On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:45:06 -0400, Bob wrote:

Hi Guys,

A real novice here.

Live outside of Boston.

Refuge opened up near house, and has a nice decent sized Pond in it.

There is a sign that says the Pond has the following:

a. Pickeral
b. SmallMouth Bass
c. Largemouth Bass
d. Crappie, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, etc.

What lures do you think would be a good bet to try for each category ?

Would you go for the kind you retrieve, or just something on the end of
a Bobber ?

Sure would be exciting to get a Pickeral.
Anything specific for them ?

Mepps, I think #4 with the rubber minnow have worked well for Bass,
Large and Small mouth and Pickerel/Northern's.

Bass Spinners work well also. Try 3/16 to 3/8 ounce. Changeable
skirts are nice. Black in the evening. Chartreuse is a good color too
for all.

Zoom Horny Toads are a good soft bait that can be retrieved on the
surface, mid water column or bounced along the bottom. Use em with a
2.0, 3.0, 4.0 or 5.0 offset worm hook like a Gamukatsu. I like red
hooks and there are many colors of Horny Toads.

Small Mister Twister spinners are good for Pan fish, Perch and
Crappies! Small jigs with Mister twister type tails work also.

Have tried Mepps (with the skirt); is without a skirt "better" ?,
and the Slug-O rubber worms.

Try Berkley® PowerBait® Original Power Worm in 4" or 7" in Tequila
Sunrise or red shad. Offset worm hook or circle hooks. Culprits are
good too.


If you are not getting any bites downsize the lure to see if that
matters. Can you see clouds of minnows in the water or just a few
small schools. Try to tailor your bait size/shape/color to them.

Not sure if you do much fishing or not but, vary retrieve speed up and
down with spinners. Slow the worms down to a stand still and retrieve
them by lifting the rod tip slowly then reeling up most of the slack.
Keep a mild bow in the line to watch for movement. If the bait is
just sitting there and you are getting impatient count to 250 before
you move it slightly. If, when you lift the rod tip you feel any
heaviness set the hook! You may get a surprise.

Cast out, but parallel to shore, use bushes trees and any other object
to keep your silhouette from showing. If the fishing gets good you
might want to get a belly boat, one of these inflatable rings you sit
in float around the pond using flippers to move.


Not even a nibble.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks, Bob

Yer welcome Bob. There are others out here that can describe better
than me. Keep comin back!
Don't get discouraged. If it's a hard bottom walk it while you fish.
Waders or tennis shoes. Look at what kind of weeds if any come back
on your lures. Try to fish the edges of them and the tops can be
productive. Sometimes fishing right through them very slowly can be
very good. Give it all a try and good luck to ya!!!

Dan