I live in a suburban neighborhood that is still being built. We’ve got 7 or 8 decent sized ponds throughout the community. The newest section has a nice sized pond that is relatively new. It has been stocked (With bass for sure) and I’ve seen a few signs of fish feeding in the evenings. The pond has almost zero cover. 
 

I tend to go to the pond right around sunset as my kids love riding their bikes around it in the evenings. This give me the perfect opportunity to snag a half an hour or so of time on the water. 
 

The problem is I’m a new fisherman and have no idea how to fish the area as there is zero cover. I assume the fish are all relatively small. I tried throwing worms deep and along some banks tonight with no luck. Do I keep doing that, switch to a top water bait and just fan cast my way around the place, or do something else?

 

Any tips as to strategy and/or lure recommendations (types/sizes/colors) would be appreciated. 

I suggest two baits. A Ned Rig (Zman TRD) and an in-line spinner (Mepp, Rooster Tail etc.) Both will catch bass and other species. A good retrieve for a ned rig is a extremely slow straight retrieve on the bottom. Another one is to drag the bait on the bottom with an occasional small hop. Colors would be dark green (green pumpkin) or black (black blue fleck). An inline spinner is the easiest lure to use. A moderate or fast straight retrieve is best. Let the blade do its magic. Colors would be a brown or black body with silver or gold blades. Both of these baits are easy to use and combine to cover the whole water column 

Is it a bowl? Water flowing in/out? Assuming it was dug out, is there a dam, or obvious deeper and shallow side?  

 

They could relate to the structure or make up of the bottom rather than cover.  I would grab a 3/8 or 1/2 oz green pumpkin or black/blue jig and drag it around to feel what's going on down there.  Might even pick up a couple bites while investigating!  Pay attention to the fall rate, too.  This will help you to calculate depth.

What setup are you using? Rod/Reel/Line

I've been fishing a similar sounding pond in my suburban neighborhood as well. I use a Booyah micro pond magic spinnerbait and it has been working really well for me there.  

Sounds like a good spot for a Beetle spin .

15 minutes ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Is it a bowl? Water flowing in/out? Assuming it was dug out, is there a dam, or obvious deeper and shallow side?  

 

They could relate to the structure or make up of the bottom rather than cover.  I would grab a 3/8 or 1/2 oz green pumpkin or black/blue jig and drag it around to feel what's going on down there.  Might even pick up a couple bites while investigating!  Pay attention to the fall rate, too.  This will help you to calculate depth.

It’s basically a bowl. No water in or out that I’m aware of. 

12 minutes ago, ABart61 said:

What setup are you using? Rod/Reel/Line

I’ve been grabbing my 6’9” spinning rod with 15lb braid as it’s what I’ve got. But I’m ALWAYS looking for an excuse to buy something new if there are suggestions...

2 hours ago, jdr99a said:

I live in a suburban neighborhood that is still being built. We’ve got 7 or 8 decent sized ponds throughout the community. The newest section has a nice sized pond that is relatively new. It has been stocked (With bass for sure) and I’ve seen a few signs of fish feeding in the evenings. The pond has almost zero cover. 
 

I tend to go to the pond right around sunset as my kids love riding their bikes around it in the evenings. This give me the perfect opportunity to snag a half an hour or so of time on the water. 
 

The problem is I’m a new fisherman and have no idea how to fish the area as there is zero cover. I assume the fish are all relatively small. I tried throwing worms deep and along some banks tonight with no luck. Do I keep doing that, switch to a top water bait and just fan cast my way around the place, or do something else?

 

Any tips as to strategy and/or lure recommendations (types/sizes/colors) would be appreciated. 

you're a lucky guy ... you will probably be challenged to keep those who don't live there off your pond ... i live where there are 2 hoa ponds ... one is a little over an acre ... the other a little over 2 acres ... 2 little gems ...

 

maximum depth 5 to 6  ft. ... some areas no more than 2 ft ... like your pond very little cover ... although one of them gets a lot of vegetation in the summer ... good for frog fishing ...

 

use a baitcaster with 12lb pound test and spinning with 15 and 20 lb braid ... throw a zoom trick worm weightless most of the time on a baitcaster and spinning or texas rigged worm with light bullet weight ... rods from 5 1/2 to 7 ft ... medium and medium heavy action ...

 

small spinnerbaits and chatterbaits produce ... 1/8 to 1/4 oz. ... topwaters of all kinds produce ... i like a zara puppy and buzzbait in the summer ... a tiny torpedo will draw strikes, too ...

 

good fishing ... 

 

PS ... explore the bassresource archives or articles that cover ponds and small waters ... well worth the time ...

1 hour ago, jdr99a said:

But I’m ALWAYS looking for an excuse to buy something new if there are suggestions...

 

   Oh my, my ...... you opened the floodgates with that one!   ???  

 

   I'd use the smallest topwater you can find, like maybe the smallest Rapala minnow or their ultralight popper, and use it when they're feeding in the evening. That'll give you a good idea of what's there, what size they really are and how hungry they are.

   Good luck!     JJ  

Fluke. Weedless. Guaranteed to catch em

52 % of the bass are caught on worms..

Didn't read all the threads but the 1st things 1st. New ponds need adult size bass to catch and don't exist unless initially stock along with a prey source.

Tom

Tiny Torpedo or Pop-R or your favorite in those two types of lures.

 

Ned Rig or light Shakey Head

I don’t know where you are but if it’s warm a whopper plopper 75-90 parallel to the bank is what I would throw in the evening.

With no boat, I fish several public ponds like the one you described. Ned Rig 1/15 oz. Z-Man Finesse Shroomz Jig Head with Z-Man Finesse TRD green pumpkin or California Craw. Also 1/8 weight with a black trick worm with either a 2/0 or 3/0 hook. A 2/0 you might need to cut the tip of the worm to get the point in the middle.

Just fish along the shores like maximum 6 feet from bank and as deep as you can in the winter. Sucks because they are gonna eat each other with no cover and its gonna have to get restocked. 

I would do a 1/16oz Berkley half head jig(best Ned rig head out there) with a Zman TRD or Ticklerz in green pumpkin or June bug. It is a phenomenal multi species bait and just plain catches fish. The Ned rig is my favorite rig to throw

New pond new fish? Throw anything and have a blast.

Can’t go wrong with an inline spinner like a mepps or rooster tail . Those things catch everything