Limited time

[Yeajray231 2,171]

This questions is for this time of year. (Late summer) and we will say that it's about 6pm.  you and a couple buddies are going to fish in a large pond (less than 10acres) and whomever has the smallest fish, has to buy dinner or beer (or whatever you want the bet to be).  

Kicker is you only get to fish til it's dark. Which is about 2 1/2 hours. Obviously you don't get to run through all of your baits to tell you what "the fish want". 

What is your approach ? Remember it's whoever has the smallest (big) fish loses. So we are after size not numbers. And obviously if you get skunked you lose. 

[Swamp Rat 23]

Hollow Body Frog...nobody else needs to post...you can lock this thread now, I gave him the best answer...lol.

[Yeajray231 2,171]

So if you fished that for an hour and a half with no blow ups you'd use your remaining hour fishing the same frog?

Ha-ha sounds like someone I know . I'm pretty sure he'll be throwing a double tail hula grub rigged weightless the whole time regardless of results. 

[d-camarena 573]

Probably ned rig or a frog. 

[S. Sass 1,469]

I would go 10" worm. Almost guaranteed to not get skunked and it lands big fish. 

[iiTzChunky 183]

I'd be throwing soft plastic. It's a rare day when I get skunked throwing senkos. 

[Yeajray231 2,171]

Me too. Im definitely going to try a senko, a rage craw, and a culprit ribbon tail.. I'm hoping I can get em going on a shad rap or original floater. And a popper right before we have to quit. 

[Swamp Rat 23]

4 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

So if you fished that for an hour and a half with no blow ups you'd use your remaining hour fishing the same frog?

Ha-ha sounds like someone I know . I'm pretty sure he'll be throwing a double tail hula grub rigged weightless the whole time regardless of results. 

Yep...have gone over 2 hours without a strike and then had a 5 and 2 over 4 in 10 minutes. It is my confidence bait for big fish, Slider for numbers of fish. Everything else I have because I am a fisherman, I buy a bunch of stuff I probably will never use or catch a fish on, but who can say different, lol...

I have 98% of every frog and color that Snag Proof makes, yet I throw white, black, and Tweety(black w/yellow head) 99% of the time.

[Yeajray231 2,171]

@Swamp Rat I understand. Too bad ya can't come. Then you could buy us all drinks ! Ha-ha 

Just playin. I like frogs.. and I know they are not limited to just pads and vegetation. But in open water I like a walking bait.  And a traditional popper . I guess ones own personal success leads to confidence and preferences. 

Have you tried the "pocket frog" ? I forget who makes it but I own a couple and there is a pond that I fish that is over populated with small bass. Like a bunch of 1-2lbers. And they smash that little thing so hard. It's a sure thing every time I bust it out on that pond. 

[Swamp Rat 23]

I haven't tried the pocket frog...yet..but I do throw the small 1/4oz Tournament Frog or the Booyah Pad Crasher Jr on spinning rod with 20lb braid. I am looking at the smaller frogs as I have been succesful so far downsizing. For open water walking the dog I use Ish's Phat Frog, and for a popper Ish's Popping Fatty...but still will throw a Pop'R and Chug Bug now and then. 

[MIbassyaker 1,794]

 

7 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

This questions is for this time of year. (Late summer) and we will say that it's about 6pm.  you and a couple buddies are going to fish in a large pond (less than 10acres) and whomever has the smallest fish, has to buy dinner or beer (or whatever you want the bet to be).  

Kicker is you only get to fish til it's dark. Which is about 2 1/2 hours. Obviously you don't get to run through all of your baits to tell you what "the fish want". 

What is your approach ? Remember it's whoever has the smallest (big) fish loses. So we are after size not numbers. And obviously if you get skunked you lose. 

Seems to me that with such limited time, fishing for numbers is fishing for size.

I'm bringing my own confidence baits for numbers, full stop. Senko. Maybe a buzzbait or shakyhead worm like a plasmatail or trickworm. Ned rig if cover is light.

[timsford 273]

In a pond I'd throw a jig, 10" Texas rigged worm, soft frog like the horny toad,  weightless 8 inch lizard,  or bluegill imitating swimbait.  Almost all my big ones have been on the bluegill swimbaits in ponds the last few years.  No 10lbers but I've caught 7 over 8 lbs and probably 20 over 6. Bluegill are usually the main forage fish in ponds. I'd start out with the swimbait or jig and about halfway through if I hadn't caught anything I'd switch to the Texas rigged worm til the end. If the pond has heavy cover I'd forget the swimbait and fish the jig or worm for about half the time and then fish the weightless 8" lizard. It provides a bigger profile than the frog. I'd stick with it til maybe 15-20 minutes from the end and then go to the horny toad or rage frog as a last resort. No matter what though I'd use bigger baits if it's bigger fish wins. I've gotten to where I stick with the bigger stuff no matter what, in ponds especially though.  I just like to catch big fish and while my numbers have went down a little, I catch 3-4 times as many 6lb+ largemouth and 4lb+smallmouth as I used to 

[skno 28]

Through on a whopper plopper and enjoy your dinner lol

[blckshirt98 794]

I'd dropshot a Strike King Magnum Dream Shot!

[soflabasser 1,716]

Swimbaits

[Yeajray231 2,171]

14 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Swimbaits

What swimbaits ?

[soflabasser 1,716]

3 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

What swimbaits ?

Various types of paddletail,wakebait,and other type of swimbaits . I make a couple for personal use and it's very satisfying to catch a big bass on your own creation compared to something that is store bought.You can get started in swimbait fishing by using 3-6" paddletail swimbaits that are currently in the market. Most are good.