Farm Pond Fun

[FlipaYak]

I caught:
- 5 bluegill, not one smaller than 9"
- 5 bass, largest 17"
- 3 crappie, largest 15"

The size was great on the bluegill and crappie, but the bite was slow. A 1.5" Slider Grub in white/chartreuse tail on a 1/32 oz CM jig head was the most productive bait.

The crappie were a complete surprise. In ten years fishing this pond, today was the first time I have caught them. Found out later that the neighbor had put some in there. All three crappie were caught in a spot the size of a dinner plate.

[MNfisher]

Huge gills!


Mike

Keep livin' the Dream!

[Alphahawk]

Nice looking fish.

Regards


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[nomad60]

Yep, nice gills!

[fisher01]

Wow, nice size fish!

[chaseasl]

awesome

[baxterboy]

Hey Flipayak, great job. Don't forget to apply for TARP's for the 10 inch bluegill and the 14 inch crappie.

http://www.tn.gov/twra/fish/tarp/tarp.html

I've been trying to get a 10 inch bluegill for 7 years so I can complete my 5 T.A.R.P fish. If you ever need a buddy at the farm pond let me know, lol.

James

[creekcrappie]

Nice fish!

[FlipaYak]

I ended up with 40 total fish for Saturday and Sunday. 15 were bluegill; the smallest was 8" and it was the only one under 9". It was cool to be able to fish all weekend and see how the fish changed throughout both days.

Saturday evening and Sunday morning the bass were on fire and nailing a 3" slider grub. Sunday evening after the first round of storms, the fish slowed way down.

I had intended to learn more about fishing the TM, but I tried for about 30 minutes Saturday with no luck. I knew I could catch fish with other methods so I ended up never getting back to the TM.

[jad2t]

How does one go about getting access to farm ponds? Are these your relatives/friends or do you actually walk up to a farmer you don't know and ask permission to fish on his pond? I've wanted to get access to a pond for the experience of fishing water that almost never gets fished...and a 10" bluegill for a TARP certificate!

I also would like to get access to farm fields for dove hunting this Winter. It seems like just pulling up on a farm of which you don't know the farmer could be a bad idea in some cases. Just wondering how you go about this.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by jad2t

How does one go about getting access to farm ponds? Are these your relatives/friends or do you actually walk up to a farmer you don't know and ask permission to fish on his pond? I've wanted to get access to a pond for the experience of fishing water that almost never gets fished...and a 10" bluegill for a TARP certificate!

I also would like to get access to farm fields for dove hunting this Winter. It seems like just pulling up on a farm of which you don't know the farmer could be a bad idea in some cases. Just wondering how you go about this.

You can try asking to fish a farm pond....maybe someone will oblige....you may get turned down a lot but some will give you the OK. For public waters to get a 10 inch bluegill you need to try Laurel Hill....a lot of big Gills there but a bit of a drive for you. You can go to Center Hill during the next month or so and have a very good shot at getting one....a much closer drive for you. You can also go to Dale Hollow and if you hit it at the right time you will catch Gills of amazing length and girth....but timing is critical for the Gills there. Farm ponds are a great source for trophy Gills but few of us have access to them. The 3 lakes I mentioned will also readily give you shell crackers in the 12 inch range which would give you another TARP.




Regards

[Transplanted Sportsman]

Originally Posted by jad2t

It seems like just pulling up on a farm of which you don't know the farmer could be a bad idea in some cases.

It would be a really bad idea on most places Jimmy, you can end up shot or in jail for trespassing, a lot of people are just very protective of their land and would not welcome an "intruder" to fish or hunt their land, always, always, always get permission and preferably written permission if you can, because you just never know!!

flipa, those are some really nice fish man, congrats!!

[Alphahawk]

Went to Murfreesboro Out Doors yesterday and ran into a guy who was discussing this very thing. He had asked a farmer to fish a well known creek over close to Dickson I think, that held big Smallies that the farmer owned frontage on. He got lucky and has been fishing it for a couple of years now. One just never knows.....

Regards


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[jad2t]

Originally Posted by Transplanted Sportsman

It would be a really bad idea on most places Jimmy, you can end up shot or in jail for trespassing, a lot of people are just very protective of their land and would not welcome an "intruder" to fish or hunt their land, always, always, always get permission and preferably written permission if you can, because you just never know!!

Oh I meant pulling up to ask for permission haha. I was thinking some people would even find that offensive. No way I'd ever just help myself to someone else's land!