Here is How to Improve Your Pond Fishing Experiences
Most fishing is either done in lakes, rivers or out on a boat in the sea, but there is one other form of fishing that is popular and that is pond fishing. However, don’t expect to go from saltwater or freshwater fishing and expect the same results from a local pond. You see, pond fishing poses its own obstacles and obstructions, and you have to go into this form of fishing with new ideas, tips, tricks and tactics up your sleeve if you really want to make a great success of it.
To being with a pond is usually a man-made area where everything from general human interaction, ducks, and aquatic plant life roam the surface of the water. Obviously with the more privately owned ponds you are going to experience better results, but don’t forget to get permission from the pond or land owner before you get yourself comfortable.
Using the internet will offer you guidance on who to contact and what regulations are in place for pond fishing, as most of these will require you to catch and release the fish rather than catch them and take them home. Of course this does differ from pond to pond so just make sure you are clear on policies before you head out.
Beware of Those Ducks
The first point to becoming a successful pond fisher is that you need to remember that this pond is going to be used by use humans as well as fish. You are going to have families walking around, with dogs jumping into the pond and children throwing bread to ducks. These are just some of the things that you are going to contend with that are completely different to your normal river or sea fishing trips.
However, the ducks behaviour can actually work in your favour and here is why. You see ducks will go for the free meal that is being thrown at them and its very often the case that fish will also follow the ducks around expecting some free food themselves. So where you see ducks you aren’t going to be too far away from finding some fish as well.
Now, this could yield some really big catches for you, not just in terms of size but also the amount of fish you could bag. The only thing is that you need to be careful not to harm the ducks so it can take a lot of time and effort, but it’s well worth it.
Take The Right Equipment
Firstly, ponds are generally fairly shallow so don’t expect there to be huge fish lurking in the depths. Again though you should take this shallow pond and make the most of it. Using a pair of polarized sunglasses on a nice sunny afternoon will allow you to see right to the bottom of the pond and get a better idea of where the fish are hiding out on you.
You also want to make sure you take the right rod, at the end of the day its silly to be lumbering around with an 8 foot fishing rod when you really only need one less than 6 foot in length. This will just make it easier for you to cast your line in confined spaces and around structures that are bound to be in your way. So a shorter rod with ultra-light weight is really going to be the icing on your cake and help you become a much more successful pond fisher.
Benefit from Pond Maps and the Local Area
The last point we wanted to make is to get a topographical map of the pond if you can, if it’s a public pond this should be widely available on the internet or from your local council, and if its private then the land owner may have a copy for you. This will allow you to see the depths that the pond reaches in specific areas but it will also show you where hidden structures are. This will help you ultimately choose any area that is best for you to fish from, as well as how low you need to set your bait.
The local area will also play a part, because if you can see fish in the pond then you must remember that those fish can see you so it’s important to keep yourself out of visibility to the fish. It may seem like a length to go to, but using camouflage and keeping yourself hidden is paramount to catching pond fish. Also, because it is a man-made structure you have to remember that vibrations around the pond will carry much more than they would in a river environment. As ponds don’t experience currents and streams, they are still bodies of water so any heavy foot movement can alert fish that someone is close to the edge of the pond.
Walking quietly and keeping out of site will only add to the success you experience from your pond fishing day out.