I'm just looking for some tips for fishing the small ponds and lakes I usually fish.  Most of the ponds are at most half an acre and are interconnected by pipes under the road (if the water is high enough).  The 2 lakes I fish are 1 or 2 acres and have tons of weeds.  I just got back into fishing after about 3 years off and have yet to catch a bass this year (the salmon and steelhead are calling my name this year), but need to before winter gets here (I'm in Michigan...it isn't too far off.)  Any tips?  It's started to get cooler here so I'm going to downsize and slow down my presentation.  Last week when I went, I threw a texas rigged senko all over the little ponds without so much as a tap...

I would also try some flukes, they are a great weedless bait and bass can't resist them.

Give the Yamamoto Fat Ika a try. Rig it weightless on a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG hook, skirt up. You can fish this soft plastic totally weedless which should help.

I fish the Fat Ika slow in <12' of water. Cast it near cover or structure, parallel to the bank. Let is fall to the bottom and sit for a minute, then move it 6-12" with a horizontal sweep. Let it sit for at least 10-15 seconds, then move it again and continue until you are out of the "zone".

If you are fishing deeper or just want to try another profile, I suggest a tube T-rigged (unpegged) and weedless. I've been killing 'em on a big tube, Micro Munch El Gordo, black neon (black with red flakes).

I live on a pond that sounds just like those...today, the t-rigged tube worked well...the neon black, actually...early mornings (sun-up), i've have a bit of luck throwing a Heddon tiny torpedo (baby bass colored) and with a black and white, skirted Hula popper.

Tried a lime-green senko today as well, but not even a nibble on it.  No luck with spinners either.

           It is starting to get a little late in the year for bass fishing (up north). I have not had very good sucsses this time of year in the ponds that I go to. I have had most sucsses at dusk. I would recomend trying a small spinerbait fished fairly slow.  No bites, try fishing a 1/8oz or 3/16oz jig. Remember not to fish to fast, and don't use a bait bigger than 4 inches.  Hope you catch some!  

Everyone has an opinion and I'm glad we all share the things that are working for us. I always fish big baits which may not work for you, but this time of year, I HIGHLY recommend bigger lures to everybody. Baitfish are bigger and big bass are looking for a big meal. You may not catch as many bass, but the one's you catch might be huge.

Try a suspending jerkbait fished along the edges of the weeds, if that doesn't work then flip a t-rigged tube in avery little nook and cranny of the weeds.

Hope this helps.

Give the Yamamoto Fat Ika a try. Rig it weightless on a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG hook, skirt up. You can fish this soft plastic totally weedless which should help

Which rod do you throw your senko's and fat ika's on.

thankx

I assume you're shore fishing. I fish a lot from shore, much of it in waters similar to what you describe. As Pond-Pro said, it's getting tough up north. I have always had difficulty when fall rolls around, but I keep at it anyways.

Try doing the things that have been suggested, and if they don't work out too well, the knowledge that things are much better in the spring and summer can help get you through the fall and winter.

Good luck.

Avid,

My soft plastics rig is a St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF saddled with a Shimano Sustain 2500 spinning reel. I generally fish 6 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid, but on some of my ponds with heavy vegetation in the summer, I sometimes use 8 lb line.

try top water and try a white weightless zoom trick worm with a 3/0 gamakatsu ewg hook fish it like ajerkbait under water about a foot or so under. big bass bait

I got out yesterday for a few minutes before a hockey game and scouted out a new pond. I saw bass rolling on minnows/something out towards the middle, but I didn't have time to get anything to throw out there; I only had my ultralight and a worm rival (http://www.stopperlures.com/worm_rival.htm)

with me. (Btw- great lure- try it out! I've caught my 2 biggest bass on a black one. Both were 5-6 lbs, which is a pretty good sized michigan fish! Tie on a snap swivel and then clip in the worm rival. Pinch one or two small split shot about 18" up from the worm. Slowly drag it across the bottom- Absolutely deadly on big (10"+) gills and bass. Tip with 1/2 a night crawler if you want.) I'm going to get out there on friday and toss a rat-l-trap and maybe some topwater before dusk.

Thanks for the tips; I'll look into them.  I really need to get a canoe or jonboat!

    Roadwarriror: I totally agrree with the big bait big fish theory.  I normally fish for numbers in the ponds that I go to. There are not many 4lb.+ fish were I fish,    If I know I have a chance at bringing my bait past a big fish, I will use a biger bait. If you know there are no big bass in the pond,  You might as wel up your catch by using a smaller lure.

       

           Kayl: I also like the worm rival. I use the brown colored ones.  I have caught some huge bluegil with this bait. I will have to get some black ones.  Thanks for the tip on fishing them.