If you love fishing and are great at it, you will find much more success if you fish in a pond that has plenty of fish. On the contrary, if you fish in a pond that doesn’t have fish, your skills are not going to make a huge difference. Therefore, it is crucial to know which pond has fish and stick to it. But do you know how to tell if there’s fish in a pond?
Fishing in a Pond: The Basics
There are plenty of areas such as ponds, lakes, and rivers that you may choose for fishing. You need to be aware of certain basic rules and tricks to make the most of your fishing experience.
Here are a few things that you must take care of in case you are going fishing in a pond.
Wait, Observe, Strategize
If you are a fishing enthusiast or even a beginner, you may want to go straight into the action as soon as you reach the pond. But that’s not the ideal way to go about it.
You must spend some time observing the water body or the pond in this case. This is because you don’t have the option of scouting every spot when you are fishing in a pond.
Author Note: Don’t be too close to the edge of the pond as it may scare off the fish. You should take a vantage position that lets you observe the activity of fish without startling them.
This activity will also give you a good enough idea of the spot where you need to cast. So, it is totally worth it.
Keep an Eye Out on Things That Fish Love
Fish love margins, food and cover. Therefore, these are the three things you need to keep an eye out for. Areas in and around the pond where you see vegetation, fallen trees and growth of weeds may be full of fish.
This is because these provide protection to the fish against predators and are also a great place to attack other species.
Fish are very fond of margins because these help them get their food while keeping them protected from other species and anglers.
Margins refer to edges between fast and slow water, deep and shallow water and open and cover water. Likewise, if you find traces of food near a particular spot, you are likely to find fish there.
How to Tell If There’s Fish in a Pond
Ponds are very important habitats for wildlife, especially fish. They are shallow water bodies that are adept at supporting rooted plants.
Usually, ponds are anywhere between 5-6 feet to even 30 feet in depth. There are two types of ponds i.e. natural (that are replete with natural species such as fish) and man-made (that are used for agricultural purposes).
Though fish are found naturally in ponds, not all ponds will have fish or too many of them. Here are a few ways to tell if there’s fish in a pond.
- Take your boat to the center of the pond and scatter some fish food over it. Give it some time and see if there’s any fish activity. Usually, fish come to the edge to nibble on food. Alternately, if you can’t move to the center of the pond, throw some food around the bank and wait for fish to sniff it and come out.
- If you don’t want to wait and dive into the action straight away, start fishing by taking an artificial bait to the fishing pole. You are likely to find the fish bass near the banks.
- Turning on the radar depth finder will make the job easier and help you find fish faster. Though this is more commonly used in lakes, it works with ponds just as fine. The radar will help you detect any movement, and therefore fish, sooner and more efficiently.
- You are highly likely to find fish near the inlet of the pond. This is because they carry food into the pond which makes it the obvious place for fishes to flock to.
- If it is a clear pond, it means it is getting a regular water supply from a water body. This type of pond will have a lot of healthy fish. Hence, it would be a great place to start fishing.
Top Tip: If the pond is muddy, it means it would have a large number of catfish. These fish are bottom feeders and hence, end up muddying the waters while eating. If you want catfish, muddied ponds may be your best bet.
What Type of Fish Are You Likely to Find in Ponds?
When you go pond fishing what are the type of fish you are most likely to find? This is an important question, almost as important as how to tell if there’s fish in a pond. What if you don’t fancy the fish that you are most likely to find in a pond?
Let us simplify this for you by sharing the most commonly found fish in ponds:
- Catfish: These fish like to tread in the deeper ends of the pond. Look for them in the summers, during early mornings or late evenings. Catfish respond well to a number of baits such as stinky food, cheese, worms and jello.
- Bass: The summer and spring months are the best time to go fishing for bass in ponds. These fish are likely to be found in the shallow areas of the pond. Ponds with lots of cover such as weed and grass beds will have a higher population of bass. Go fishing for them in the early phases of the day.
Vibrating lures are the ideal bait for the bass.
- Bream: These fish are found in ponds that are bigger and deeper, certainly more than 6 feet deep. They can be found swimming in water where the temperature change happens. Go fishing for them in the summer months for maximum success.
They respond well to live baits such as worms so you may use them to increase your chances for success.
Stocked Ponds vs Natural Ponds: What Is Better?
This is a matter of personal preference. While stocked ponds are more likely to have a lot of catfish (as these are easier to populate and are also more popular), natural ponds will give you a variety.
More often than not, stocked ponds will also come with a fee, small or big, that you will have to give to the owner for using the pond.
If the owner has particularly made the pond for this purpose, chances are there would be more fish to make the experience a good one for the anglers.
Author Note: Natural ponds are usually populated by birds who carry fish eggs from one place to another while feeding on stuff.
You are not only exposed to a variety of fish but will also experience the thrill of fishing. It is ideal for beginners and for spending a good day out with children. Besides, it is free!
What Are the Best Baits for Pond Fishing?
Now that you know how to tell if there’s fish in a pond, you should also know how to catch those fish. For this, you will need to know about the best baits out there that will help you reach your goal as quickly as possible. Here are some tried-and-tested options.
- Worms: They are cheap and super effective in catching all types of fish. This is perhaps the reason why even the most trained anglers also use worms as bait. They also work efficiently on a hook.
- Cheese or Stinky Baits: These are specifically targeted at catfish and work very well. You can also add liver to this list and attract plenty of catfish.
- Others: Sinkos or hula poppers may also attract fish in a pond as long as their color is not too flashy and resembles the environs of aquatic life.
- A Pro Tip: Do not over-rely on artificial baits while pond fishing. This may alert the fish and they may not come near the food. This is so because fish residing in ponds are used to feeding on small worms, bugs and small fish.
Is There a Best Time for Pond Fishing?
Technically speaking, you can fish any time you please. However, early mornings or evenings are preferred because fish are active during these times. Hence, the chances of catching them without much waiting are higher.
Besides, if you already know the type of fish present in the pond you have chosen, make sure to carry plenty of bait to attract them.
The Parting Words
Pond fishing can be an exciting way to spend a day with friends and family. It is also easy and works well for both beginners and more advanced anglers.
The best part about pond fishing is that you don’t need much equipment. Once you know how to tell if there’s fish in a pond and use some good fishing techniques to catch them, you can bring plenty of them home!
Happy Hunting!
