Two points :
1) Live Bait - this was discussed at the DFW meeting, and without a doubt, hungry fish will always attack squirmy, moving, natural food first. This should assist with your objective. If you want to have a culling session, use baitshop minnows. Learn to identify the males and remove them.
2) If you have a smaller pond, do NOT fish with artificial lures for the same type fish every time out. They may be conditioned to softer (squirmy, moving, natural food) because their mouth has been hurting/healing from an unknown artificial bait.
In conclusion, and on a radical turn...huge whitetail bucks have become nocturnal to avoid the human element during the day...when was the last time you tossed a zara spook to those finicky bass after sunset ?
