Fishing Forest Ponds

By Ian

  Most people know that fishing private farm ponds catches you lunkers, but what about their less well known but just as good cousins, the forest pond?

  Forest ponds are as the name says: Ponds in the forest. But we aren't talking about your regular park pond, or those town lakes with a small grove of trees. No, we're taking about the ponds deep in the forest, well off the beaten path. Those ponds that maybe see one or two hikers, or better, none at all. When the pond is shielded by a barrier of bushes, brambles, and wild hedges, then it is good fishing.

Above: One of my honey holes, in a small natural preserve. A small stream feeds into it, leading to fat, healthy bass, and sees no fishing pressure. 

  One of the other reasons that forest ponds are such good fishing is that trees often shield the pond from much of the elements. In addition, some forest ponds are fed by small creeks or springs. The influx of fresh, well oxygenated water and stream forage fish, such as small trout or chubs, leads to fat, healthy bass. I also have found frogs and bugs to be especially common near forest ponds, leading to some intense topwater action in the summer. Always carry a frog or two in natural colors when you are going to a forest pond in the warmer months. 

  I have found forest ponds to be especially weedy in the summer, due to the nearby trees dropping their leaves in to the pond, leading to increased nutrient levels in the water as the leaves decay. The high nutrient levels trigger increased plant growth. Definitely do not use anything with trebles in the warmer parts of the year. Fishing most forest ponds is like fishing a farm pond. On the weediest of the ponds, however, the only things you could use are weighted texas rigs (I like curly tailed, thick worms and bigger craws with flapping claws - think large profile) , punching gear, and frogs. Make sure you are also dressed for the environment - wear long pants, hiking boots or at least old sneakers with traction, and put on plenty of bug spray. I don't recommend using long rods (use rods around 7') unless you have to, because the rod gets caught on the brush.

Tight lines,

-Ian