I finally get my first crack at the local trophy bass pond this year on Saturday. I have not fished this pond in about 6 years. I literally caught a dozen bass all between 5lb, and 5.5lbs in my last outing on a 1/2oz green pumpkin color jig. 

 

The ponds on Ft. Stewart are home to a lot of the GA bass that are on the record books. I am on the hunt for an 8lb bass on this trip, but will be happy just catching a few of course. This place only opens up for fishing maybe 3 times per year.

 

Here is more info on the pond: Pond 26, also known as Metz Pond and Big Metz Lake, is 53 acres of pure Georgia bass-fishing history. This little lake has produced four of the Top-50 bass ever caught in Georgia — No. 47, 14-lbs., 3-ozs. in 1987; No. 36, 14-lbs., 14.4-ozs. in 2000; No. 22, 15-lbs., 9-ozs. in 1992; and No. 14, 16-lbs., 1.2-ozs. caught in 2001. This pond is managed as a trophy-bass pond, so the size limit for largemouth bass is 24 inches.

 

It has been 80*+ all week and over last weekend during the day. It is a semi shallow pond, deepest holes are about 15ft. Cypress trees in the middle, and an average of around 6ft deep. I think there will be some on the bed, so we will see.

 

Loadout:

Berkley Stunna

6th Sense Trace 6" hard swimbait in bluegill

1/2 oz jig

Chatterbait

T-rig worm/ creature

Lipless crank/ square bill

Wacky worm

A-rig

 

Any other suggestions for this weekend?

6th sense 75x flatside

6" to 8" soft swimbait

I was stationed at Stewart from '15-20. If you're fishing the bank, there is a T shaped wind break right when you pull up to the pond. If you stand out there you can cast out to the Cypress Trees and catch them all day. 
 

 

I caught a bunch...of 1.5 and 2lb bass. One really nice hybrid bass. I was talking to some other fishermen that were out there, and we all had the same consensus. 

 

This place since it is only open a couple of times per year, the small bass have taken over, and there is so much competition for food that nothing is getting big anymore. I am sure there are a ton of big ones still, but it seems like no one is catching em. 

3 hours ago, InfantryMP said:

I caught a bunch...of 1.5 and 2lb bass. One really nice hybrid bass. I was talking to some other fishermen that were out there, and we all had the same consensus. 

 

This place since it is only open a couple of times per year, the small bass have taken over, and there is so much competition for food that nothing is getting big anymore. I am sure there are a ton of big ones still, but it seems like no one is catching em. 

I want to say around '18-19, whatever department runs the ponds either MWR/department of resources, whatever it is, went through a big change. They got rid of most of the actual game wardens on post and switch to MPs and it seemed to me the the care of the ponds went down hill. The banks weren't really being mowed, nothing was getting taken care of.

 

But also, that will happen at Metz, ive went there and not seen a fish and then went the next time and couldn't stop catching them. All depends. There are definitely big fish still in there, it really depends on luck.

 

If you are looking to increase your chances of an 8lb+, I would try 19,20,21-23, 28 and 2.

 

I remember before I left in 20, one of the scientists they have said Dogwood (28) was really the trophy pond.

 

I believe if you look through my posts, I make have posted the topo maps with brush locations to majority if not all the ponds. If not, let me know and Ill see if I cant find them and show you a couple good places I know of

19 hours ago, ArmyBassin' said:

I want to say around '18-19, whatever department runs the ponds either MWR/department of resources, whatever it is, went through a big change. They got rid of most of the actual game wardens on post and switch to MPs and it seemed to me the the care of the ponds went down hill. The banks weren't really being mowed, nothing was getting taken care of.

 

But also, that will happen at Metz, ive went there and not seen a fish and then went the next time and couldn't stop catching them. All depends. There are definitely big fish still in there, it really depends on luck.

 

If you are looking to increase your chances of an 8lb+, I would try 19,20,21-23, 28 and 2.

 

I remember before I left in 20, one of the scientists they have said Dogwood (28) was really the trophy pond.

 

I believe if you look through my posts, I make have posted the topo maps with brush locations to majority if not all the ponds. If not, let me know and Ill see if I cant find them and show you a couple good places I know of

Yea that would be awesome, I plan on hitting up Dogwood and Pineview I think it is.  

 

I did see a sign where they dropped the size limit to 15 inches to keep. I think they are trying to eliminate the small guys, but the problem is, not a lot of people keep bass to eat, especially if they live on base. It may be tough to do.