I'd like to ask for advice. There's a private pond near my home that the owners have allowed me access to fish. Before fishing in the pond I walked around it and noticed that it is full of hydrilla and other vegetation immensely. While walking along the bank of the pond I noticed a huge amount of bass along the bank and they were large in size. 

 

The following day I just took a dozen night crawlers to the pond and used a slip bobber to experiment. I caught 20 bluegills in three hours and except for one, they were all four inches or less in size. Unfortunate, because if larger I would have kept them and eaten them. The day after I went out with senko bait and Texas rigged it to avoid the vegetation. I had something hooked and a few strikes on the bait in three hours time. Not a huge success but the bass appear to be not interested. 

 

I'm no expert but are these bass along the shore being picky and not interested because they are pre-spawning or spawning? It's been a while since I fished fresh water bass but I believe this time of the year in Central PA is spawning season for bass. I also heard alot of bull frogs around dusk at the pond. It's funny, a Blue Heron avoided the pond for an evening meal but went to the trout stream 100 yards nearby.

 

Regardless, I would like to go to this pond again in the future. I think maybe using minnows on a slip bobber would be good for the child and me and possibly continue trying the senko weedless rig. I'm still learning at my old age and would appreciate your opinion. Thanks.

Hollow body frog, H rod, braid, have fun!

Texas rigged creature bait or a weightless fluke, belly weighted swimbait. These are all good options. 

8 hours ago, ericw55anddogrufie said:

I caught 20 bluegills in three hours and except for one, they were all four inches or less in size.

These will work.

If you have a finesse rig, try a weightless Zoom Trick Texas rig and work it around and through the vegetation. A frog on top is a good option as well, but not on a finesse rig lol. 

To me, it’s frog or jig territory. A jig with a large creature bait, start heavy and work your way back lighter. Just need to get down through the veggies. 
 

The problem with weightless worms is they mostly just sit in the veggies and fish don’t notice them as easily. I would do at least 1/4 to 3/16oz weighted T rig to try to get through it. But a large wavy trailer I think is most important part. 
 

But in heavy salad, top water is awesome because the big fish have just as much trouble down in the forest as you do. They know they can get things easy on the surface. 

Get a rope and a large weighted treble hook and start removing some of the vegetation.

Buzz toad!

2 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

If you have a finesse rig, try a weightless Zoom Trick Texas rig and work it around and through the vegetation. A frog on top is a good option as well, but not on a finesse rig lol. 

just to test my own knowledge, is that the floating worm rig?

33 minutes ago, Kenny Yi said:

just to test my own knowledge, is that the floating worm rig?

Pretty much. It will sink but slowly. Which allows an angler to work it over or through weedy spots, or slowly work it through across the bottom. It’s really versatile in shallow ponds. Sinking 6’-7’ is doable. 12’ and over and you’d be waiting a while lol. 
 

I get many strikes as it sinks. Sometimes it’s a sink day; sometimes a swim it day; and sometimes a slow bottom crawl day. A 3/0 round offset hook keeps the weeds and muck down.