Don't Frown on the Pond
-Clint Buice "Cletus"

WELL FOLKS, NOW THAT IT IS FULL FLEDGE Summer time I know the lakes are slap full of people.  There are jet ski’s zipping around in every which direction and the big boats cruise up and down the lake, and if you are a fisherman (or fisherwoman) you can get a little frustrated in trying to catch a fish on big water right now.  Not to fear my friends, there are plenty of little fishing holes scattered across our great state where the fishing can still be good and you don’t have to worry about getting t-boned by a jet ski.  Go visit your local farm pond and start catching fish right now!  Farm pond fishing is a great way to catch fish and make memories with your family and friends.

  So what do you need to bring to catch fish in a pond?

A lot of the same tactics that catch fish in big water will still catch fish in small water.  Soft plastics are a staple that any pond angler should have.  Plastic worms, creature baits and frogs are a few baits that seem to produce in ponds.  If you can get to the water’s edge early enough try topwater with either a buzzbait or a Pop-R.  A lot of times in a small pond that heats up quickly during the summer the biggest bass in the pond will feed first thing in the morning, get her belly full and then just lay low for the rest of the day until the sun starts to set and she will put on the feedbag once again.  I have caught some very good pond bass by being there at sunrise and fishing topwater.  Plus, you get to see the water and the sky come alive which is always nice.  If the pond has some deep water you might want to probe the depths with a deep diving crankbait or even a slow retrieve with a big swimbait if you feel comfortable throwing it and you know what’s down there.  That big ole sow belly may just be laying low down there and when that sexy swimming swimbait comes strolling by and that bass attacks it, you better be holding onto your fishing rod tightly because they will SLAM a swimbait and make you look silly if you aren’t ready for it.

 

Most ponds hold more than the sporty fish we know as the largemouth bass. 

You can catch bream and catfish and even some ponds are stocked with crappie.  You can get you a big ole hunk of chicken liver and throw it out on the bottom of the pond and then just sit back and wait for that big nasty catfish to sniff it out and when it does, hold on to your britches because you will have a great fight on your hands.  You can get a tube of crickets and absolutely wear out a mess of bream and then fry them up that night and enjoy a good old fashion fish fry with the family.  You could also get a bucket of minnows and try your hand at catching some crappie and anytime a minnow is dropped in the water a largemouth bass will be close by.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to pond fishing, so don’t frown on the pond fishing because there is a boatload of fun to be had at a pond near you.  Grab your fishing poles and get your bait, the farm pond is calling your name!

Happy Fishing Everybody!

Cletus T.