By Pete Rogers
It was a simpler time for sure. A time for discovery and adventure for all young boys and girls in rural America.
Summers were filled with days spent riding my bicycle from one farm pond to another, in search of rod bending action.
In those days, we rode our bicycles along the secondary roads and when we spied a pond, we ditched our bikes, hopped the fence and were fishing within minutes. When the farmer spotted you, he waved and if he spoke it was to ask how the fishing was.
Sadly, today much of that has changed. Threats of lawsuits and lack of adventure has changed how young boys and girls seek adventure.
But some of the finest fishing available is found in these small farm ponds that dot our countryside.
For parents or mentors looking to introduce kids to the joy of fishing, nothing beats a farm pond. The small water concentrates the fish into small confines and makes them a lot easier to catch over large lakes.
Boats are a luxury not needed for farm ponds. Bank fishing is easy and in many cases more productive.
Focusing on largemouth bass in a farm pond means you only need a handful of lures. Any inline spinner is deadly for bass. For some reason, roostertail, and Mepps spinners are frowned on by many hardcore bass anglers.
But for farm ponds, this is difficult to beat. A Mepps Aglia in size 2 or 3 is ideal. Dressed or not, it doesn’t seem to matter to these hungry bass.
Another go-to lure for farm ponds is a Rapala #7 silver and black back. This jerk bait sets the standard for all jerk baits on farm ponds. The tight swimming action mimics the minnows that live in these waters.
A preferred method is to cast the Rapala beneath overhanging limbs and let it sit still for three or four seconds. Then giving it a slight twitch often elicits an explosion on the lure.
If the initial twitch does not bring a strike, a second one and a third one will often do the trick. After this, an erratic retrieve will catch a lot of fish for sure.
The simple cast and retrieve of these lures make them ideal for young anglers who want something to do while fishing. No real skill is needed, cast, retrieve, and repeat.
Farm ponds are often loaded with fallen trees, and stumps. A strong braided line is a good choice here. Rarely do you need anything bigger than 20# braid. Leaders are a matter of preference. Seldom do I use a leader in farm ponds. The fish are not spooky, and the clarity of the water is not normally an issue.
Baitcasting, spinning or even spincast gear are all good for beginners.
Through the years, I have been fortunate enough to catch over 40 fish that exceed 8lbs from farm ponds and 22 of them over nine pounds. The 10 lb. monster still eludes me, but that doesn’t stop me from trying.
Some of the finest topwater action available are found in farm ponds. The Live Target Frog is one of the best available. So are the Devil’s Horse, and Torpedo’s. Anything that makes a racket on the surface often brings aggressive strikes.
Summer months can be difficult, as the water temperature gets so high in these small bodies of water. When this happens, you have to mimic winter tactics.
Fish become lethargic in extreme hot ponds. Slow-moving plastic worms and jigs are excellent choices during the daylight. Find the deepest part of the pond. This is usually near the dam and concentrate there.
Colors for plastic baits include watermelon, black, and brown.
Davy Hite, 1999 Bassmasters classic champion, Commentator on Bass Live and a 2019 inductee to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame really focuses on Black plastic worms. “You can never go wrong with black worms for bass.” Hite continues, “for big bass, I will use worms that are over 10 inches long. Twelve or fourteen inches are best.”
This may seem excessive, but Hite knows how to catch big bass in small bodies of water and beyond.
In addition to big plastic baits in the summer. Slow rolling black spinnerbaits and roadrunners will also produce big bass.
Farm ponds are excellent locations to catch a lot of fish and have loads of fun with the family. They are also places to put a trophy on your wall. With millions dotting the countryside, farm ponds are some of the most plentiful secrets available to anglers.