Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,119
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,420
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,112
Who's Online Now
4 members (Fishingadventure, RogersTailgate, jpsdad, anthropic), 843 guests, and 171 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
The pond was dug in 2006. From 2006-2014 Jan, the pond was not fed, fertilized, or any fish harvested(got stocked by the neighbors and friends). When I first moved in I could go out to the pond and catch 10+ LMB, they were small but I was catching, so, did a little research myself and started feeding (2 feeders throwing feed 4 times a day for 4 sec each feeding "feeding Aquamax" on each end of the pond, bluegill definitely found both feeders and go crazy when they go off, also started fertilizing, got a nice bloom 20-21" on a secchi disk, and I also started harvesting any bass I would catch under 13". Every bass I would catch had sunken in belly and we're very thin.
I mentioned feeding earlier in this post, that started about 3 months ago, and the last month, I have fished alot, not catching a single LMB small or large, BG I can catch anytime as long as I want to, so my questions are
-LMB not biting because they are not hungry?
-over fishing?
-changes in water composition?
I know these can all be factors but just wanted to get some advice if I'm wasting my time with anything of doing something wrong?
Thanks in advance
Kurt

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
Kurt, welcome to the show. Your bass may be hook shy. It happens in ponds.

Try a 4 inch bluegill for bait. It works.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 10/09/14 05:47 AM.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
I'll try that out but it's just weird that ever since I started feeding and fertilizing they quit bitting,
Btw your talking about putting a 4" BG under a bobber?

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 93
S
Offline
S
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 93
If you cut the tail fin off of the BG it will give it even more action. It will swim kind of like one of those crank bait lures.


John

I subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,112
Likes: 478
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,112
Likes: 478
Lack of a LMB bite is due to your over fishing, removing the vulnerable bass and creating hook smart fish in a smaller pond. It is a common occurrence. No easy answers for this type of problem of too many small bass in a pond.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
Just to add to Bill's comments, using angling to remove LMB from a pond removes the LMB that are prone to grabbing lures. What might be left are the fish that aren't as agressive, or fish that are smart (hook smart) enough not to bite anything that has a string attached to it.

In my pond, CC will eat pellets. If more pellets hit the water after the first feeder throw, they will not feed on the surface until the next day. They will not feed on the surface near a bobber or anything floating besides pellets.

They've been conditioned, and all the dumb ones have been removed.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 236
R
Fingerling
Offline
Fingerling
R
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 236
What lures are you fishing with? Trying something more finesse could help. I like to use the 1/8 ounce spider slider head jighead with a 4" zoom finesse worm rigged weedless in watermelon red or green pumpkin colors in clear water, plum or redbug in stained water. Cast it out on 6lb fluorocarbon and bounce it along the bottom, it's very weedless and catches lots of fish. A popper or walking bait really early in the morning or at dusk should also work.



Edit: these have a light wire hook so be sure you don't overtighten the drag. You do not need to slam the hookset either as it can bend out the hook.

Last edited by RockvilleMDAngler; 10/09/14 01:20 PM.

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Thanks for the opinions fellas, I'll give it some more time until I take any more action I guess

Last edited by lunker1987; 10/09/14 10:02 PM.
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
[size:17pt][/size]I usually use the weedless style but a little bigger hook, I'll be doing a little fishing in the morning, going to try a smaller hook and line, worth a shot.

Last edited by lunker1987; 10/09/14 10:02 PM.
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
Put a live grasshopper on a long shank bream hook,, I catch everything on them.
Nothing can resist them


Pat W

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
I've done it with and without a bobber. I do not use any kind of weight. I also try to have a soft presentation(no weight) when pond fishing. Of course, that depends on the size of the pond.

You might also find that the fish know from your foot steps that you are there. I've often tossed a grasshopper into the pond and had it make it back to the bank when I'm fishing. I'll bet that thing would get eaten if I weren't there.

I never use a weight when worm fishing and go with 6 to 8 pound line. More than likely 6 pound on a spinning reel. Even then, I seldom catch over one without changing my location.

Try tossing a weightless worm onto a nearby bank. Wait about a minute and ease it into the water. Move it very slowly and occasionally vary the speed during the retrieve.

Some on here have used 2 pound line when BG fishing. I can't tie that stuff or even see it.

The bottom line is that the fish don't like to get jerked around by the jaw. They can become conditioned by observation.

As you get a little deeper into this stuff you will find that some fish are genetically wired to not eat anything with strings attached.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 10/10/14 04:19 AM.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
You can also use flurocarbon line for less visibility.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 150
C
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
C
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 150
lunker1987,

Using a 4" bluegill hooked through the back with a long shanked brim hook works really well. I introduced my this method after a bass slapped at 2 differnet small bluegills my 9 year old was reeling in and caught a 2 lb 6 oz LMB. Since then, it is the fishing method as soon as we hit the pond......as she states....."We raise the worms to catch the bluegill to catch the LMB to bring to the table"....

Twice the LMB would not hit the brim so the kids left the dead fish hanging under a bobber and about 20-30 minutes later, 7 lb 1 oz 3-1/2 year old Channel Cat was on the bank....it was hard for the 16 year old to eat supper with a constant grim he had.....lol

Coupe


I subscribe!

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
cro, HC1968
Recent Posts
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by RogersTailgate - 03/29/24 05:45 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by jpsdad - 03/29/24 05:43 AM
pond experience needed
by esshup - 03/29/24 12:45 AM
New pond middle TN: establishing food chain?
by Bill Cody - 03/28/24 07:57 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by FireIsHot - 03/28/24 07:33 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 06:39 PM
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5