Small Farm Pond

[gramps50]

I recently got access to a small farm pond which is maybe 1/2 acre in size and I have no clue how deep it might be and neither do the owner. As far as is know it hasn't been fished in years. There are cats and carp, the owner is feeding the cats and saw the carp feeding with the cats. I know there are at least 4 bluegill, one small and 3 small hand size.

What would be the best way to find out if there are any bass or maybe crappie in it? Caught the BG on a small floating crankbait, also tried using the Ned's rig and was getting a few bites but no hook ups, I think it was the bluegill hitting it. There are a lot of frogs so I was thinking of trying a frog even though there isn't any Lilly pads or any other visible vegetation. The water color is stained .

[Buzz]

if you want to catch bass in a farm pond you should throw a buzz bait or a spinnerbait. If it hasn't been fished for years they will tear them up, if they are in there. Top water frogs will work in any farm pond. Anything you would throw on a lake will work on a pond, if the fish are there.

Crappie? Not my thing, but if you want to toss a few chartreuse crappie jigs around you should find out pretty quick, but don't be surprised if you catch more bluegills and bass than crappie.

[fishinwrench]

In a 1/2 acre pond I would hope that there was no crappie in it.

Is there any cover at all? (Cattails, Wood or brush) and is it shaded at all by shoreline trees?

I'm trying to remember any small pond (acre or less) that had both a healthy catfish population AND a good bass population ....and I can't recall a single one. It's always been one way or the other.

Now, Cats and big bull bluegill ? I have seen that alot.

[Gavin]

I've never seen a catfish pond that had a good bass population either.

[gramps50]

In a 1/2 acre pond I would hope that there was no crappie in it.

Is there any cover at all? (Cattails, Wood or brush) and is it shaded at all by shoreline trees?

I'm trying to remember any small pond (acre or less) that had both a healthy catfish population AND a good bass population ....and I can't recall a single one. It's always been one way or the other.

Now, Cats and big bull bluegill ? I have seen that alot.

The pond is right behind a barn and there are some trees around it so it has shade. No cattails or any other visible vegetation There's a few small limbs sticking up so I'm guessing there is a little cover but I don't think there is a bunch.

I'll try throwing some spinners the next trip and see is that produces anything.

[gramps50]

Ran by there this evening about 7:30 and threw a white inline spinner around, nothing. Then tried a small frog same result. I then tired a small gold/black Rebel grasshopper crankbait, still nothing, normally it will catch bluegill and small bass. Should have checked the water temp but I'm guessing it's 85+. Will probably wait till it's a little cooler or try it in the morning and see if I get the same results.

[OzarkFishman]

If you want to know if there are bass in there, then throw a baby bass colored senko style bait.

Nothing outproduces the senko in a pond (at least for me).

[MOsmallies]

In a small pond like that, if you can't at least see a few bass just walking the banks, then there probably aren't any. Like the others said, catfish and bass don't usually thrive together in a small setting like that. You could always try stocking a few bass in it from another near by pond if you have any access by chance.

[gramps50]

In a small pond like that, if you can't at least see a few bass just walking the banks, then there probably aren't any. Like the others said, catfish and bass don't usually thrive together in a small setting like that. You could always try stocking a few bass in it from another near by pond if you have any access by chance.

I'll have to go walk it in the morning when the light is better, so far I haven't seen any fish but lots of frogs of all sizes.

Didn't realize that cats and LMB would coexist in a small pond. What's the reason for this? Not enough food for both?

[CaptainNemo68]

If the pond has any vegetation and very little inflow/outflow then you might also find some Warmouth or Green Sunfish in there.

Crappie is a bad thing for a small pond because they will overpopulate and stunt.