"...but if they (CC) even see someone with a fishing pole they disappear when feeding pellets."
I had the same problem with removing the last few LMB from a small pond. To get the last few out I had to bait them and actually lay down (flat) on the ground to catch those last few smart ones.
You sometimes have to be smarter and more creative than the fish. Completely imbedding the entire hook in the bait and allowing them to swallow it may help catch some. I've made softened pellets. You have use pellets with at least 40% protein to get them to soften properly . Mold soft pellets to dog turd sized pieces and bait the CC with these large pellets for several days. Mold or form soft pellets completely around the hook. Catch one or two CC,,, then bait them for several days until they return to eat welfare pellets. Catch a couple more. Rechum for a several days. Catch 1 or 2 more etc.
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=578587&#Post578587If it is fish pole visuality lay on the ground and lay down the fish pole so none of it sticks our over the water. Outsmart them. You could even use a bank line with a hook on the business end of the line. Let them swallow it and pull them in by the line - no pole.
