Ventured out yesterday with slim hopes. It was colder then anticipated, windy and overcast. My ponds I found out were super low due to the fact they haven't even turned the irrigation water on yet! I had decided to bring an indicator rod, a slow sink and a popper rod (11wt @Josh
). Because of the low water and weeds I quickly realized the popper was the only way to go. The first pond was pitiful so I headed to a point I caught them on last year:
Just about the time I was about to give up my popper seemed to swirl and then exploded in a blowup! On the board with a solid 17 incher!
I missed one or two more off the point and then it slowed down. At least some fish were active. I had to work my way through 100 yards of muck to get to the next pond. Usually I can kick and fish my way there.
The next pond was also very low and shallow. Where were the bass? I decide to dangle the transducer on the Garmin in the water for a temp check. I didn't leave it hooked up because it would have got caught in weeds and muck. New low temp for topwater!
About this time my popper which was just floating in the middle of the pond as I got a reading just got exploded on
Ok now it's time to get serious. It was really interesting exploring these ponds with low water. The fish were generally out a ways from shore because next to shore was usually so shallow. My day really picked up steam:
I started crushing:
And crushing:
Only used one fly all day. Before:
And after:
Fish of the day was around 18 inches:
If you had told me 5 years ago I would be catching top water fish with 51 degree water temps I would have laughed at you. I probably ended with over 25 to hand. My theory is shallow mud pond bass will not say no to a meal over their head. I honestly wonder if I can can catch them on top after ice off...
Until next time:
Hell yeah!
Billy
). Because of the low water and weeds I quickly realized the popper was the only way to go. The first pond was pitiful so I headed to a point I caught them on last year:Just about the time I was about to give up my popper seemed to swirl and then exploded in a blowup! On the board with a solid 17 incher!
I missed one or two more off the point and then it slowed down. At least some fish were active. I had to work my way through 100 yards of muck to get to the next pond. Usually I can kick and fish my way there.
The next pond was also very low and shallow. Where were the bass? I decide to dangle the transducer on the Garmin in the water for a temp check. I didn't leave it hooked up because it would have got caught in weeds and muck. New low temp for topwater!
About this time my popper which was just floating in the middle of the pond as I got a reading just got exploded on
Ok now it's time to get serious. It was really interesting exploring these ponds with low water. The fish were generally out a ways from shore because next to shore was usually so shallow. My day really picked up steam:
I started crushing:
And crushing:
Only used one fly all day. Before:
And after:
Fish of the day was around 18 inches:
If you had told me 5 years ago I would be catching top water fish with 51 degree water temps I would have laughed at you. I probably ended with over 25 to hand. My theory is shallow mud pond bass will not say no to a meal over their head. I honestly wonder if I can can catch them on top after ice off...
Until next time:
Hell yeah!
Billy
