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Author Topic: Small hidden ponds  (Read 3730 times)

Offline Lsranger406

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Small hidden ponds
« on: Dec 13, 2017, 06:45 PM »
So just want to ask if many people out there fish small woods ponds during hard water season?  I live in Clinton just outside of Missoula. I side by side ride past a pond or two all summer long that at times you can see fish jumping. I guess my question is how would you go about figuring it out to ice fish? I have access into a private pond this weekend. See fish in the creek all the time going to the pond. What is everyone's suggestions on how they would go about fishing it? I've got a helix set up to map the pond and figure out depths. Not scared to drill a hole and start fishing. I know the fish are gonna be small Brook trout. What would you do?

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Offline missoulafish

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #1 on: Dec 13, 2017, 06:52 PM »
try to deduce where the structure is, drill and move until you find them..
Check an aerial view too.

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #2 on: Dec 13, 2017, 07:46 PM »


This is the pond. What do you think? Looks shallow. Also looks like may be one deeper spot in pond
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Offline missoulafish

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #3 on: Dec 13, 2017, 08:20 PM »
holy cow thats tiny and ive driven by it many times.
Id just drill holes in the middle as that looks the deepest and spread out from there.  There's no place for them to really hide:)

Offline Wapiti406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #4 on: Dec 13, 2017, 08:25 PM »
Yeah, I agree with missoulafish.  Punch a hole in the middle, and drop something shiny down there.  Let us know what happens, and be safe!

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #5 on: Dec 13, 2017, 11:24 PM »
ive often wondered if the small ponds along I-90 heading east have anything in them. I was checking out google earth and there is actually quite a few old railroad ponds hidden just off the freeway. 
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Offline missoulafish

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #6 on: Dec 13, 2017, 11:59 PM »
True story! I think some of them have a hard time freezing up...

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #7 on: Dec 14, 2017, 05:25 PM »
I know these two freeze up. They are both just off the bearmouth exit. What do you guys think. Are they worth wasting a day and seeing if there is fish in them?



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Offline Wapiti406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #8 on: Dec 14, 2017, 07:24 PM »
I don't know about those two, but there is a good sized pond just south of the Bearmouth Area exit that has bass in it.  I'm told there are bluegill as well.  I haven't fished it in about twenty years, but I think it's the one I remember.  I've heard that the railroad tried to keep people off it, though.  Don't know if that is true, but the worst they could do is ask you to leave.

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #9 on: Dec 14, 2017, 08:21 PM »
Missoulafish clean you inbox. Been trying to pm you for an hour

Anyways ya I've heard rumors about all them ponds. Guess I'm just gonna have to start drilling holes. Like said before what they gonna do tell me to leave
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Offline missoulafish

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #10 on: Dec 14, 2017, 08:36 PM »
ok space now..lol

Offline Chukfin

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #11 on: Dec 14, 2017, 10:36 PM »
What about the pond directly at the rest stop?

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #12 on: Dec 14, 2017, 10:47 PM »
That's one I've always wondered to. Also what about all the little backwaters along the the Clark fork in Bonner. They freeze solid. Might catch a few pike. Use to be full of them before the dam was removed. I know alot of the pike went down river but might get lucky.
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Offline johnb812

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #13 on: Dec 14, 2017, 11:11 PM »
That pond at the rest area has a bunch of little pumpkinseed sunfish about three inches long. I feed 'me hoppers in the summer.

Offline IceHornet

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #14 on: Dec 14, 2017, 11:15 PM »
I've had great days on the pond in Lolo and have always wondered about the action around Bonner. I'd punch a hole or two any day.

Offline PerchPounderMT

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #15 on: Dec 16, 2017, 04:21 PM »
Dont underestimate them,there are a couple tiny "ponds" around here full of perch and the occasional hog walleye.
Dont ask

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #16 on: Dec 17, 2017, 11:37 AM »
Dont underestimate them,there are a couple tiny "ponds" around here full of perch and the occasional hog walleye.
what small pond around Missoula has perch or walleye. I'm gonna call bs on the walleye. I can see perch but not a walleye. If there is let's go try for them
America is all about speed hot,nasty,bad a** speed

Offline wyogator

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #17 on: Dec 17, 2017, 11:51 PM »
Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.

Offline prospector

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #18 on: Dec 18, 2017, 01:39 AM »
Here in Wyoming, I try to hit overlooked waters like the ones you guys are talking about. Something about it is a great challenge for me. I don’t care about the size of fish, just wanting the challenge of finding answers to my musings of what lies below the ice. Looking forward to seeing your results!

Offline PerchPounderMT

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #19 on: Dec 18, 2017, 09:06 AM »
what small pond around Missoula has perch or walleye. I'm gonna call bs on the walleye. I can see perch but not a walleye. If there is let's go try for them
who said Missoula?
Dont ask

Offline PerchPounderMT

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #20 on: Dec 18, 2017, 09:19 AM »
Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
Dont ask

Offline prospector

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #21 on: Dec 18, 2017, 10:15 AM »
Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
I read it. You are good. Keep us posted on the Walleye near Helena. ;D :tipup:

Offline PerchPounderMT

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #22 on: Dec 18, 2017, 10:29 AM »
Hopefully Ill have something useful to report by Friday...
Dont ask

Offline Wapiti406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #23 on: Dec 18, 2017, 07:38 PM »
Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.

Thanks wyo!  Saved me a trip. 

Offline Cold toes

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #24 on: Dec 19, 2017, 11:13 AM »
Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.

Yeah that one and a few others have warm spring seeps

Offline titan666

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #25 on: Dec 20, 2017, 10:28 AM »
Anyone been ballsy enough to fish the quarry pond east of Reserve Street just before you go over the bridge? I've caught pike and believe it or not a smallmouth out of there. If you're brave enough to walk through the bum camp..

Offline Lsranger406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #26 on: Dec 20, 2017, 10:46 AM »
Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
my bad. Jumped the gun. Your good.
So been to one pond in the middle of the woods and caught these. Got 11 first day and six the second.



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Offline Wapiti406

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #27 on: Dec 20, 2017, 03:22 PM »
Anyone been ballsy enough to fish the quarry pond east of Reserve Street just before you go over the bridge? I've caught pike and believe it or not a smallmouth out of there. If you're brave enough to walk through the bum camp..

I had no idea that anything was in there... Can you legally access it?

Offline Beard1

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #28 on: Dec 20, 2017, 04:24 PM »
I've had some great ice fishing success on small ponds. I'd suggest being cautious on some of these ponds especially if there's a couple warm days because of the influx of water making the edges soft. Fell through a couple times doing that also. Let us hear how you do if you get on them.

Offline Chukfin

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Re: Small hidden ponds
« Reply #29 on: Dec 20, 2017, 10:12 PM »
I had no idea that anything was in there... Can you legally access it?

Been wondering the same thing

 



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