An Angler’s Dream Of Bass Fishing On Golden Ponds

The following appears in the September issue of California Sportsman:

By Mark Fong

Like many anglers, pond fishing is where I developed my passion for fishing. 

I can still remember catching my first fish, a bluegill, at a small pond in the Sacramento area. As a youngster, anytime I visited Sacramento, I would ask my dad or my uncle if they could take me to the pond.

Over time, as my fishing skills grew, Ibegantotireofcatchingpanfish,so the next challenge was, of course, to try my hand at targeting bass.

It took awhile, but I was definitely hooked once I finally caught my first pond bass. Today I spend most of my time chasing these fish from the front end of a bass boat, but I still relish the opportunity to spend a few hours here and there pond hoppin’.

THE BASICS

Ponds come in all shapes, forms and sizes. From farm ponds to your local park’s small lake, or maybe a pothole on a neighbor’s property, these seemingly nondescript bodies of water can harbor good populations of fish. Many are untapped gems, and if you happen to find one, they can produce some epic bassin’.

I am grateful to know a few people with ponds who, over the years, have allowed me to fish their property. Just remember to obey your local fish and game regulations, practice safety and respect private property.

Depending on the body of water, there are many possible options to access it.First and foremost is to walk the bank. In addition, heading out in a float tube, kayak or even a small pram may also be a viable choice. Historically, I have spent a lot of time fishing from a float tube, but more recently I have come to enjoy the freedom of simply hiking the bank.

WHEN TO FISH

Pond bass can be caught year-round, but I have had most of my success during the warmer months, as the bass are active and more willing to bite. Winter rains can produce runoff that muddies up the water, and there are not many worse conditions for fishing than cold, murky water.

Spring is a great time to fish. The fish move shallow for the spawn and they can be easy to catch. But my favorite time of year to target pond bass is during the late summer and into the fall.

Most ponds are shallow and contain some form of aquatic vegetation. During the heat of the summer they can become choked with weed growth, scummed over with algae and difficult to fish. But as the heat of the summer begins to give way to cooler mornings and shorter days, the water temperature starts to drop, the vegetation thins out and the bass go on a fall feeding binge in preparation for the upcoming winter.

GEAR UP FOR SUCCESS

One of the beautiful things about pond hopping is its simplicity. You don’t need a flashy boat and load of tournament gear to catch fish. All you need are a few rods, a small amount of terminal tackle and a handful of baits.

While there are a variety of lures that will help you catch pond bass, I keep just three types of baits in my arsenal at all times.

By far my favorite way to catch fish in ponds is with a topwater frog. I’ll drag it over matted surface vegetation and fish it around any type of cover. One especially productive method is to work the openings in the grass with a walk-the-dog-style cadence, which allows the frog to shift from side to side while only moving forward slightly.

Froggin’ is not for the faint of heart; strikes on a frog can be jarring. A quick tip: Don’t immediately set the hook on the sight of a blowup; give the fish a moment until you feel pressure, then set the hook hard.

Frog fishing requires stout gear – a 7-foot, heavy or medium-heavy fast-action casting rod with a light tip to properly work the frog. Pairing the rod with a 7:1-ratio casting reel spooled with a 50-pound braided line will get the job done.

Perhaps the most productive pond bait I have fished with is a soft plastic stickbait. It is so versatile, and I like to rig it weightless with a wacky-style hook. This bait will get bites from even the most finicky bass. Anytime the bite is difficult, this is my go-to offering. I like to fish it along weed edges and around cover such as tules or brush.

As it falls in the water column, the stickbait has an enticing shimmying action that triggers bites. Expect to get bit on the drop. The same rod and reel used for froggin’ will work well with a soft plastic stickbait.

Another important lure to have in your tackle box is a shallow-running crankbait. As the water cools and the vegetation dies off, this will create more fishable open water, and this is where a hard bait shines. I like to crank one around the edges of the weedline, any rock that is present and near any structure in open water.

A crankbait is a great lure for covering water, and when the fish get on the fall feed, not many lure choices are better. Similar to fishing a frog, when a bass strikes your crankbait, wait until you feel pressure or the weight of the fish before setting the hook. There is no need to set the hook hard; simply reel quickly and sweep the rod.

The setup for fishing a crankbait is somewhat different, however. A 7-foot, medium- to moderate-action casting rod matched to a 6:1-ratio casting reel spooled with 30-pound braid is a good combination.

Whether you are looking to catch your first fish, or you are like me and just want to sneak away for a few casts, pond bassing is a great opportunity to do so. CS