Here’s my situation: 

 

I’m trying to fish one of the public ponds in my area. This pond is small (about 1-1.5 acres) and has a wide variety of structure: some rocks near the shore, pads in shallow pockets and banks, an island in the center, a fenced off sewer drain that sits about 4ft from shore, milfoil/algae that is about 2-3ft tall in pockets, and a small dock in about 1-2 ft of water.

There are a bluegill, crappie, and shiners in the pond as well as bass and cats. 
 

The water clarity is atrocious. Maybe 1.5ft of visibility on a good day. There’s a small feeder creek that constantly churns up the pond making it muddy and the trees all around add a lot of stain. Also, the bottom is black and mucky. The only reason I know there’s plants in the pond is because I always end up dragging them out on my treble hooks lol. 
 

This pond is also heavily pressured, it’s located right next to a playground and pavilion so the public definitely knows about and fishes the crap out of this pond. That being said, I’m sure these bass are pretty spooky.

 

If you guys had to bring only 1 bait to this pond to catch a bass, what are you bringing, what are you throwing it on, and why?

 

My goal is to buy some of the baits you guys recommend and give em a try and I’ll let you know who’s right! 

If it were me....I would use a 1/8 or other small spinner - maybe yellow or white on about 6lb mono.  That would reflect well through the muck and you can catch almost everything with it.

 

For the cats - the old stinky chicken liver....but honestly I would not go that route....Can't stand that smell or dealing with that kind of bait. ?

Spinnerbaits, black worms, buzzbaits. 

3 minutes ago, Bird said:

Spinnerbaits, black worms, buzzbaits. 

@Bird what color/size spinners and buzzbaits. Colorado blades or willows? Trailers?? Haha I need some info! 

ribbed swim bait like a rage swimmer any size any rig

swim baits dominate every where

1 minute ago, bass4life.... said:

ribbed swim bait like a rage swimmer any size any rig

swim baits dominate every where

Do you have a color preference for low visibility?? @bass4life....

Hah! Like the additude. 

 

90% of my spinnerbaits has a Colorado upfront and a willow behind but you'll be good in murky water with double Colorado. 

Slow vibration is key in murky water.....1/4 - 3/8 size.

 

Don't be afraid to throw tight to the bank in murky water......black is where it's at.

try reaction innovations skinny dippers in colors purple smoke/purple grape, sexy shad, white trash.

texas jig with owner beast belly hook 5/o

silver bladed mepps 1/8 oz inline spinner with a black twin tail grub (edit - remove treble hook for an offset worm hook)

3/8 oz    blk/blu  bladed jig with your choice of matching color trailer (firecraw may be good too)

7' M  Baitcaster, 20lb braid to 12-15lb fluoro leader

 

I'm throwing this due to poor water clarity; good thump from those baits.

Second choice is a lipless crank in various colors (red, citrus or chrome)

 

But for 1 bait I still choose my first mentioned

A Buzzbait ~ AT NIGHT !

A-Jay

The kitchen sink until they start biting. That's my standard approach. If the bite is really tough due to pressure I'd try a nightcrawler.

T rig plastic worm would be my first choice

Senko Texas Rigged Weightless ?

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

Senko Texas Rigged Weightless ?

This is always the answer. 

1/4oz bluegill swim jig with a chartreuse trailer that's got some thump

 

At night I'd switch to the same thing in junebug or black/blue

^What @Catt said. It’s definitely not my favorite way to fish but given the scenario you described it might be your best bet. I’ve had luck fishing it painfully slow with finicky or heavily pressured fish. It’s all I’ve caught them on the last few times out actually and its for sure not my strong point. If you try it make sure to really watch your line for movement. In my limited experience with it I’ve “seen” more bites than I’ve actually felt. 

I'm guessing the big girl(s) have spawned.  If there's a warm rain in the next 2-3 weeks, I'd take a large, heavy, hard thumping swim jig, in crappie or bluegill colors, and work dirt shallow to the nearest "deep" water break next to that feeder creek and I'd be there when it's still raining and stay there through the day after as well.  I would work it fast, hence why I think a heavy head is necessary to keep you as deep as possible coming over that break.

 

Till then, I'd follow Catt's plan with one rod, and with the other, work a 6-7" soft swimbait tex-sposed in the top third of the water column covering the whole pond and then repeat the process as deep as possible hitting everything I could on the bottom.  I would make sure my swimbait fishing was the middle of the day, high sun if possible.

 

scott

 

Apparently, I can't follow directions.  If it's raining, swim jig.  If it's midday sunny, swimbait.  If it's early morning, late day, t-rigged senko

Edited May 6, 20215 yr by softwateronly
can't follow directions

This place is begging for a noisy top water.  Most novices at public places don't throw stuff like that.  Might give them a look they aren't used to seeing except for actual creatures that they eat on the surface.

Hula popper.  Mix up super long pauses and not so long pauses.  Pretty sure no one will be throwing one and it will be way more fun than any of the non-top water techniques listed so far.

If you wanted to go light, i would use a spider slider head in 1/8 or 1/4 oz. with a 2-4" twister tail, 4' worm or fluke. You could carry all you need in your pockets. If you want to catch bass only, i agree with a weightless t-rig 4" senko .

You guys are gonna break my bank!! But it’s okay, I’ve been itching to buy more tackle.

 

As for everyone recommending t-rigged senkos, I know it works but gosh darn is it boring. Also, I feel in a very murky pond, I just have to get lucky and happen to drag or pop my worm next to a fish. The t-rigged worm doesn’t lend itself to being easily located in water that looks like black coffee. 
 

I will be shopping tomorrow, but still taking suggestions! Make sure you mention colors!! 

Z-Man TRD rigged on a wormless rig.

 

Yoga Pants (color)

2 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

silver bladed mepps 1/8 oz inline spinner with a black twin tail grub (edit - remove treble hook for an offset worm hook)

This is actually something I never even thought of trying. Definitely gonna give this one a go.

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

A Buzzbait ~ AT NIGHT !

A-Jay

I love a buzz bait bite, but can’t seem to make it happen on this pond. Nights are still a little chilly near me, but once it’s comfortable out it’s game on!! 

 

42 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Hula popper.  Mix up super long pauses and not so long pauses.  Pretty sure no one will be throwing one and it will be way more fun than any of the non-top water techniques listed so far.

Never had much luck with top waters in this pond, but you’re not wrong! Top water is hands down the most fun way to fish. I’ll give the hula poppers a try early morning or late evening sometime soon. 

50 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

This place is begging for a noisy top water.  Most novices at public places don't throw stuff like that.  Might give them a look they aren't used to seeing except for actual creatures that they eat on the surface.

It’s funny that you say that. Just the other day my buddy and I were CRUSHING them on whopper ploppers, although not this pond that I’m talking about, but another pond very near by. Haha I guess (the smarter) people are just scared to throw those $12 baits into the thick of it!

Micro jig with Elaztech craw trailer.