In due time, however, I learned there are anglers devoted exclusively to the pursuit of pond bass, and they take it seriously. If you're one of these individuals, you usually scope out a pond before making your first cast. You determine the key percentage spots (areas with visible cover, such as standing timber or sunken logs) and concentrate on them, rather than wasting your time fishing unproductive water.
You also check for weed lines or gravel banks because pond bass will gravitate to those types of available structure. If the pond has any type of green muck or weed growth on the surface (the nastier, the better), fishing on, under and through it sometimes will produce the biggest bass from a pond.
Likewise, you need to remember that bass move toward the warmest water they can find early in the year, which, of course, is found on north-facing banks (e.g., they get the most sunlight during the day). Be prepared to wait out the bites, 'cause while they normally are very slow at this time, most will be huge.
It's also important to understand how bass react at various times of the year. In the early spring, for example, pond bass will begin their pre-spawn migration ahead of the time when their cousins in lakes will make this move. Once the water in ponds warms into the mid-50s, it's time to start fishing jigs and jerkbaits, both of which appeal to bass, especially big ones.
Once summer arrives, look for bass around shallow cover in the early mornings and late evenings. This is the time of year to experiment with different topwater baits. Summer also is a good time to fish for bass at night. In the interest of keeping things simple, carry a flashlight, camera (with a flash), and backpack with a couple of baits and soft plastics. Worms, jigs and topwaters all work well in ponds at night. Once again, though, be prepared to wait out the bites, because the best ones often happen during the wee morning hours.
If the ponds you fish have an abundance of shad, they quickly will become your best friends during the fall months. Bass like to chase them into the backs of pockets and along creek channels. Just watch for the tell-tale surface activity, and when you find it, get your bait in the water as quickly as possible. This bite sometimes only lasts a few seconds. Good baits to try include topwaters, shad-type baits such as crankbaits, rattletraps, and soft-plastic jerkbaits like Zoom flukes. If you get lucky and catch a day when it stays overcast, with a little chop on the water, you may be able to fish topwaters successfully all day long. Preferred color schemes under these conditions are shad and black colors.
Yet another consideration for pond fishermen is to always try and walk to the water's edge as quietly as possible. The general consensus is that any vibrations you make with your feet get transmitted through the ground into the water.
And finally, there is a position held by at least some pond anglers that the colors you wear fishing can affect your success. They contend that wearing neutral colors, such as browns, grays and blacks, as well as cool colors, like green and blue, help disguise their appearance above the water. The basis for their beliefs is that bass almost always are looking up toward the surface, and if you can see them, they certainly can see you.
According to one pond fisherman, "There have been times when I was working on a fish, and I'm almost positive she wouldn't bite because she was aware of my presence."
I'm not sure that I buy this stance, but I also don't have any evidence one way or the other. What I wholeheartedly do agree with is the idea that pond fishing is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, and if you want to be successful consistently, you need to put in a lot of time and dedication.
Can't say how much time and dedication any of the anglers in the following video links put into the sport, but I think you'll agree their catches definitely prove that pond fishing can be fun and enjoyable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12yUZyV98u8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kok0TMHugk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5TqqHXpGjw
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