Small ponds and strip mines are usually pretty featureless compared to the big lakes and reservoirs your use to fishing. Theres not much in the way of cover or structure and the depth of the water usually remains pretty consistent. So the first thing you will want to do before even thinking about tossing a lure around is to make a thorough evaluation of the pond. Are there any fallen trees, shallows, where is the vegetation, are there any shorelines that provide abundant shade and so on. When your done making an evaluation of the area its time to start bass fishing!

Your job when fishing these small bass fishing gems is to locate and fish the little bit of cover that does exist. If theres a felled tree that provide shade, cover and an ambush point, FISH IT HARD! Many times you’ll pull several big bass off one small piece of cover in these small bodies of water.

Bass fishing small ponds and strip mines also requires a certain amount of finesse. Bass in these waters are usually holding close to the shore or just off shore, so tread lightly! When casting cast parallel to the shore line and make long casts to any cover and always try to keep yourself at a distance. Make a few heavy steps or make any unwise casts and you just might ruin a good days bass fishing. Once you have spooked the bass in these small bodies of water you are better off packing it up for the day, or pulling out the ultra light gear to do some pan fishing.

Small ponds and strip mines are generally overlooked by other anglers and people in general making them some of them of the best trophy bass waters in America. As good as the fishing might be, finding them can take a bit of research and also a bit of talking. Never fish a pond on private property without first gaining permission from the land owner. Nothing will spoil a good days bass fishing more than a round of rock salt fired out of a 12 gauge shotgun!

I will be touching base on this subject a bit more in the future with some very specific bass fishing tips and techniques that will help you catch more bass in these areas. For now I just want you to try something different, put the day at the lake that everyone and their mother fishes off for another day and try bass fishing one of these small bodies of water. I am sure it will be a real eye opener for you!

First lets take a look at what a helgramite is and then I will touch base on catching them and fishing them effectively.

A helgramite is a prehistoric looking insect in an adolescent stage, in fact helgramites are immature Dobsonflies. They can be found in swift, free flowing water systems across the United States, normally under rocks and other bottom structure. Helgramites can also be found by flipping rocks along river banks, these are usually females and depending on your area picking them may be frowned upon. A helgramite when mature turns into a large dragon fly type insect.

Ok lets take a look at a helgramite;

As you can see hegramites look very intimidating and almost prehistoric, in fact I think one of the reason so many anglers dont use them is because of their appearance. Just keep in mind helgramites are the caviar of all live smallmouth bass baits, so if your looking for an edge get over your fear.

There are several ways to harvest helgramites, the easiest is simply flipping rocks along a river shoreline at low water. Sandy areas that contain large flat rocks are the best areas to find them, though they can also be found in just about any other area that contains cover.

Another productive way of harvesting helgramites is to wade for them. This method requires a buddy and a screen or net. In this process a buddy or yourself stands down river in swift moving water, that has a rocky bottom, holding a screen. The other person stands up river from the screen holder flipping rocks and kicking up gravel. Any helgramites kicked up will flow down river and be caught in the screen.

You can also buy helgramites by the dozen in many bait shops, though they are extremely expensive! The last time I checked one local bait shop was charging $12.00 per dozen, while another was charging about $10.00.

There are a few lure manufacturers that produce imitation helgramite, though they are NO WHERE as good as the real thing.

Other than being one of the most productive smallmouth bass baits they are also the longest lasting. It is not uncommon to catch 10 to 15 bass on one helgramite.

As for the best way to fish them, well you will have to play around a bit, try a few different presentations. May favorite is simply hooking a helgramite behind the collar, using very little weight and then driffting them through riffles and into holes and eddies. Another great presentation is using a slip rig tipped with a floating jig head, then slow rolling them through eddies, riffles, holes and pockets.

If you have not fished with helgramites yet, hopefully this article has persuaded you to try, if so your going to very surprised and even impressed with just how effective helgramites can be at catching smallmouth bass in river systems.

The Fizzling Tube Tweak

This sweet little tube tweak is one that very few bass anglers know about, yet it seems so obvious , who would have ever though? This tweak works great on inactive bass. Simply insert a piece of an Alka-Seltzer inside your tube, the fizzling action will provoke inactive bass into biting.

