Big BASS Little Ponds

A tag team effort by cousins Jonny and Joseph produced this Pond Monster Wannabee! 

POND MONSTERS!

All too often, families drive for miles to get to big water in their effort to get to big fish.  Meanwhile, along the way, they pass numerous ponds that they feel are inaccessible as they are located on private property or simply too small to harbor anything worth their while.  Well, I am here to tell you, that for all the effort put forth to catch big fish, it’s worth a few knocks on some doors to try fishing these ponds.  Many of these ponds hold super-sized largemouth bass, that I like to call “Pond Monsters!”

Principles of Politeness to Perpetuate Pond Permission

The key to obtaining permission to fish private ponds is good old fashioned common courtesy, with a generous dose of good manners.  Please only approach the landowner with an adult in tow.  Also, do not have your fishing rod and tackle box in hand as this sends the absolute wrong message to the landowner.  Here are some general rules to follow when asking permission for pond fishing:

1. Be very polite and always remember to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
2. Respect their property and everything that is on it.  If you gain permission to fish their pond, it does not mean you have permission to tour all of their property or out buildings.
3. If you cross through any gates, leave the gate as you found it as the landowner typically has reasoning for such.
4. Do not overfish or overstay your welcome on their land.
5. Practice catch and release to help sustain the population of the Pond Monsters for years to come.
6. Consider using a barbless hook so that you do not harm or kill fish that you do not intend to keep.
7. Just because you were granted permission, does not mean that it applies to all of your friends or family members.  Always obtain permission if you intend to bring anyone else.
8. ALWAYS, pick up after yourself and never leave any litter to be found.

Pond Safety

Besides giant bass, muskrats also thrive in pond environments.  Keep an eye out for holes that have been dug near the bank of the pond as you approach or travel around the pond.  Muskrat holes can easily swallow up a small foot on a child that is more focused on catching a fish than watching their step. 

The other thriving species in humid pond environments can be large, dive-bombing mosquitoes.  Be prepared with a little bug repellent before you go.

Pond Monster Payoff!

Now, here is the reason why it is worth the effort to fish ponds.  Ponds typically have a thriving ecosystem that includes feeder fish, frogs, turtles and crayfish.  All of these which are simply looked upon by largemouth bass as great food!  Typically, ponds also get light fishing pressure so the growth potential for it’s residents is huge.  How huge you ask?  How about bass in excess of 4 or 5 pounds huge!! That’s right, lurking in those little bodies of water, nestled quietly amongst a farmer’s field, are the Pond Monsters!

Pond Monster Tactics

Super Whacky Senkos or Fluke baits are the two simple rubber baits that I prefer to use when chasing the giant pond monsters.  Ponds can have wide ranges of depths and depending on the time of year and the weather, the bass could be sunning themselves in shallow water or lurking near the bottom of the deepest hole in the pond.  Both of these presentations use only a single hook so as to minimize any injury to fish that you wish to release.  Avoid using treble hooks as their use can significantly increase the mortality rate of the fish that you catch. 

Super Whacky Senkos

Senkos are an even-sided, rubber worm that is typically 5” to 6” in length.  These are best fished ‘whacky style’ which is done by placing the hook in the middle of the worm.  Once hooked, the worm hangs from the hook like and upside down, skinny banana.  This is whacky in itself.  A #8 octopus hook works very well when fishing senkos.  Many die hard bass fishermen will run a split ring onto the worm, placing it in the center of the worm.  Then, they run the hook through the worm and the split ring, which adds to the lifespan of the rubber worm.  Big bass are hard on senkos and can tear them up pretty quickly, which is why the split ring is used.  A BassPro #5 split ring fits most senko worms very well.  Nail weights, which believe it or not, look like a small nail, can be pushed into each end of the worm to help it sink faster or into deeper water.

The key to fishing a Super Whacky Senko is to cast it to it’s desired location on the pond and as you let it sink to the bottom keep shaking your rod tip to add some action into the worm.  Bass will typically engulf it and start swimming away.  More often than not, you will only see your line begin to move in the water, than feeling a strong hit.  You do not have to set the hook when using a senko, but simply apply pressure and reel in your pond monster. 

Fluttering Fluke Firepower

It’s no fluke, these things are deadly.  Made to look like a dying minnow that is on it’s last stand, flukes are a deadly shallow-water bait when fished properly.  The toughest part about fishing a fluke is getting it on the hook.  The hook of choice for fluke fishing is a #5 extra wide-gap, offset shank hook.   (That’s for real.  I did not make that up.)  Push the point of the hook into the head of the worm, with the belly of the fluke facing the shank of the hook, until it reaches the first bend of the hook (just past the barb).  Then push the hook point through the fluke body and run the fluke all the way up the hook right over the eye of the hook.  Place the hook alongside the body of the fluke to see where it should enter the fluke again.  Make a mental note of that spot.  Now, push the fluke body towards the eye of the hook and run the hook through the fluke until the hook point comes just below the skin of the fluke.  Now you have a 100% weed-free fluke bait to attract the pond monsters.

The best way to fish a fluke is to give the rod two quick, short jerks and then let the fluke flutter on its own for a second or two.  Repeat until it or it has returned to sender.  Try changing up the speed of the retrieve as well as the length or speed of the double jerk until you find the retrieve pattern that they are looking for that day.  Make a mental note of it so that you know how it worked best for your next pond adventure.

The pay off for getting permission, learning the above techniques and trying your best, could be the biggest bass of your life.  Trophy fish and Trophy Memories are there for the taking!

My name is Jonny and this is my Pond Monster Adventure!