Hello everyone. I came across this site and it seems to be a good one. So i decided to join obviously. I really like to largemouth bass fish, but i struggle a bit with figuring diff. techniques and such on some of the ponds I fish in.

I go fishing quite a bit in one certain pond, but i just can't figure it out. It is a pretty good size private pond that we put our little basshunter boat on. On one side of the pond are a whole row of bushes that come off the bank and out into the water about 5 feet maybe. Bass seem to really like this spot, but i have trouble getting into the spots because of all the branches. On the other side are trees that hang over the water and a few spots that have some branches in the water. Believe it or not we usually don't have a whole lot of success on this side even with all the wood. The last spot we fish comes off the bank and then their is a wall and a drop off. We can usually do ok here, but wind is almost always a problem when we fish this spot.

This pond has runoff from rain coming off of fields. So it is pretty dark and dirty.

It would be great if some of you could give me some tips and or techniques that will help me out. Maybe some lure suggestions along with the best colors to use would be great as well.

Thanks.

What's the average depth? Any particular deep spots? How about weeds? Any grass, lilly pads, etc.?

Some quick suggestions:

1. Soft Plastic Stick Bait (Senko, ***, Tiki Stick, Yum Dinger, etc.). I might try a green pumpkin colored lure, maybe with a chartreuse tip.

2. Zoom Super Fluke rigged weedless with a 4/0 EWG hook.

3. A good topwater lure (LC Sammy, Zara Spook, Jitterbug, Rapala Skitterwalk or Skitterpop, Rebel Pop-R, Heddon Torpedo, etc.)

4. Jig & Pig. I'm no expert, but these could be productive, especially if you put on one of those Rage Tail Craws as a trailer.

5. Crankbaits. Since it's a pond, I imagine you'd want a shallow diver. There's plenty of good ones out there. Rapala DT6's are good, but there are plenty other great brands too. Just look for shorter lips. Also, don't forget lipless crankbaits like the Rat-L-Trap, Rattlin' Rapala, Strike King Red Eye Shad, etc.

6. Spinnerbaits. Since the water is murky I'd go with Colorado blades to add more vibration and water displacement to get the bass's attention. Also, throw some Chartreuse colors on the skirt--again, to get the bass's attention.

7. Weedless frog. SPRO, Scum Frogs.

8. Oh, and for Roadwarrior: a GYCB Fat Ika T-Rigged skirt up and weedless.

For dark, dirty water I'd go with darker baits, or baits with bright colors like chartreuse....not a whole lot of shad, lighter colored stuff.

Also, I'd try upsizing my bait one size, maybe try something with a rattle or a lure with rattles or a wide woble that displaces more water.

I'd try out different retrieve speeds, but generally like to keep a bait moving slowly so they have more opportunity to hone in on the sound/vibration.

Thanks for the tips. I'm going fishing in the morning so i'll give your advice a shot.

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dark colored baits.

The water in my local pond has turned very "green" in the heat.  The visibility has really dropped.  My best luck has been with a darker tube with a chartreuse tail and to my surprise, 10 in ribbon tailed worms from Berkley and Lake Fork.

Welcome to the forum.

Great question and the answers are right on target.

You may want to  use the search feature to locate other posts about dirty water, too.

Be sure to let us know how you do.  

I tried darker colors t-rigged yesterday with no luck yesterday out at our pond and a friend was using a light colored orange worm wacky style and having great success. Go figure, just my luck yesterday.lol

Thanks for the tips,

I tried darker colors t-rigged yesterday with no luck yesterday out at our pond and a friend was using a light colored orange worm wacky style and having great success. Go figure, just my luck yesterday.lol

Thanks for the tips,

After watching LBH on Lunkerville tossing a new colored Trick Stick every time he caught a bass, I care less and less about color.

However, Berkley's studies (from the book, "Knowing Bass.") showed that bass hit a two-toned lure (silver and black) more than any single color.  Some colors were hit less than others (orange and red actually drew fewer strikes than a lot...).

Regardless, I'm not sold on color.  Yet still I find myself "following the rules."  You know, dark colors work best in dark waters.  Bright colors work best on bright days and in clear water, etc.   :-/

Dark colors! Try using a zoom finesse worm that is colored junebug red flake on a shaky head jig setup. It works great for me in the same situation.

Dark colors! Try using a zoom finesse worm that is colored junebug red flake on a shaky head jig setup. It works great for me in the same situation.

What shaky head jig are you using?  heading to Bass Pro in a bit to pick some up.

Later,

Chatterbait is my weapon of choice in really muddy water.  I fish a farm pond and when it rains it turns brown from all the run off.  Chatterbaits and topwaters that make a lot of vibration and noise

Chatterbait is my weapon of choice in really muddy water. I fish a farm pond and when it rains it turns brown from all the run off. Chatterbaits and topwaters that make a lot of vibration and noise

I was thinking the same thing so I tried a Gambler swim blade today.  No luck.  Today it was any plastic that had red flake in it.