I have a nice sized (approx 3 acre) pond real close to where I just moved. I have been moderately fishing it with no success. Here is what I know about it.
It’s got a spillway and at high tide some water makes its way in. There is a lot of vegetation and the water visibility is very poor. There is tons of mullet in it and they are big. They run along the banks in schools gulping air. 1 net throw got me a months worth of bait. Shrimp, crabs, and mud minnows all easily trapped.
I have tried fresh shrimp on a float and bottom rig. Cut mullet top and bottom. Mud minnows same way, GULP baits of all sorts. Trout tricks, assorted assassin rigs. The only thing I get any action on is a white grub on a jighead. They just get the tails bit off.
Rumor has it there are big reds and flounder in there but I have yet to see any evidence. Is it still too cold? Wrong attack? I just suck?
I have a feeling that I know the exact pond you are talking about. If so, I lived in that neighborhood for 15 years and there are indeed massive reds and flounder in there. If its not the same pond it sounds very similar so here is my advise…
I’ve found that fishing just before dusk is the most productive. Also, move around a lot. These ponds will have varying bottoms with different forms of structure, holes, and other formations. If you can walk the bank, then move to a different spot after leaving your bait out for a little while with no luck. Hopefully, you’ll eventually find a fairly consistent spot!
The problem with the pond in my neighborhood is that the fish you’re targeting have an overabundance of food all around them. Like you said, tons of mullet, blue crabs, fiddlers, etc. and the best part for the fish… NO predators! Unless flipper finds his way through the pipes at high tide (he wont), then the reds, flounder, etc. you are fishing for are at the top of the food chain and will continue to grow huge, but will also generally be picky eaters.
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That plus use a double rigged white grub. We’ve got a salt water pond we fish and it’s usually a short window of incoming tide and then they just shut off. I think the trapped “Pond” flounder get lazy. Also try a pinch of shrimp on the grub.
On the Reds try some “milk jug” fishing with live minnows.
Thanks for the ideas guys! I actually have not tried on the incoming, it seems like the tide was down when I made my way over to it. I am mostly trying to figure them out for the kids. It’s easy for them to get to, but after a week of them going their spirits are broken with nothing caught. I am going to try and take them to Jasons Lake this weekend and let them catch some whoppers. In a month or so we will be working the reefs and probably forget all about the pond.