So I just fished this pond near my home. It has about 6” visibility with a 4’ weed line around the edge. Every time I go there there are bass busting all over- in the middle and around the edge, even in the weeds. I am very confused about what they are busting on. Anyone have any ideas so I can “match the hatch”?

 

Today I fly fished a popper without any strikes. The only strikes I have ever gotten are infrequent attacks on poppers and buzzbaits- 3 on poppers and 1 on buzz bait- not as much as I would like from 4 total trips.

 

Anyone have any ideas on baits to try?

If you can't see what they're busting on, it's probably a mayfly hatch or some other bug. Is there baitfish in the pond?

Is this pond pressured by a lot of people fishing it? One of the ponds I use to fish was so pressured the bass would never make the mistake of hitting any normal bait, especially topwater. 

Give a whopper plopper a try? Everyone seems to be loving those right now. Other than that, go texas rig with a craw plastic or worm. Maybe a lipless?

Try a spook jr.

Do you know that they are bass?  Sometimes other species can fool you.

Are there carp there?

Try a weedless magnum bass stopper worm, it’s a majorly underrated bait. If you slow roll it, the bass will swim up and swallow it, hooking themselves.

There are carp, minnows, and gills. I know there are bass because I’ve caught a few before. Some busts are definitely bass because they are big explosions.

13 minutes ago, JWall14 said:

 because they are big explosions.

 

Most likely carp.

Could be bass after shad.  Try a spinner, or u vibe worm in shad colors.  Buzz, let die

This has fooled me forever as well.  Big explosions on a great bass lake.   Finally sat and watched really close.  Carp.   They would bust on shore and out by weed lines.  Thought they had to be bass on this Great Lake..........nope.   

Most likely it's Carp....Based on your description and countless hours witnessing similar events.

Thanks guys!! Although I have caught bass here on top water I will probably spend more time fishing subsurface lures like spinnerbaits or senkos

Right now, I have been catching them on Zoom lizards.  I fish them a little fast over weeds and they seem to be destroying it. 

5 hours ago, FishTank said:

Right now, I have been catching them on Zoom lizards.  I fish them a little fast over weeds and they seem to be destroying it. 

 

Another that is doing well and is the Fat Ika.  This has always been a good one for me at pretty much any time of the year.