Chasing largemouth isn’t always all about fishing on big bodies of water. Some of the best bass fishing many anglers will ever have is right in their local ponds. Whether it’s a half-acre farm pond, neighborhood park pond, or even the ponds in front of your local super market or town hall, small ponds can be a goldmine for big largemouth during all seasons throughout the year. Especially if you know how to approach them correctly.
During my early years, almost all of my bass fishing was done within small ponds around Long Island, southern NY and even within the Five Boroughs of NYC. Wherever you live, odds are you have a pond near you and it’s almost guaranteed it’s loaded with bass. I’ve done a lot of experimenting over the years, and found out what works best for catching big largemouth in these puddles. Here are some tips and tactics that I’ve found work the best.
Finding The Right Times To Fish
Let’s face it, most ponds and city lakes aren’t very big, so you don’t need to make it an all day affair. These little waterbodies are perfect for a short trip before or after work, after dinner or before your kid’s sports game. If you noticed, all those times take place during lower light periods. Remember, light penetration into the water and the heat shuts fish down during the middle of the day. In ponds, where water warms up fast and oxygen levels drop, bass can get lethargic. So getting out there early in the morning until about 9am or in the evening are the best times to get more bites. These cooler times let the bass get more active, especially near the surface or in shallow cover.
Finding The Best Cover
In small bodies of water, bass usually don’t have the space or depth to move out into deeper water. Many of these places are shallow, so their options are limited on where they can go. Of course, being a shore-bound angler, your options are limited to how far you can cast around the pond. Here are some options on what cover to look for in ponds.
- Pond Banks: Don’t overlook the bank itself! A lot of small park ponds don’t have much structure in them, so the banks provide a spot for largemouth to ambush prey as well as hide out.
- Overhanging Trees and Bushes: Many small ponds and lakes have trees that overhang the waters. These provide great shade and cover for both bass and prey species. Trees and shrubs like dogwoods and willows are your best bets for a bite.
- Lilly Pads and Algae Mats: Many small bodies of water are extremely shallow, so vegetation grows throughout the entire pond. Don’t be afraid to use big rods and heavy lines to catch fish in these little ponds as you’ll need it to get them out of the thick stuff.
Top Baits For Big Pond Largemouth
After finding the cover and choosing the right time of day, bait selection is the last thing that stands between you and a 5-pound largemouth from your local lake. It’s all about making the right decisions and paying attention to your surroundings. If you hear bluegills popping in the weeds, throw something to imitate a bluegill. The same goes for seeing frogs, minnows, perch, mice, whatever it may be. Matching the hatch is going to make all the difference in getting bites.
But, don’t over think it, the more you over think bait selection, the less bites you’ll get because you’ll be in your head the whole time. Here are some of my favorite baits for pond bassin’ in the summer.
- Topwater Frogs: Whether a hollowbody or plastic frog, this is a bait that can get around and through cover easily. It’s not just made for grass and lily pads, it comes through all kinds of cover extremely well and makes for some incredible explosions. My favorite frogs are the Spro Bronzeye Frog and the Zoom Horny Toad.
- Yamamoto Senko: What’ s pond fishing without the trusty ol’ reliable senko. It’s a do-nothing bait that is extremely versatile and can be rigged in many ways. My favorite is a Texas-rigged 5-inch senko as it comes through cover well and has a much larger profile.
- Chatterbaits: This is a bait that comes through vegetation and wood easily, but can be reeled horizontally through the water. Moving baits in a pond, especially one with thick vegetation, usually don’t go together. But when fished effectively with short casts tight to cover, it can pay off. My top chatterbait is a Z-Man Jackhammer in a color to usually match the bluegills or golden shiners living in the ponds
- Skirted Jig: There is not a time that I can leave my house without a jig tied on. It’s a bait that I have so much confidence in for largemouth on any body of water. For smaller ponds, I like to stick to lighter, more compact jigs. Small baits to match the smaller forage like bluegills and crayfish. The best jig I’ve found is a Keitech Model 1 Casting Jig paired with a Baitfuel Paca Chunk. This is a tried and true jig that catches big largemouth everywhere, but the smaller profile brings strikes from heavily pressured fish.
Keep It Simple —and Fun
One of the best parts of walking the banks of ponds is you don’t need a boat, sonar, or fancy gear. A few rods, a couple of packs of baits, and a pair of fishing sunglasses will get you where you need to be to catch fish all year long. It’s how a lot of us got started growing up, and it’s still one of the best ways to enjoy bass fishing. This is what keeps you grounded as an angler. The less you overthink things on the water, the better time you’ll have.
Spend some time scouting out new ponds on satellite maps and knock on a few doors if you see something juicy. Some of the best bass I’ve ever caught pond fishing came from ponds that most people drive past every day. The smallest overlooked places always have the biggest fish.
Final Words
Bass fishing in small bodies of water is all about timing and simplicity. Get out early, fish smart, and don’t be afraid to try something different. These little waters hold big surprises, especially when the big lakes and rivers are crowded.
So get out there and enjoy the kind of fishing that reminds you why you fell in love with bass in the first place. Get back to your roots and enjoy!
