Hey everyone, hoping for some help. I've been fishing since I was about three, started tying my own flies when I was about 11, I'm no newbie to fishing, but for some reason, I never really got into swimbaits. I've always done well bassin on most everything else so I never really felt the need to go to something new, however... I've become good friends with a family that owns a HUGE ranch, two creeks, a resevoir, six ponds and a good size canal full of trout all on their property that no one but friends and family are allowed to fish. The largest bass I've pulled out so far was 4.5 lbs, but I know that that toads are hanging out in there somewhere. Don't get me wrong I have a blast going out there catching 20 or 30 bass in a day all around 2-4 lbs, they didn't even know they had bass out there over two pounds. When I told them I know they have bass out there over 10 easily they all gave me a funny look, so being that I've seen all these impressive pictures of hogs with swimbaits in their mouth I'm gonna go that route, now here's where I need the advice.. The creeks have mostly dried up into trickle connected small holes by now so I'm gonna go hit the ponds... The ponds are all decent size, just small enough that it's not too much work to walk the whole bank, vegitation is good, reeds and lilly pads, it's all pretty mellow slopes, no big drops or channels, water clarity is so-so, can't see into it much, but i've fished darker. There is an abundance of crappie and bluegill (no luck on rattle traps or cranks or both patterns suprisingly enough). You think swimbaits are the way to go to pull a eye-poppin bass out of these farm ponds? If so, any particular baits you suggest, brand, size, pattern, times and techniques, whatever help you have is appreciated. I suprised them with a 4.5 lber, so imagaine what a 10, 12, maybe even a 15 lber will do to them. I KNOW THEY'RE IN THERE... HELP ME!!!! By the way, another topic, one of these ponds was stocked FULL of catfish about twenty years ago and now there are some HUGE cats, biggest caught was about three and a half feet, but a friend of the family supposedly lost about a 4.5'-5' cat right at the bank, could be lieing but who knows, 2' is pretty average for the pond... Thanks in advance for the help.
THEY'RE IN THERE WATCHING ME AND LAUGHING! DON'T LET THESE BASS GET THE UPPER HAND ON FISHERMAN, WE NEED TO BAND TOGETHER AND SHOW 'EM, WHO'S BOSS, HELP ME...PLEASE!!
Thanks,
Hunter

WELCOME!! This is a GREAT site. Read some of the posts in which others have asked the same question/s you have. I would think that top/upper water column would probably be your best bet to get a LUNKA to crush your lure ,with a minimal chance of losing it,as fishing from the bank makes it a bi*** ,ie; VERY difficult to retrieve hung up lures in deep water. (I speak from experience....LOL). A Fish Arrow Monster Jack or a M.S. Slammer ,maybe an A.C. Plug ( 7in.- 9in., for ON TOP) would probably be really good places to start.For just subsurface,maybe a Huddleston ROF O , Osprey Talon, or an A.C. Minnow.Also the are a nice selection of Bluegill/panfish imitators out there that could be the ticket too(MATT's , RAGO, Mission 3:16, Castaic Sunfish or Gizzard Shad- for examles of proven lures. Now, FROM THE BANK,Cast parallel to the bank and also quartering away casts as well as just casting it "way out there" will keep your swimbait in productive water (fishing from/near the bank). As for rods and reels, I'll again point you to the fantastic discussions in the previous posts/Rob's GREAT product reviews ,read all/different catagories in the forum and his REVIEWS-they have some VIDEO TOO! Get a GOOD/ Couple of different kinds of LURE RETRIEVER(pole type,BassPro 18 ft expandable,and a 4-8 oz lead and rope style,you'll thank me later....). Use Heavy line (17lb test on low end 30 on high end) and quadruple check your KNOTS, they are likely to be your weakest link, use a palomar if tying to a HEAVY DUTY clip or c-ring, and a loop knot if tying DIRECT to the eye(this will improve the action dramatically). Did I mention to CHECK your KNOTS religiously?!! Nothing will make you feel sick all over, than seeing a HUGE bass that you FINALLY hooked jumping all over the place with your $$40 - $100 swimbait hanging off it's face and you reeling in a VERY slack line.......(this is followed by a littany of excuses/mumblings/crying about bad line,shoulda retied,must've got me in a bush,etc.........and the oft lamented "he was HUGE,...BUT..........") GREAT LUCK, catch the biggest dang bass ANYONE has caught on that property to date,and think of it a mission, it may take 10,000 casts or it may take 2, the end result will be worth all the effort(although there WILL be times you question your decision to look for that ONE BIG BITE!!)- Be SAFE, I hope this helps you a little bit, Alex -- ALVO69

