In early spring, bass metabolism is still slow; they won’t chase a small fish far or expend much energy to catch a lure. Choose spots carefully. Look for weedy areas near a drop-off, as bass use the deeper breaks as travel lanes to move from one shallow spot to another.

Anglers new to pond fishing often locate spots bass are using, but fail to catch many fish because they don’t work the area thoroughly. Also, early in the season, largemouths venture into water less than a foot deep, so they must be approached cautiously to minimize shadows and splashes. I recommend starting shallow and working slowly and methodically away from shore, covering every foot of potentially productive water.

In summer, largemouths eat almost anything they can catch—worms, leeches, frogs, crawdads, tadpoles, salamanders, grasshoppers, flying insects, and even mice, snakes, and the occasional bird. But in early spring, try to imitate small slower-moving baitfish bass rely on at this time.

When bass are in shallow water, select small lures that can be fished ultraslow. Though vegetation hasn’t had much time for new growth this early in the year, a few fish may be found along last year’s weedlines. Spinning equipment is fine for most pond fishing, especially in spring.

Four- to six-inch plastic worms, tubebaits, or curlytail grubs that display seductive action when retrieved slowly along the edge of weeds are good bets. Cast parallel to the bank and swim the lure slowly for a foot or two, then let it drop, rest, and then inch along the bottom. Experiment with movements to see what entices bass best.

Floating minnow plugs like 2-inch or 23⁄4-inch floating Rapalas produce well because it’s possible to perfectly control lure action. By raising, lowering, or shaking the rod tip; starting or stopping the retrieve; or varying lure speed, the floating lure can pop, slide, shimmy, dart, dive, swim, or sit motionless. It can dance in and out of small pockets in the weeds and float past partially submerged logs. Not even a bass still groggy from a long cold winter can resist these provocative moves.

Bait fishermen will find that a lightly-hooked nightcrawler or crappie minnow fished below a quarter-size bobber will attract bass feeding in the shallows. Crappie-size plastic and feather jigs also tempt large bass at this time

If a small creek enters the pond, bass sometimes patrol the edge, feeding on prey that washes in. Tiny tube jigs bounced slowly along the bottom with the current are effective. Hooking a nightcrawler through the collar 8 inches below a small split shot then letting the current carry it into the lake may also tempt a strike.

Along the bank of most ponds, a shelf of shallow water drops off into deeper water. The degree of drop and the depth of the water may be slight in shallow ponds or pronounced in 20-foot-deep ponds. In spring, bass often are found along the edge of the shelf or drop-off, where they’re susceptible to slow-moving spinners or small jigs. Mepps Black Fury spinners in 1/6- or 1/8-ounce sizes work well, along with plastic-tailed 1/16- or 1/8-ounce Blakemore Road Runners.

Largemouth bass build nests in shallow water, and males aggressively defend them. Try tossing plastic worms, tubes, jigs, straight-line spinners, or small spinnerbaits around the beds to badger a bass into striking. A wacky-style floating worm is another early-season favorite.

In ponds that are more open, try crankbaits, such as 1/4-ounce Model A Bombers or Bagley Balsa B’s, that dive and wobble along bottom.

Summer Tactics

As summer approaches, anglers must adjust their schedules to fish when bass are most active. When the pond was cool, bass spent the daylight hours in warm shallow water, but now that the water’s warm, they feed in the shallows only when the sun isn’t beating down. The first hours of daylight and the last hour before sunset are prime times. Baitfish, frogs, insects, and other critters that bass consume move into the shallows during low-light periods, and hungry bass take advantage of the buffet.

Pond vegetation grows rapidly in summer, and bass use it for shade, for ambush sites, and for resting. During extremely hot weather, oxygen produced by the weedbed creates a more comfortable environment for fish than deeper areas with little or no weedgrowth and low oxygen levels.

When bass hold in thick weeds, use a jig-n-pig or Texas-rigged worm to probe holes in the vegetation. Set the hook quickly and work a bass into open water away from the weeds, to prevent it from heading for the tangled jungle of leaves and stems. Crawl the worm ultraslowly as you work it through the weeds, but when it reaches an open area, speed it up to make it shoot for the surface like a small snake. Also try retrieving it parallel to the edge of weedlines where bass cruise, looking for prey.

Diving crankbaits are overlooked for fishing the edge of submerged weedbeds. Cast to the edge and crank the lure down, moving it parallel to the edge so it remains in the potential strike area as long as possible on each cast. On windy days, shallow divers or rattlebaits retrieved fast over weedbeds draw powerful strikes

When choosing lure colors for pond bass, consider water color and available prey. In murky ponds, parrot, firetiger, and combinations with chartreuse catch a fish’s eye. Rattling models are worth a try, too. In clear water, bluegill and shiner patterns work well, and crawdad colors can be best if the pond has a natural population of craws.

Night fishing is the key to explosive action during summer. While some bass retreat to deeper water when it gets dark, many cruise the shallows and continue to feed on sunfish and minnows that are less wary after dark. Work spinnerbaits through open pockets in vegetation or through the branches of fallen trees.

Topwater baits like the venerable Hula Popper and Jitterbug make a ruckus as they slowly waddle across the surface. Dark-colored lures are favored because as a fish looks upward toward the surface, the sky provides a lighter background, silhouetting objects on the surface.

The country at night is incredibly quiet and dark. You can hear a frog rippling the surface and the tiniest mouse move along the bank. A feeding bass will make your heart skip, particularly if it’s feeding on your Jitterbug. Because ponds are so quiet at night, lures that land on the surface of the water attract the attention of fish nearby, including hungry largemouth bass.

Cast a prop bait or chugger into the shallows and let it sit until the splash rings have dissipated. Then let it sit some more. If a bass hasn’t taken it by then, twitch it a few times. If nothing happens, pop the lure across the surface, flicking the rod tip and making the lure dart forward a few inches, making an audible pop or gurgle that sends bubbles flying.

Then let it sit again. Continue the popping and splashing along the shoreline. Cast into deeper water and repeat the retrieve. It won’t be long before a bass attacks.

With a Jitterbug, start wiggling it a few times to create a surface wake. If that doesn’t produce a strike, try retrieving it rapidly for a yard or so, making it “jitter” across the surface. The idea is to get the bass’s attention. Make the bass want the lure, then increase retrieve speed so the bass thinks escape is eminent. Be ready for a heart-stopping hit.

Another deadly nighttime lure is a 9- to 10-inch floating plastic worm with the hook embedded Texas-style, but with no weight. This lure resembles a baby snake swimming across the water in the darkness, an irresistible trigger, at times. Think snake as you retrieve the worm, and make it swim as seductively as possible, parallel and over logs or other cover. When a bass grabs it, wait to feel the fish’s weight, then set the hook hard and hang on. Buzzbaits are effective at night if retrieved fast enough to make the blades sputter loudly, creating a trail of bubbles in the water.

Find and get permission to fish forgotten farm ponds and you’ll wish you’d tried it 20 years ago. The farm pond owner may ask you to release all bass, or he may want a couple for a meal. If you’re after a trophy for the wall, get permission to kill one in advance, or release it and order a replica. Obtain permission to fish a number of nearby farm ponds to avoid overfishing one particular pond. After a few seasons, you’ll find activity trends that will help you choose the best one for tomorrow.

*Tom Keith, is a freelance writer from Bennett, Nebraska.