The Spinner Tube Tweak

The spinner tube tweak is a modification in which the skirt of a spinner bait is removed and is replaced with a tube bait, simple enough right? Most of these tweaks are, but you would be really surprised at what a difference they can make on tough bass. Try playing with different combinations of this tweak and also remember to use a dab of super glue to secure the tube. This tweak provides a great combination of flash and finesse.

Spoon And Tube Tweak

One of the main purposes of tweaking any bait is to present something to bass that they are not use to seeing. The spoon and tube tweak does just that. Bass can quickly become accustom to the flash of a spoon, so we give them something different and they love it. Take a slimline spoon of your choice and insert it in the body of a tube. Try using translucent tubes to allow some flash to shine through.

Floating Tube Tweaks

Soft plastics sink so inserting something as simple as a foam insert into your tubes will give them the buoyancy your looking for. You can also try using cork inserts, both of which hold scent superbly, which is a plus. Another option is to simply use a floating jig head.

As the waters warm in the coming months, the bass are going to become more active and aggressive which equates to one thing, top water season! Like any other season of the year choosing the proper bait is key to maximizing your catch. Here is a run down of the most popular and effective top water baits for the 2007 top water season.

Walking Baits

When the words walking baits are mentioned one bait is sure to come to mind, the classic Zara Spook. The Zara Spook set the standard for a quickly growing class of top water baits known as walking baits.

The shape and balance of these baits allow them to dart from right to left on the retrieve, in a walking motion. The exact walking action produced depends on the anglers jerking motion and timing during each retrieve.

Killer Walking Baits For 2007;

Bass Pro Shops, Slim Dog Is a killer walking bait that has redefined walking baits in general. Its body design gives it a very life like rolling bait fish effect. This compiled with its 3d eyes, loud rattles and 17 hot color patterns makes it a must for any serious bass anglers box of tricks! Buy The Slim Dog Here!

The Lucky Craft Sammy Is another walking bait that is sure to put bass in your boat during this 2007 season! The Sammy line of top water lures has been producing year after year and is sure to remain as one of the hottest top water lures this season. The Sammy produces a superb walk the dog action and with glass rattles that call big bass in from all directions. Buy The Sammy Here.

Rapala X-Rap Walk 13 I saved one of the best for last! One of my new favorites is Rapal’s X-Rap Walk 13 top water lure. This lure has all the great fish catching lure features that has made Rapla lures the choice of so many anglers world wide, with a great top water design that makes walking the dog and other top water techniques new again. I would not head out on the water without a good selection of Walk 13’s! They are sure to be one of the hottest walking baits of the 2007 season! Buy The Rapala X-Rap Walk 13 Here.

Poppers

Poppers as you may well know have a concave nose which when jerked “popped” displace water making a popping or plunking noise, while spitting water. Poppers can be fished so many different ways that they have become the choice top water bait for many bass fishermen and women. Lets take a look at a few hot popper choices for the 2007 bass fishing season.

Hot Poppers For 2007;

The Rapala Skitter Pop has been one of my favorite poppers for a few years running. The Skitter Pop is a very versatile popper that provides a very unique presentation, giving the bass something new to look at as compared to many of the other poppers on the market today. These poppers come in a variety of bass catching colors, patterns and sizes. Make sure you add a few Rapala Skitter Pops to your arsenal of top water lures this season! Buy Rapala Skitter Pop’s Here.

Rebel Pop-R’s have been a proven top water bait for years now, so there is no reason tobelieve they wont continue to take big bass off the top in 2007. Rebel Pop-R’s come in a few different styles Rebel Teeny Pop-R, Rebel Excalibur Super Pop-R, Rebel Pop-R, Rebel Zell Rowland Pop-R. Each style Rebel Pop-R serves a specific purpose and shines for each and every one of those purposes. The Pop-R line has become so vast, with so many different combinations of color, patterns, shapes and sizes that you could literally fill your tackle box up with a good variety of them and not need any other type of popper. Of all the top water baits mentioned in this article you must keep a good selection Rebel Pop-R’s in you box this fishing season. Get Them All At Bass Pro Shops!

