoreline.
Where to Fish Remember that bass in farm ponds don’t necessarily stay in one spot all the time; they often roam along the shoreline. Don’t be afraid to cover ground you’ve already fished. If you know the pond’s owner, ask if some stumps were left during construction, or better yet if brushpiles were planted to provide cover and foraging opportunities for baitfish, panfish, and largemouths. If there is a diversion pipe, the area nearby will be especially productive when water is moving.
What to Throw Fish cattails with spinnerbaits, plastic worms, and surface lures. Work the brushpiles with jigs and bait for panfish; and with surface lures, spinnerbaits, and worms for bass. Follow these tips when fishing farm ponds.
1. Boat docks will hold numerous fish. Make casts to the pilings and beneath the walkway as well.
2. Inflow/outflow pipes will normally hold fish. Concentrate on them if there’s moving water.
3. A stump in a farm pond always deserves a few casts, even in the summer.
4. Wooded corners deserve special attention if they exist. Bugs that drop off branches attract bass, and so does the shade offered by the trees.
5. Bare shorelines can produce fish at any time, since bass in farm ponds often roam.
6. Brushpiles will always hold fish in somewhat featureless farm ponds. Ask the pond’s owner where to find them.
Quarry Pit
The Layout Reclaimed quarry pits are found throughout the country. Such pits differ from most ponds in that there is deep water close to the shore. Banks are often high and there’s a good amount of aquatic plant growth (especially cattails and grasses). Numerous shoreline indents provide ambush points for bass, and underwater humps are common.
Where to Fish Hydrilla may clutter some pockets, but give these a good effort with worms or jigs, as there’s shade and depth underneath. Milfoil may exist along flat areas, the edges of which are sure to hold bass. In deep water, bass may be suspended rather than on the bottom.
What to Throw Flipping jigs and plastic worms tight to the bank is very effective. Casting minnow plugs, lipless rattlers, and surface lures parallel to the bank is also productive. Plastic worms are worthwhile in such a pond, and diving crankbaits have merit, especially around points and any underwater humps.
Tips for Fishing Quarry Pits
1. Underwater humps are often loaded with fish. Try crankbaits and plastic worms but remember that the fish may be suspended.
2. Steep banks should be fished with worms and jigs. Often you’ll get strikes on the drop.
3. Hydrilla provides shade; fish beneath it with jigs and worms.
4. Indents on an irregular shoreline provide perfect opportunities for bass to ambush bait.
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] Nice article...I love reading things that Ken Shultz writes!