WDE

Was going to say low to mid 5s based on the picture, and based on bass I’ve caught that appeared that size. Get yourself a scale! Noted on the lipless. Every time I toss one in that pond I catch more algae than anything, which is another reason why I don’t fish there often—because lipless and squarebill are my typical go-to lures.

Haha. They’re still being a bit finicky. Not biting as hard as they did in the Fall. I’m not sure if the rains we’ve been getting have pushed a lot back up into the creek or what. Hoping it dries out and they come out of there. With real heavy rains it’ll flood the area by the bridge on the fountains pond. So I’m wondering if it’s ever deep enough for them to migrate back and forth. I’ve been seeing a large carp(1.5-2ft long at least)moving around, and even leaping out of the water, that I’ve never seen back there before. I beginning to wonder if it’s the same large carp that I’ve seen numerous times in the fountains pond. That’s a nice fish, did you get a weight? I’ve never had much luck there, but you may have inspired me. What were you throwing? I think it’s a pretty tough pond for everyone due to its depth. To paraphrase someone’s info given to me here, it used to be a quarry and the shad circle the middle which is where the bass hang out most of the time.

Bite was on and off quickly while I was out. Caught 3 in about 20 minutes, and 2 on back to back casts. 2 dinks, and this 2lb-ish. No bites for another hour and a half.

You’re also close to Neshoba in Germantown. You’d drive right by it on your way to Johnson. It’s part of the Wolf River Greenway. The main pond is behind the Chic Fil A on Gtown parkway, I usually park in the doctors offices on Wolf River. Fishing there is seems to be better in Spring and Summer. There’s 2 more ponds at Neshoba behind the tree line adjacent to the main pond if you don’t mind walking through the woods about 50 yards. Well, used to be 2 ponds, but a dam separating the two washed out during some heavy rains last year. I haven’t had any luck at either of those ponds since they merged. You can fish around the smaller portion pretty easily, but not much safe bank space for casting or walking around the larger part. There are some good bass in there though as well as crappie.

Caught a chunk today. 4.6lbs, t rigged junebug Yum Dinger. She tried to wrap me around a stump and I had to go in after her.

Welcome to the thread. I’m not a fly fisherman myself, but I believe there’s at least one poster who gets out with his fly rod. Depending on your knowledge of the area, we can direct you in a few different ways to kill an afternoon. Personally, I spend most of my time at the Johnson ponds because it’s 5 minutes from my house. In Collierville there’s also Halle which is behind the City Hall, Library, etc. On my off days I’ll go to Germantown and hit a few ponds there. Primarily Grove and Neshoba. There’s also a big pond at Shelby Farms that I haven’t tried. You can also go up to Herb Parsons, about 15-20 minutes outside of Collierville. It’s an actual lake, but plenty of bank to walk along. I think it’s $6 for a one time visit, but you can get a season pass as well as rent boats or kayak or whatever. Only trolling motors. Most of the ponds I mentioned have clear clear banks for at least half of the body of water.

Picked this big girl up this afternoon at Johnson . 4.6lbs, t rigged junebug Yum Dinger.

All of this rain that we’ve been getting could be playing a role. At least that’s what I tell myself to make me feel better. I’ve also been having a tough time at my usual surefire spots.

I don’t even go into the woods in the Spring/Summer because of this. Last Summer I found a lot of ticks, so that’ll keep me out of the woods too. It’s too hot to wear boots, long sleeves, and long pants in Memphis during the Summer.

Got out for about 4-5 hours at Neshoba, Grove, and Johnson on Thursday. Not a single strike. You can now reach some parts of the far bank at Grove since they carved a beaten path through the woods for the middle school cross country team. I’ll probably start spending some more time there in the coming weeks. Talked to a guy fishing for crappie out there, he was also having a rough go of it.

Oof. However, the temps are trending upwards. Might be looking at prespawn by the time you get back out. I think we were in prespawn this time last year.

2.9lbs on a 6th Sense Baby Live Bluegill squarebill.

2.9lbs at Johnson-fountains.

I’ve been back there a few times, never gotten a bite. Disappointing because it does look like it’d have potential.

