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Need help with Smallies
elkoholic
Member Posts: 5,130
William, (or anyone else)I have very little experience with bass but I have been trying to learn on a local pond the has lots of small mouth. Bloviator recommended I give you a shout and pick you brain. Input from anyone is greatly appreciated.
Here is the skinny on the pond: About 3 acres, 10-15 ft deep, fairly rocky bottom, a couple of sunken trees, and the moss is comming on strong. The city stocks rainbows every year and that is what most people fish for, big blue gil, and a few big cats come out every year. I think people overlook the small mouth because the trout are so easy to catch. I have seen 2 bass 3-4 lbs come out this spring, one on a worm (not plastic), one on a little rapala.
Things I've tried:
-Little floating and suspending rapalas, have caught my only bass on a black and silver floater right as the sun goes down.
-Little spinner baits, chartruce (sp) and white mostly.
-Bass assassin- 4" shad
Other things on the list to try:
-Wolly bugger, muddler minow, ect on a fly rod or behind a bubble.
-Samller Bass assassin or zoom fluke.
-Some small plasic worm wacky style.
I get a fair number of hits but they are the little rapid fire machine gun hits so I think they are blue gill.
As the water warms up this pond will get completely covered with moss, I've got not clue what to do then but I've got at least 3 weeks before the moss becomes a problem.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Here is the skinny on the pond: About 3 acres, 10-15 ft deep, fairly rocky bottom, a couple of sunken trees, and the moss is comming on strong. The city stocks rainbows every year and that is what most people fish for, big blue gil, and a few big cats come out every year. I think people overlook the small mouth because the trout are so easy to catch. I have seen 2 bass 3-4 lbs come out this spring, one on a worm (not plastic), one on a little rapala.
Things I've tried:
-Little floating and suspending rapalas, have caught my only bass on a black and silver floater right as the sun goes down.
-Little spinner baits, chartruce (sp) and white mostly.
-Bass assassin- 4" shad
Other things on the list to try:
-Wolly bugger, muddler minow, ect on a fly rod or behind a bubble.
-Samller Bass assassin or zoom fluke.
-Some small plasic worm wacky style.
I get a fair number of hits but they are the little rapid fire machine gun hits so I think they are blue gill.
As the water warms up this pond will get completely covered with moss, I've got not clue what to do then but I've got at least 3 weeks before the moss becomes a problem.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
I could see smallies in the 3-4 lb range hanging out behind every little piece of structure. Tried the wolly bugger and a bass assassin but every time anything got near them they would just move out of the way.
Pictures of the pond.
Pictures of the blue gill and trout.
I also have good luck with jigs with rubber white tails or minnow
bodies. Rubber crayfish jigs also work for me.
Spinnerbaits and rapalas work well also. Hope this helps.
I tried fishing it after dark last week, no bass but there are some monster bluegill in this pond.
quote:Originally posted by William81
Most of my smallies are caught on small inline spinners, usually white or white/grey and black combinations.
I also have good luck with jigs with rubber white tails or minnow
bodies. Rubber crayfish jigs also work for me.
Spinnerbaits and rapalas work well also. Hope this helps.
BTW, a guy caught a 22 lb. catfish out of this pond last week.
quote:Originally posted by Bloviator
...already said I don't know about smallies, but where the hell is my invite? LOVE the pond, oooh-weee!...[:D]
What do you think about trying the the smallies at night, perhaps at a full moon?
of my smallie fishing is in rivers and creeks. I would think spinners, spinnerbaits, buzz baits etc would be worth a try at night.
What I find here in MN when I go up nort( der ya) is that the smallies are kind of like trout in the biggest/most dominate like a terrain feature of the same. Like the biggest trout on a stretch takes the best feeding spot behind a boulder in the stream. Smallies like trees from shore and steep banks that are rocky if they can help it.
My best luck with smallies has been leeches and worms that I inflate to about 6-10" off the bottom. But, I don't think leeches would really predominate in Western Colorado. I have had a ton of luck using fly nymphs and streamers. Beaded hares ear and beaded black wooly bugger. Jig these either on a fly pole with very long leader or a straight spin cast with mono line. Saturate the fly and watch it sink all the way then jig up. It will mimick a pupa headed for the surface. -good luck
I have just placed an order for some soft plastics I'm going to try. Senkos, trickworms, creatures... I'll figure these smallies out sooner or later.
since you already have them on order..your should be set.
best of luck, scott
The new soft plastics arrived earlier this week and I took them out to kick the tires last night. Fished for about 45 min and did catch 1 small smallie on a white trick worm wacky style. Also used a methyolate (sp) 4" senko with no love.
Like DaBowMan I'm learning to use a baitcaster, getting better, I've been pitching it in the back yard a little every evening with elkoholic jr and the wee little one (20 month old daughter).
The plan is to put the float tube on the pond this weekend so I can get to some spots I just can't reach from the bank.