Big bass in small pond

by Dylan
(Usa)

Q. In my front yard I have a small pond which is a home to many bass, but one particular bass in there could possibly be the state record.

Does anyone have any ideas or strategies on what to use or how to fish for this monster?

A. Hi Dylan, My first suggestion is to go big on your lures. Big Texas rigged worms or big swimbaits, 6 inches or larger.

Match the bait fish that are in the pond.

Find isolated cover and structure.

Also, make sure you are using the right equipment. Fluorocarbon line is less visible so take advantage of this even if just using it as a leader.

Make sure you have a good knot and quality sharp hooks.

The last thing you want is to hook this beast and then lose it!

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Sep 03, 2013
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Catfish on a rigged sunfish
by: Gregg I.

Hey Dylan,

Ah, you threw a curveball at me...I didn't think of Ol' Mr. Whiskers snatching up your yummy sunfish!...Good point! Up here in Mass., when you're talking catfish, it mostly means pesky horned-pout about 9" long. Concerning time of day when cats are most active, it's universally accepted that they most active during low light hours...pre dawn, post dusk. I;d try throwing the sunfish rig during pre dusk, with the sun low in the sky. Hopin' you hook that old brute soon!

Aug 17, 2013
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Sunfish rig
by: Dylan

I've tried the exact bait, hooked the exact same way, but sometimes find it hard to stay away from catfish. Will the time of day affect whether I have a better chance at catching a bass than a catfish?

Aug 14, 2013
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Live Bait, Dylan...Read on...
by: Gregg I.

Hey Dylan, Well, I had a similar experience with one particular "hawg" from a small pond (though not a state record class fish!). First, for a bass to grow to these proportions in a small pond, it HAS to have seen it all! I watched this particular bass "thumb his nose" at EVERY presentation I tried for over 4 months!...NOTHING!!...could get this brute to strike...worms, tubes, hard baits, soft baits, NOTHING! Then one night, watching the Red Sox at a local burger & beer joint, I met an older local angler and told him my dilemma. He thought about it and said, "That pond has a large population of small sunfish...catch one, rig it up (single hook behind dorsal fin...live-line style), wait 'till dusk & see what happens". Two nights later, I held my nose (I'm strictly a lure guy, but what the heck!), cast toward his home and waited. About 4 minutes later, the bait became "nervous" and, BAM!...let him run a bit, set the hook, and a few minutes later, brought a 7.6lb. Massachusetts Bucketmouth from a 5 acre pond to my float tube. To this day, it's still my largest! Now I "hated" myself for using live bait but, I can't argue with the result! Give it a try...nothing to lose!

Jun 25, 2013
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Thanks
by: Dylan

Thanks! I will try these and get back to you on the results!

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