What Is The Best Way To Catch Bass In A Pond?

Fishing for bass in a pond can not only be fun, but it also can be very productive.

In this post we will discuss what is the best way to catch bass in a pond.

But first…

Why are backyard ponds a great place to go bass fishing?

Ponds are more peaceful. Generally speaking neighborhood ponds are going to be much more peaceful than lakes. On a lake you may have to contend with people fishing in your favorite spot, people wakeboarding or swimming etc. However, on a pond, things can be much more quieter.

Ponds are where big bass live. Yes, you may not believe it but some huge bass are lurking in small ponds. Because ponds aren’t fished as often as lakes, many bass may rarely see a fishing lure in their lifetime. So not only do ponds contain big bass, but they may contain big uneducated bass ready to be caught. Sounds like the perfect situation.

Ponds are great places to practice. Did you just buy yourself a new baitcaster? Want to give it a try before bring it out on the lake? If so, check out some of the local/neighborhood ponds. These can be great places to practice making more accurate casts, testing out new lures or even learn to cast your casting reel without backlashing.

Ponds are kid friendly. Fishing with the family can be great! Sometimes. I say sometimes because we all know that fishing takes patience, the one thing young children lack. Just about the time you get out on the water and finally get into your fishing spot things start to get out of hand. There is the constant untangling of fishing lines, taking fish off the hook, breaking up arguments etc. If you still want to give your kids a taste of fishing, but still want alone time on the lake, a local pond may be just the place to go.

Ponds warm up quickly. Another reason why ponds are great places to catch bass is simply because they are much smaller than lakes and will warm up quicker. If you are anything like me, after experiencing a warm day late winter and early summer I am ready to hit the lake. More times than not, the lake is too cold to fish. However, ponds are great places to start fishing late winter and early summer.

Now that we have mentioned a few reasons why every fisherman should be out on their neighborhood pond fishing. Let’s now address the question: What Is The Best Way To Catch Bass In A Pond?

Choose the right lure. The first thing to consider before going fishing is to decide what is the best bait to throw. Most bass in ponds aren’t picky eaters, as ponds aren’t fished often and well, they just can’t be picky. Simply put, if they don’t eat they won’t survive. Even though they aren’t picky eaters it still is important to choose the best bait.

Choosing the best the right lure can be done by observing your surroundings. As you look out onto the pond what do you notice? Do you see any fish feeding on the surface of the water? Do you see any bait fish such as bluegill or shad? Is there a lot of cover on the ponds such as lily pads? Do you hear or see frogs?

All these questions mentioned above can help you to determine what is the best lure to throw. If you see a lot of frogs, throw a topwater frog. If you see a lot of shad, throw a lipless crankbait or a spinnerbait. The best thing to do is experiment with what you know is best and allow the fish to tell you what they want.

Look for cover. Where is the first place you look for bass on a lake? No doubt, you begin fishing the cover. The same is true with small ponds. Heavy cover gives bass a sense of security, easy access to food and shade from the sun. The first place to start looking for bass is under any kinds of cover such as: lily pads, stumps, laydowns, docks or even just a tree’s shadow on the water. Start here and you may just land yourself a big one.

Stealth is key. Since ponds are smaller it can be very easy to see bass in the water. One thing to keep in mind that many forget is, that if you can see the bass, they can see you. Have that in mind when approaching the pond. Try to be quiet and avoid allowing your shadow to fall on the water.

Use a shorter fishing rod. Fishing ponds effectively may at times require you to throw your lure under trees, near a stump or sometimes skipping the lure right under the dock. Using a shorter fishing rod will give you much more control of your cast and allow for more accurate cast. Sometimes dropping the lure in just the right spot is all it takes to catch a huge bass.

Choose the best time to fish ponds. As we mentioned earlier, ponds are great places to start fishing early spring / late winter. They also are great places to go fishing early morning and late afternoons as bass will be in the shallow water feeding. Hitting ponds on an early summer morning and you can almost guarantee yourself a big catch.

Now it is your turn. Share with us your thoughts. What do you think is the best way to catch bass in a pond?