Best Patterns for Pond Bass

I’ve fished for bass in more than 20 states, visiting some of the finest trophy waters in the nation. I’ve caught bass in enormous man-made impoundments, big oxbow lakes, sluggish delta rivers and frisky mountain streams, but ever since I started chasing largemouths, my favorite bassing holes have always been ponds.

I fished ponds often while in high school and caught some of the biggest bass I’ve ever taken, including scores of fish in the 6- and 7-pound class, and one monster that tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 14 ounces—my second biggest ever. Nowadays, when I want to tussle with a hawg, I return to those ponds I started fishing almost 50 years ago. They still produce some mighty nice bass.

Many trophy-bass anglers shy away from ponds, believing these diminutive waters aren’t likely to produce lunkers. In some cases, that’s true. A pond that’s not fertile, where fish populations are out of balance or where too many bass are kept by anglers may produce nothing but small fish. But fertile, well-managed ponds frequently produce bass weighing 6 pounds and more.

Ponds offer several advantages over bigger waters. Smaller acreage allows anglers to fish the entire body of water thoroughly. Also, almost all fishing ponds are stocked with largemouths, making it possible to enjoy pond fishing close to home. Unlike bigger, more popular waters, ponds usually aren’t crowded, either, and can be fished without a boat, expensive paraphernalia or worries about wind and current. All these are good reasons to try ponds.

Frog Baits for Big Spring Bass

In spring, frogs gather by thousands to breed in the shallows of ponds. Some types, like the leopard frog, breed early, while others such as the bullfrog don’t start reproductive activities until spring is farther along. For this reason, frogs are available in huge numbers for two to three months, and whenever and wherever they are singing, you can be sure largemouths are nearby. Bass prowl the shallows day and night, gorging on frogs.

If you like fishing natural baits, give live frogs at try. They’re fun to fish, and a good-size hopper may be just the ticket for catching the biggest, wariest bass in a pond. Leopard frogs are favorites, but any aquatic species can be used so long as local regulations don’t prohibit it. The best are larger ones such as bullfrogs, leopard frogs, green frogs and pickerel frogs. If possible, select those 4 to 6 inches long, an ideal size for jumbo bass.

Frogs can be hooked through both lips or in the thigh, but hooking the amphibian through a foreleg maximizes swimming ability, making the frog more enticing. I prefer a 5/0 to 6/0 weedless hook with wire guard to prevent snagging weeds or brush, but a similar-sized Kahle hook works as well. Add a split shot on the line 12 inches above the hook to complete the rig. No bobber is necessary.

Cast the frog near the shoreline. It probably will swim for the bottom, where it’s easily spotted by hungry bass. If you don’t get a bite soon, raise your rod tip to stir the frog into action again. Most strikes come quickly when the bait is active.

Lures that mimic frogs also work great. I especially like them for fishing lily pads and other thick aquatic vegetation. On clear days when the sun is high, few tactics work better for enticing lunkers hiding in the shade. Cast the lure on top of a pad. Let it sit a few seconds, then hop it an inch. Repeat. Bass under the pads see the frog’s silhouette and may bust the lure before the first hop. If there’s no quick strike, however, the fish lurking underneath may be waiting for the frog to jump off. That’s what happens next. Hop the lure into the water, give it a jiggle, then keep it still. Hold your rod tip low and prepare for a smashing strike because this usually produces one.

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Sock It to ’Em with Sunfish

Almost every pond stocked with bass also is stocked with sunfish such as bluegills and redears. Not surprisingly, these small panfish often comprise much of the pond bass’ diet, and savvy anglers should take advantage of that.

The simplest way is to fish with lures resembling sunfish in shape and/or color. Jigs and tube baits with some combination of red, gold and green colors work well, as do spinnerbaits with gold blades and brightly colored bodies. Best of all are realistic sunfish-imitation crankbaits and swimbaits such as Bagley’s Small Fry Bream and the bream-colored Bayou Boogie from Heddon. Work these with a stop-go, crippled-action retrieve near cover and structure where sunfish, and bass, live.

Small, live sunnies also make great bass baits. Catch them on hook and line, keep them in a minnow bucket and fish them beneath a float on a large, thin-wire hook run through the bait just behind the dorsal fin.

The Spawning Season

Bass in ponds tend to spawn earlier than bass in many lakes. Ponds are shallow and usually warm more quickly, with nesting activities often occurring several weeks earlier than on larger, deeper waters nearby.

Many largemouths caught during this time take the bait not because it represents food but because it intruded into their nesting territory. Instead of bashing lures, they simply seize and eject them from the nests. To catch them, try hopping worms, craws or lizards through shallow areas. Ditto with spinnerbaits. Stay alert to detect pickups.

Deep-running bream-colored crankbaits work great now, too. Reel until they hit bottom, then stop. This attack attitude often provokes vicious strikes from lunker largemouths.

In Conclusion

Ponds may not look like much, but they offer superb bassing opportunities far out of proportion to their size. If you’re a devoted bass fan, visit these bantam waters as often as possible this season. No other type of water offers such excellent fishing in such a small area. Ponds are easy to find, easy to learn and easy to fish. They’re also easy to fall in love with.