I lose multiple hooks or lures just about every time I’m out. Often I’ll feel a stick and think to myself, “I’m going to lose a hook here...” but I keep casting around it looking for fish; and sure enough I’ll ultimately wind up getting snagged and be forced to break the line. It’s frustrating at first, but you get efficient at tying back on a bait so that you can barely miss a beat. I’d much rather catch a fish than worry about losing a hook or two. As the poster above said, birdnesting is far more aggravating because a particularly bad one can take up much of your time and potentially wind up wasting a spool of line.

Yep, that’s the one. Put my weight on it, nope not dead, looked recently felled. Made it about half way and the rods gave way as my walking sticks. I’m a very basic fisherman. I do t rigs and cranks(lipless and squarebill). And I only recently started t rigging again back in the Fall(which is what I started on some 16 or 17 years ago—and then put the rods down and picked them back up about a year and half ago). Every now and then I’ll throw on a spinnerbait or a topwater if I feel the mood is right. I don’t have myriad baits and lures, but I keep what’s reliable. I don’t haul around anything more than I can keep in my sling pack. As a bank ridden pond hopper, I try to keep it as minimal as possible. I’m self taught. I’ve never had anyone to teach me how to tie leads for Carolina rigs, or how to properly do a ned rig or drop shot. However, I am always willing to learn.

The other side of the creek(boardwalk side) definitely looks more fisherman friendly, better casting radi. I was just following what I assumed were game trails, but perhaps some of your bushwhacking as well. I’m pretty sure I crossed the little land bridge you’re referring to. I came back back down the other side of the creek to the little pool where I caught the one today. I have waded in that area, but it’s full of broken tree limbs and stumps...potentially dangerous, as I tripped on one not long ago and pierced my boot, and nearly the skin(left a nasty bruise). I don’t even know what those stumps are, what kind or tree or whatever. But they’re good at hiding and I’m good at stumbling on them even just walking in the woods. Today, I was just in my gore tex boots and didn’t want to walk all the way back to the little land bridge so I attempted to cross a fallen tree. Needless to say, fishing rods don’t make the best walking sticks for balance and I came out of there soaked up to my knees—probably a poor decision. It’s a fun, reliable little pond if you don’t mind getting your feet wet so to speak. I’ve got a video on the previous page or two showing another little corner near the boardwalk. If you have waders, the water is probably only chest deep at its deepest. It’s lousy with alage in some spots. Deepest I’ve gone in is a couple inches above the knee...but you can cast in a 180+ degree arch if you want. I’ll usually start in one corner and creep along the reeds and slowly make my way toward the middle. I haven’t traversed all the way across yet because I don’t have chest waders. There are gar and bowfin in there too. Caught one of each, also stepped on a gar. When we get good rain it’ll overflow by the walking bridge with the fountains. So there’s a lot of potential for travel for the fish from one pond to the other. Sorry for all the exposition. Still hyped from catching a fish and eager to discuss.

Poor weather, ponds being partially frozen, and being sick has kept me at home most of this month—only got out twice. Got my first bass of 2018 today.

I’ve been stomping/wading around in that pond since October when it got cold enough to drive most of the snakes into hiding. They love a t rigged worm...specifically black/blue variants. Average weight seems to be in the 2lb range, but I’ve caught a handful of 3+, up to 4.5ish. There are definitely some big fish hiding in there though. And speaking of which, got my first fish of 2018 today in what looks/sounds like the same spot as the pic above. This is only the second time I’ve been able to get out due to weather, ponds partially frozen, and being sick. That creek runs way back into the woods with shallow pools throughout. Lots of stumps and overhang, didn’t see much activity today that far back.

Got rain in the forecast, good luck!

One small bite in over 3 hours between Neshoba, Johnson, and the Wolf River. Yes, I said the Wolf River. Found a little path in the woods at Neshoba down to the water front.

Johnson was frozen over in parts last week when I drove through. Hoping to get out tomorrow before it gets too cold again.

Weather has been trash lately. Plus I work retail and during crazy season it’s been keeping me from doing what I love. But it I did get on my inlaws’ farm pond for an hour or so today for some Christmas Eve bass. I hope everyone has Merry Christmas!

I work retail and it’s crazy season, coupled with this awful weather I haven’t been out in a while. But I did get some farm pond fishing in today out in Dickson, TN. The weather is just as gross there. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!