After a grueling couple months of fishing a few hard-to-fish, off the path ponds, I've got it down--favorite pond and solid technique.
Fished Wednesday...5 bass, less than 2 hours. 3 bass about the same as the picture 6.30. 1 dink. 1 monster (7.17.).
Fished Thursday. 2 hours.
4 bass just about the same as the picture 6.15 Thursday.
I'm really digging bass fishing. The only big fish I could catch in New England from shore with any predictability were carp and stripers... Whole new world after getting offshore.
Heavy 6" Senkos to punch through the pads... Heavy gear to work them out. I'll chuck a frog now again to see where they are at, but without a better, high-end freshwater rig, it's useless (That will be on my Christmas list.).
Fished with a guy last night whose fished this pond for about 25 years (one of few other people to fish this place.) It's produced many 8s, 9s, and 10s... I've spooked a few behemoths that I thought were carp. Nope... I also saw a pick last night savaging a perch. It must have been 6/7 pounds. This place is a gem.
Yeah guys, maybe I'll throw some braid on. I'm using my (former) carp/striper gear, which is low-end, heavy duty spin combos.
I thought it would be akin to putting lipstick on a pig, but if it'll work, I'll try it. Thanks for the tips guys.
thelucky is right about braid line. It will change it. I used it for strictly bass fishing. I used it for everything. from fluke/frogging to jigs/dropshot. (I am lily pads fan along with weeds too)
What rods are you using for carp and stripers? Doesn't have to be perfect but if you throw some braid on one of your other setups it can pass temporarily for froggin or punching.