| These days bass fishing is a wildly popular pastime | | | | even learn to use this bait so the bass have seen |
| with big boats and fancy reels along with more | | | | very few plastic baits in their lifetime. I assure |
| electronic gadgetry a common man can even | | | | you it makes a difference as it has been proven |
| learn to use. We do our best, however, to keep | | | | that bass can remember being stuck and what |
| up with the onslaught of lures and lines, rods and | | | | type of bait stuck them. Offer something new |
| reels. Sometimes these things can get in the way | | | | and your arm might just be tired at the end of |
| of fun and isn't that what we are out there for? | | | | the session. |
| I have found over the years that small ponds | | | | Many ponds are fairly clear around its bank and |
| whether it be an old farm pond or even just a | | | | offer little in the way of visible structure. Invisible |
| water retention pond in the city these small | | | | structure on the bottom of the lake can be |
| bodies of water just might be something you | | | | probed with the plastic worm, rigged Texas style, |
| want to add to your arsenal and leave a lot of | | | | even without a boat and fish finder. Work the |
| the other things at home and just enjoy some | | | | entire pond meticulously as you feel the logs and |
| good fishing with much less hassle. | | | | other bottom structure with the weedless bait |
| Large impoundments all across America are | | | | and after a few trips you will know the bottom |
| seeing more and more pressure from anglers as | | | | of that particular body of water like the back of |
| well as boaters. These activities can really affect | | | | your hand helping you locate and land many more |
| the fishing on any given lake. While these larger | | | | fish. |
| bodies of water are bombarded day in and day | | | | Gadgetry and fancy reels do have their place on |
| out the smaller lakes that dot the American | | | | small waters as well as big as there is a product |
| landscape go unmolested. A little tough to use all | | | | line now that targets small water anglers and it |
| that gadgetry on a 25 acre farm pond not to | | | | can add to the fun. A small boat with electric |
| mention a 22 foot bass boat would seem a bit | | | | trolling motor is all you need to get around a small |
| out of place that is if you could even get the | | | | lake. Fish finders can come in handy too in plotting |
| boat on the pond. | | | | the makeup of a lake and locating either the fish |
| Baits for small lakes can vary just like on a big | | | | themselves or structure where fish are likely to |
| lakes and a lot depends on the pressure that lake | | | | be. Trolling can also be a very effective way of |
| receives. Some small lakes get some pressure | | | | catching bass in a small lake especially if you are |
| especially retention ponds in the city as many kids | | | | new to that lake. Trolling can point out specific |
| and grown-ups flock to anywhere that allows for | | | | areas of the lake that, for whatever reason, hold |
| fun in the outdoors. Bait selection in these ponds | | | | fish and then you may want to target those |
| can be a bit trickier than one that is tucked away | | | | sections and spend a little more time there and |
| on the backside of a 200-acre farm and hasn't | | | | catch more fish. |
| been fished in years. | | | | Remember the world record bass came from a |
| If you visit a popular pond where there are lots | | | | small lake in Georgia and the pending world record |
| of anglers you will notice that a couple baits stand | | | | was caught from Dixon Lake, a 72 acre lake |
| out and these are usually spinners of all shapes, | | | | located in California. Bass can grow very large in |
| sizes and colors. These bass have been caught | | | | small lakes as long as the forage is right so don't |
| many times before and they know those spinners | | | | let the size of a lake fool you into thinking there |
| so my favorite bait for these small waters is a | | | | are no fish in it because you never know, when |
| plastic worm. Plastic worms are the toughest to | | | | that retention pond you drive by everyday and |
| learn to fish with and most people just out to | | | | never see anyone fishing, might be home to the |
| have a little fun are not going to take the time to | | | | next world or state record. GOOD LUCK! |