Largemouth Bass in Ponds

[MrGreen740]

I'm trying to target bass in ponds and am looking for someone to share advice and techniques. Anyone?

[icthus]

I can show you how to catch them if you can show me where you are going after them.



Pal

[Yoda]

Think Frog, mouse, crickets, grasshoppers, stuff like that, shake a bush  near the water and see what flies off. but whatever you cast, let it sit on the water until you think you will go nuts before you twitch or chug it!!

[MrGreen740]

Icthus I fish the AEP area in southeastern Ohio where i'm from. I've been fishing it for years with traditional equipment, but the fly approach is new to me.

[Travis C.]

Icthus I fish the AEP area in southeastern Ohio where i'm from. I've been fishing it for years with traditional equipment, but the fly approach is new to me.

What are the traditional lures you have success with? There are some really talented fly designers out who have patterns to match almost everything from a jig/pig to a rapala.

The alternative is like Yoda said shake some bushes around it or spend some time catching bluegill or perch which ever the pond has then match a fly to their color.

Not saying bass are dumb by no means but with the diet they have anything that will fit in their mouth is food.

[icthus]

To far to drive.  I like fishing ponds, however, I dont know any pond owners in this great state.  Good luck in your endeavor.




South of the Mason Dixon
 Pal

[bd]

Hmm it's been a while since I've had a chance to fish a nice pond for largemouth, but here's what I'd do.  Poppers during low light periods at sunrise and sunset.  I like big deer hair bugs or frog imitations.  Try two different retrieves - either pop it, then let it sit for a loooong time until all the ripples subside, then pop it again; or swim it across the surface with a steady pop, pop, pop, pop.  It varies on which retrieve they want on any given day.  Try the slow method first, and if that doesn't get a response, speed it up.

When the sun gets up a little higher, switch to an intermediate line and strip big streamers around the bank, deep water spots in the pond, or any cover.  Bluegill imitations or a long black rabbit fur strip that looks like a small snake or salamander would be a good choice.

If that doesn't work either, find a fly that you can bounce along the bottom like a jig.  A magnum superbugger is a good choice.  Example here:

http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=JF408

It's got enough weight to get down to the bottom and it rides hook-up so it doesn't snag as much.  Crawl it very slowly across the bottom in a series of short hops, trying to imitate a crawfish scuttling along.


If none of that works, go fish for bluegill instead.

bd

[TheYiman]

The old chartreuse and white clouser is always a good bet for me. Just bounce it at varying speeds.

[bd]

It's useful to keep in mind what people use for bass when they're not fly fishing.  Six-inch (or larger) plastic worms, big fat spinnerbaits with large spinner blades, jig and pigs, etc.

There are a lot of flies out there that will catch some bass - wooly buggers and clousers come to mind - but a lot of them are closer in size to a crappie jig.

Nothing wrong with that, but it's easy to go too small when you're fly fishing for bass.  The "big bait, big fish" saying that the gear guys use isn't a total accident.

bd

[Yoda]

Check out the fly of the month. "Rustys Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer"    Oh Yeah.............................Rollllll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrGreen740]

Thanks for the tips! Yoda that is a sweet looking fly, but I haven't learned how to tie yet. I'm working on it though!

[Yoda]

Thanks for the tips! Yoda that is a sweet looking fly, but I haven't learned how to tie yet. I'm working on it though!

You can find almost any pattern on you tube, step by step instructions!! and you can pause and restart as needed while you tie!!