A few years ago we had a house with a nice pond.  I hooked a big bass and it broke off my 10 lb Trilene XT.  From that moment on my goal was to get another shot at her.  I'd see her once in awhile and couldn't get even a look at my bait.  Then one afternoon I saw her cruising the shallow end of the pond.  I had a big lizard rigged and ready, something I'd never presented to her.  I pitched it out in front of her and she inhaled it.  I set the hook and she took off for the weeds.  Somehow my thumb hit the thumb bar on my reel and I backlashed.  There was no way I was going to lose her this time, even with my drag not working.  I walked around the pond while keeping the line tight.  I was finally able to drag her out of the weeds and land her.  My scales weren't working, so I estimated she was close to 9 pounds.  I tried to take a picture but it didn't turn out so good.  I let her go and she headed back to the deep part of the pond, never to be seen again.

No luck the past couple weekends, just a few dinkers. The water is pretty dirty right now, which might have something to do with it I guess

On 10/29/2017 at 10:32 PM, Integrajosh said:

No luck the past couple weekends, just a few dinkers. The water is pretty dirty right now, which might have something to do with it I guess

 

In the ponds I fish, after rain when the water is high and murky, I usually find a big one in the shallows. 

 

Alot of good advice given. Senkos, jigs, shad rap, top water popper, and a jerkbait have caught my biggest bass.

 

My best bait/presentation this year was a "jika" rigged rage bug and keitech crazy flapper. Dragged along the bottom or top of grass, pitching, also "stop and pop" on long parallel casts to the bank. 

 

If all else fails... Nose hooked 3-4" sunfish almost guarantees it in a pond that small. I'd use a baitholder style hook. 

Same thing happened to me but I ended up catching her again prespawn, look at my profile pic