Farm ponds are small ponds usually located in fields or meadows, where they are fed by small streams. These ponds generally have much more life than public lakes, as grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies are constantly flying around, bream (panfish, like bluegills and sunfish) are swimming throughout the shallows, and baitfish are schooling up and swimming along the surface of the shallows throughout the summer. Crawfish and salamanders are digging around in the mud on the bottom, frogs are swimming around at the water's edge, ducklings and goslings are paddling about, and rats, mice, and voles often accidentally fall into the water, as they feed at its edge. All of these creatures, present in the farm pond ecosystem have one thing in common: they all liable to become a snack for a big, fat, largemouth bass.
Topwater Baits for Bass in Farm Ponds
It is important to feed fish what they want when fishing for bass in farm ponds. The best way to fish for these fish is to try to throw something at them that looks and acts like what they are eating. When bass are snatching dragonflies from the surface, and are leaping out of the water to grab them, their attention is pretty much centered on the top of the water column. It does not have to be some bait that imitates a dragonfly that catches these bass, but any topwater lure. A floating crankbait, a weightless fluke, retrieved quickly, keeping it on the surface, a fast-reeled spinner bait, or a popper will work just fine for most of these fish. When these bass are focused on the surface, they are not as interested in food elsewhere in the water column, and they may not even notice anything else. So throw any topwater bait to bass that are surface feeding, and in a farm pond, where bass are not as picky, the lure will often be voraciously engulfed.
Plastic Worms for Bass in Farm Ponds
When bass are busting minnows, or are are swimming into the shallows chasing minnows, anything with the basic general profile of a baitfish will usually work in a farm pond. A Yamamoto Senko, a Zoom Finesse Worm, a fluke, or a crankbait should work fine for these fish. Try to keep any soft plastic worm or fluke moving quickly when bass are actively pursuing minnows, as this will further entice them into striking. When no visible commotion is taking place, a Senko or any other soft plastic worm may be a good choice to begin fishing with.
Catching Bass in Deeper Areas
When bass are holding in deeper water in farm ponds, jig and pigs are often prime baits. Cast one of these out into the deeper water, and retrieve it slowly, causing the lure to crawl along the bottom like a big crayfish. After casting, allow the jig and pig to sink to the bottom, and gently twitch the rod, pulling it up a little from the bottom. Then allow it to sink again, slowly reeling the slack, and keep this up for the entire retrieve.
Bass in farm ponds are generally easier to catch than bass in larger lakes, because most fish in farm ponds have not been fished for before. There is so much natural life around these ponds as well, which means that the fish can feed on one food item or another virtually all of the time in the warmer months. Farm ponds are great places for novice fishermen or for anyone who wants to catch a huge bass, as many of the fish are spoiled in these waters, causing them to grow enormous.
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