Bass Pro Shops XPS Popper is a popper that is sure to stir things up in 2007! Bass Pro Shops has gotten prtty darn good at designing effective baits that work! This gem of a popper is no exception, in fact I have a box full of em and they are always on the top of my top water list of lures to use! You wont buying a variety of these poppers either, Im sure of that. They come on a variety of hot bass gobbling colors and patterns and can be purchased here.

Yellow Magic Japanese Poppers will prove to be one of the hottest poppers on the water in 2007! These poppers are some of the highest quality top water lures on the market today, crafted using cutting-edge techniques and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a bait that’s known throughout the bass fishing world for its incredible balance and action. Each popper is hand painted and packed with big bass calling rattles that entice bites from all directions! Buy Yellow Magic Japanese Poppers Here!

Other Top Water Baits Worth Mentioning

Top Raider Topwater Hardbait Frantic topwater action teases big fish to charge in for the kill. Best on a fast retrieve with rod tip held high. Tail rudder puts up a huge commotion; always finish with a figure-eight! Length: 8”; 2-1/2 oz.

L MirrOlure Topwater Lures For years fans have been clamoring for a jerkbait with the famous MirrOlure action–and here it is! Features the original flash-and-scale finish and 3-D eyes with an under-chin tie-in point so you can “walk the dog” with ease. For maximum action, we recommend that you use a loop knot or a Duo-Lock snap.

Lucky Craft Wake-Tail 85 Topwater Lure Meet the “next generation” in topwaters. Its internal weight-transfer system delivers long, accurate casts with feet-first splashdown–ready to rip the moment it hits water. The single prop is ball-bearing supported for smooth action no matter how subtle the twitch. The premium feather tail provides an irresistible attack point. Walk it, rip it, stop-and-start–all retrieves are deadly! Length: 3-1/4″. Weight: 3/8 oz.

There you have it, my run down of some of the hottest top water baits for the 2007 bass fishing season. If your serious about top water buy a variety of baits and use them! Dont settle with just one specific style or type, variety is key to top water bass fishing. Its no different then any other type of fishing. I hope you’ve enjoyed my 2007 Top Water Run Down and wish you the best in all your fishing ventures!

The most important aspect of going deep for largemouth bass is using the proper gear. You may have to put down your favorite rod and pick up something a little different to get the job done. This is one of the biggest mistakes bass anglers make from season to season. They become accustom to fishing with their favorite gear and rarely stray from using it. When in reality each set of circumstances calls for the right gear to get the job done, not the gear you are most accustom to using.

Some of my favorite baits for picking off deep largemouth bass are deep diving crank baits. as well as these baits work on bass holding in deep water they can become very tiring. Fishing a deep diving crankbait for hours on end can really put a hurting on your wrists as well as your forearm. So with this in mind I choose to use a 7′ with an extended but section. My favorite rods for the job are St. Croix Avid Series Rods! They have that long but section that I use to rest against my waist to prevent fatigue and also provide a level of sensitivity need for fishing deep. Whichever brand of fishing rod you choose to go with just make sure it has plenty of strength a medium to a medium heavy at 7′ with the long but section is idea for deep water bass fishing.

The next critical piece of equipment I should mention is your fishing reel. Selecting a high quality reel with a smooth drag system and the ability to hold allot of line for long casts is important here. The reel should also have a high gear ratio, the higher gear ratio will burn your baits to the bottom without burning up your cranking wrist.

I generally use a line weight of over 12Lb test in these deep water situations, if Im fishing a deep running crank Ill go higher, jigging in deep water ill go lower. Just keep in mind that when fishing a crank your main objective is to one get the bait in the strike zone obviously, but two you want to be bashing the bait off rocks and other structure which will lead to the best of lines breaking down, fraying and becoming weak. Also remember to strip a few feet of line off your spool when retying, you don’t want to tie a new lure on a frayed or damaged length of line.

One of the most frustrating aspects of fishing deep for bass is the fact that you will loose more gear. You will also bring up much more junk with your retrieves. This can get frustrating and even costly, keeping a lure retriever on hand can lessen the loss. Also learning the correct way to get a lure free from a snag can be of great value. There are specific techniques you can use that will loosen your lures grip on whatever its snagged on, just be sure to pull to hard or get to aggressive or you might just spook some really good fish.