I have been fishing my local small pond for a year now, largely because it's basically in the back yard.  The funny thing is that I just got back from a 4 day fishing MI trip on 3 different lakes and only caught 1 dink the whole time!  The LM action was DEAD in MI.  Got back, fished my local 2 ponds and came out with a dozen fish.  Now here is my dilemma.  I can hammer up t 2lb fish all day using cranks, senkos, and a popper once in a while.  The fish are NOT taking jigs and spinnerbaits; maybe I just suck with them.  All the fish I catch are along cover by the shore, I just fish off a bank since there is really no need for a boat.  Now, the only way I have pulled the big boys (a few 4lb, and 5lb) was to use a whole live bluegill on a bobber in the middle of the lake.  I let his swim around and wham a huge LM hits him, every time.  I can't catch anything with lures in the middle of the lake.  So I know the big ones are there but they won't take lures.  Any suggestions?

try the mattlures bluegill bait

How deep is your pond in the middle?

I would throw a bluegill patterned crankbait but make sure it is in the middle and not on the bank or you only get the little guys

or if that doesnt work keep using bluegill

Good Luck!!!

Dynamite?

Old crank telephone?

The possibilities are endless my child.  

Its about 10 to 15 feet deep at the deepest portion, the banks are shallow, maybe 3 feet.  

fish a DT 10 bulegill colored rapala crankbait if there is rocks a stuff bang it off of them and such good luck!!

Wow, do i know the feeling! I'm surprised to hear you could get them to take live bait.

Liked the idea of the dynamite. Try spiking your plastics with garlic spray. I have had good success with it.

I have been using a Rapala dt-10 crankbait in the bluegill color lately, and it has out fished everyone ive fished with.  That particular one dives to 10 feet, but there are other ones that go deeper and shallowere.  It will catch anything ive caught stripers, hybrids, LM, SM, crappie, drum, and catfish.

You may want to try contacting these people

how about trying a swimbait?

I have had a similair problem up until the other day. I did something a little backwards to conventional thinking. I went out in the hottest part of the day and threw a larger firetiger spinnerbait, with two (various sizing) gold/bronze colorado blades. I just altered my retrieves from slow and low, to a wake effect, and everything in between. It doesnt make the most sense but it was well worth it to me.... maybe it will be to you too...