I much prefer it when a woman leaves me, for then I know the mistake is hers. - Charles Bukowski

Dude, you sound like me. Started fishing at 5, and fly-tying at 7. Been flyfishing the Sierras ever since. But bass are my fish in between Sierra trips. I still fish ponds and my local reservoir is small, so I know what you're talking about. For your ponds, Mattlures Gills and Baby Bass would kill. But you really don't need trout in a lake to fish the trout-type baits efficiently (though trout-eaters are usually heavier). They use the Triple Trout and the Huddleston down in Texas and the South all the time with success. Man, just be willing to try anything! If you need rods, start off the Okuma Guide Series swimbait models. For the price, they're unbeatable! :) For tackle go to:

http://tacklewarehouse.com/

You can usually find anyting you need there, sometimes they run out thoguh... that's where this board comes in play. Great site and tons of guys willing to help you find what you want. Just keep fishing man, Like alvo said, you're likely to pull the biggest bass ever seen in those ponds on a swimbait. But persistence is the key. Just keep fishing them till you get 'em, it will happen in time. And don't be surprised by big cats on bass stuff either. I had a 10 lb. + kittie come up and nail a crankbait while I was shore fishing a few years ago. I mean, this fish was huge and hit only in a foot of water 2 feet off the bank! Scared the living @#$* out of me!

Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!

Thanks for the tips, as far as rods I'm all set, I own a good 20 poles lol, don't judge me, it's an addiction. I have two excellent baitcasting setups that I use for throwing some of my larger lures or even baitfishing for cats and stripers. I can locate the bass etc just fine, I just really needed that adivse on which swimbaits are the more productive and I thank you for that info guys. By the way, I spent a good number of hours out there the other day and took 'em by suprise with another good bass on an evening buzzbait, 6.5 lbs. I had caught a few 2 lbers then I saw about 4 bluegill trying to fly out of the water like a school of shad, so I knew something big and hungry was right underneath 'em. Sure enough, first cast, brought it right through the fleeing bluegills and he nailed it. Again, biggest bass they've seen come out of their little farm pond. I'm working on something in double digits though, I know he's in there somewhere. I'll try those swimbaits you suggested and let you know. I'm thinking of taking my float tube out there instead of banking it, it's helped me catch some fish I'm sure I would've lost if I was chained to the bank. Plus it's just fun having a lunker tow you around the water lol. Thanks again for the help. I'll let you kow how it goes.
Hunter

Hunter-Congrats on the new "LAKE RECORD"!! You seem like you have a clue- ie: fleeing bluegill.... It's those powers of observation that ARE THE DIFFERENCE between an average angler and a Great Angler!! If you have a 6 1/2 lb'er willing to crush a buzzbait then you DEFINITELY have bigger fish,maybe even that 10lb+ LUNKA , that will have NO PROBLEM 'taking advantage' of the 'feeding opportunity' your lazily swimming/waking swimbait presents to it! Remember, BIG FISH EAT BIG BAITS!!!! Go Get 'em! Please let us know ,and TAKE A PICTURE FOR US, when "Big Momma" decides it's "snack time"!!!! -- Alex

I much prefer it when a woman leaves me, for then I know the mistake is hers. - Charles Bukowski

Yo dude, you've gotten some good advice but don't get too carried away with baits. If the fish are farm pond fish and they don't see a lot of lures, it should be pretty simple. 9" MS Slammer - pick whichever color looks nice to you. Fish it on 25lb test slow and steady on top, wait for the explosion :) Many other lures will probably work but the Slammer is simple, durable, and super easy to fish. I've thrown the slammer around in small ponds before with no trout and believe me, it works. You'll get plenty of the 2-4lbers too.