Which Lures To Use When Fishing A Golf Course Pond

Fishing on golf course ponds can be tricky. Tricky to get on the course to begin with, and then just as tough to figure out what to throw in these tiny ponds with skittish fish, minimal cover, and tons of sunlight. Once you’ve figured out how to get on a golf course pond, you’ll need to know what you should be throwing at the fish. After all, these ponds are known to house some absolute LUNKERS. If you’re going trophy hunting at a golf course pond, here’s what you should throw.

1. Crankbaits

I like to start things off with a crankbait. These ponds are usually small enough to where a crank can cover every inch of it within a half hour, so you can spray and pray casts all across the bank. Tie on a medium-depth diver like the Yo-Zuri 3DB Mid Crank and see if you can generate a strike.

2. Worms

Live bait preferable, but a great soft plastic like the Bassmunitions Trip Worm will do the trick. Texas rig it and pitch it where the bass are hiding, give it a few wiggles and they won’t know what hit ‘em. Or, to keep it even more simple, tie on a bobber and cast to the middle of the pond, watching for a dip. If you cast it, they will come.

3. Spinnerbaits

One thing to remember when fishing these ponds is how lightly pressured they are. That’s not to say golf course pond bass will bite anything that moves, but they need to be approached differently. They are usually lazy and have minimal cover, so a loud thumping spinnerbait like the Strike King Premiere Plus Spinnerbait may just annoy them into striking.

4. Poppers

Many times the only way to fish a golf course pond is at night when you can sneak on. When night fishing for bass, poppers can be very effective. The temperatures are cooler and the water is more still, so a disturbance atop the water can be much more likely to draw out a strike. Try a popper that gives off a crazy commotion like the Arbogast Hula Popper. Cast and walk it back through the same area over and over, persistence will surely pay off!

5. Contrasting Dark Colors

Tying on contrasting dark colors is another great night tactic. By this we mean contrasting two colors in a jig/trailer or spinner/trailer or buzzbait/trailer combination. Use a jig like the Buddha Baits In-Seine Swim Jig that is dark blue, red or black, and trail it with a soft plastic in either of those colors as well. The contrast makes it easier to see below the surface at night, and gives bass a more clear target to bite down on.