You can talk about reservoir fishing for bass all you want, and those places get most of the ink in outdoor magazines, but the real secret to catching the biggest largemouth of your life is simple — head to the farm ponds.
    You are going to consistently catch more fish and bigger fish.  As the man on TV says, “I guarantee it.”
    The key to success is finding owners who will allow you to fish in their ponds. 
    In South Georgia there are literally hundreds of farm ponds and plenty of owners who will allow you to fish in them. You just have to be willing to ask, and then willing to follow their rules whatever they may be.
    Don’t get your feelings hurt if someone says no. They have a good reason for it and every right to refuse. Start off asking for information from some of your friends who fish and go from there. Always fish by the rules set down by the land owner.  Be sure to latch gates behind you coming and going. Do not, under any circumstances, leave litter. 
    You should keep fish only if you are given permission and then only if you intend to clean and eat them. Use common sense on how many fish you take out of a pond. Farm ponds are notorious for getting out of balance and the surest way to ruin a lake is to take too many fish out (unless it is loaded with small, skinny bass).
    One more tip — offer to do a little cleaning up around the pond with a weed-eater or find some way to let the owner know you are responsible and willing to help. This will go a long way toward establishing a long-lasting relationship.
    Tackle is not a big issue. You don’t need a tackle box that weighs 50 pounds to catch fish. A few basic lures will do the trick. See the enclosed list for some suggestions.
    If you have the basics, about the only other things you would need would be some number 2/0 bass hooks and some small bullet lead.
    I would also advise getting some size 10 or smaller barrel swivels. These swivels will keep your line from twisting and save lots of headaches. Just tie the swivel to the end of the line, then cut another piece of line about 12 to 18 inches long and tie it on.  Then put your lure on. It is time well spent.
    Early and late is the best time for the top water lures, and the buzz bait is especially effective around shallow cover.  If it is overcast, top water plugs and the buzz baits may be effective all day long as well.  The other lures can be fished throughout the day regardless of sunlight conditions.
    If you have identified some ponds where you can fish, the next thing to do is pay attention to the water color and the general appearance of fish you catch. Very clear water is typically an ill omen in ponds. Most of the time it means the water is not very fertile and your resulting catch will be lots of small fish that are skinny and hungry.
    There is the occasional big largemouth lurking, but even those fish will be long and thin looking. Often there will be big bream in a pond like this but not much in the way of high quality bass. A better sign is if the pond seems to have a little color to it. You will be able to see your bait a foot down in the water but not much more. In all likelihood the fish you catch will be fatter and stronger.
    One of the best signs of a good pond is landing a two- to four-pound bass that is in good health. In this type of pond you may not catch as many bass but the quality will be more to your liking. The characteristics I’ve described here are not absolutes but a pretty good rule of thumb to go by.
    The size of the pond makes little difference. You can catch your “wall hanger” in a two acre lake or one that is much larger. Regardless of where you go your chances of success are enhanced in one of the fine farm ponds South Georgia has to offer.

    Alvin Richardson is a contributing writer, retired educator, and public speaker. Contact him at dar8589@bellsouth.net