It's impossible to catch yellow perch or bluegill in my pond unless it's close to feeding time. Ask Scott, Fatih, or Keith!
Funny, but true
However, after visiting and fishing Fireishot's pond, he turned me on to using a Fluke which has now been the go-to bait fishing the LMB in my pond. And it's currently out-catching every other bait I've used. And I say currently because I know they'll get smart to it, as they have others.
This is what makes it such a fun challenge!
So Tracy, don't give up!
On Saturday I pulled out a 16" 2.75lb (122%), 16.5" 3.25lb (128%) and a pond-record 20.5" 4.25lb (.84%) LMB, all using a Fluke like the one pictured, but since I lost that one on the first catch and it was my last of that color, I put on a salt & pepper colored Fluke and pulled in the last two.
Special thanks to Al (Fireishot) on recommending the Fluke!!!
And on Esshup's pond, I was able to catch 3 LMB, all over 4 lbs on a Chatterbait, but have yet to catch one in my pond with one. Oh, and Scott, that Chatterbait may still be hanging on a tree branch on the island
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I'm sure like most, I have an arsenal of baits and tackle that I go through, for the sake of learning to use them, gaining confidence in them, and that one of them may just be the one they're going to hit on,,,,,, that day
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But as with everyone's experiences, each pond can be so different with what works. And like I've read on this forum, if you want to know how big the fish are in your pond, invite someone out who's not fished it!
Hang in there, Tracy and dig out that arsenal of baits!
