A SYSTEM FOR POND BASS

All too often bass anglers seem to think that the only way bass have ever been caught is to "run and gun" on some impoundment lake. Not so. Early bass fishermen used cane poles and caught bass in small lakes and ponds. Their techniques are as good today as they were before bass boats.

The first thing to remember is that small waters do not always have small fish. Many a monster bass has come from an out of the way pond. A carefully combed couple of acres can be just as productive as running around on a large impoundment.

Early in the year, after a week of stable weather, a dam will warm quickly and the bass will become active. Usually the northern end of a pond warms first as does any area that is more shallow.

Bass are notorious for relating to structure and cover. It is important to take note of any wood, brush or weeds that can be seen.

Choose tackle that you would use in fishing any other bass water. A stout rod and line in the 15 to 20 pound test range are good. Even in the best areas there may be submerged stumps, timber and other debris. You don't have the luxury of being able to move to where the lure is caught to remove it. Accept the fact that you are going to loose some lures.

Some tricks of the trade for shore fishing are: 1) Avoid casting to spots from which you know it may be impossible to retrieve a lure. 2) Learn to slow down the retrieve and hop a surface lure back over submerged logs. 3) Learn to reel back to the edge of weeds or debris certain to catch a lure, then reach the rod high and give the lure an inshore flip through the air.

The choice lure is one in which you have confidence. It can be a topwater plug or a spinnerbait with its single upturned hook that is concealed by a skirt. Anything that is virtually weedless is a good idea. Floater/diver lures are useful if there is a chance to dodge them around submerged objects. They can be cast to openings and, if you suspect there are submerged objects between you and the lure, ease off letting the lure rise to the surface. The lure can be crawled past the obstacle and the retrieve resumed.

As you approach the water remember that it is not necessary to begin with a cast to the center. The more shallow portions of the dam waters are more likely to hold aggressive bass. In addition, the bass being dragged from deep water may spook fish

that have been holding in the more shallow areas. It is important to keep moving along the shore until you have determined where the majority of bass are to be found.

Usually, the water will have a small lip or flat that rims the entire body of water. It usually comes out from the bank and then drops off toward the middle. This is a good are on which to concentrate as it usually holds the cover and bass.

It is a good idea to begin by casting parallel to the shoreline. This insures the lure is in that lip area for the maximum period of time. In addition, if a fish is hooked, this will assure that it will not spook any fish holding in deeper water. After of couple of casts, work at an angle to the bank in an attempt to cover the outer edge of the lip.

Finally, cast to the middle of the pond. Once this pattern is completed, then one can move down the shoreline a few feet and repeat it. The procedure can be repeated until the entire body of water has been covered.

Once a fish or two has been taken, observe what type of cast worked best and then concentrate on making casts in that area.

Bass fishing in ponds is great fun. However it is important to remember the resource. The bass populations in such bodies of water can be very fragile. It does not take long to change bass populations by keeping a lot of fish. Catch and release are very important in such small bodies of water.

                                                       DonGasaway - The Ground Pounder