Bass in bozeman ponds

[Badfish74]

I have heard that there are some big large mouth bass in the bozeman ponds...has anyone ever caught one through the ice?

[Houdy66]

While there are definitely bass in a few of the ponds around town, I have never caught a "big" one, either in open water or through the ice. Most of them are between 6 and 8 inches, with a few pushing 10-12. For bigger bass, try the ponds in Three Forks. Again, most of them will be in that 8-12 inch class, with the occasional 14-16 incher. I have seen someone pull out a true 7 pounder from the middle pond out there during the summer, so there are definitely some big ones in there.

[CaptHoss]

There are bigger bass in the ponds in town and I have caught the them through hard and open water.  Haven't had any consistent techniques through the ice though, run into them fishing for trout, bluegill, and perch. I have tried dead minnows on tip ups and moving around with some bigger lures but seems you're almost better off just hoping to run into one.

[Noon]

There are bigger bass in the ponds in town and I have caught the them through hard and open water.  Haven't had any consistent techniques through the ice though, run into them fishing for trout, bluegill, and perch. I have tried dead minnows on tip ups and moving around with some bigger lures but seems you're almost better off just hoping to run into one.

How big is your best local bass? I quit bass fishing a d mostly trout fish since moving to western montana because i only ever found up to 16" bass. while I spent my youth catching 3 to 6 lb bass regularly but only catching up to 16" trout, so the tables have turned for me. But it sounds i may have thrown in the towel years ago only for the big bass to by laying safely in water unchecked by my line

[CaptHoss]

My biggest Bozeman bass maybe 3.5 pounds. Caught on a PB&J jig with a craw trailer.  A really good day is a couple fish over 2 pounds and a bunch of dinks, for me at least.  I think all the public ponds in Bozeman except one or two have bass.  I have heard stories of some monsters (6+ pounds) in those three forks ponds so might have to give them a try for something other than carp this spring...

[Noon]

My biggest Bozeman bass maybe 3.5 pounds. Caught on a PB&J jig with a craw trailer.  A really good day is a couple fish over 2 pounds and a bunch of dinks, for me at least.  I think all the public ponds in Bozeman except one or two have bass.  I have heard stories of some monsters (6+ pounds) in those three forks ponds so might have to give them a try for something other than carp this spring...

Thanks for the response. I might be willing to toss a lure at them at some point now.

[Cuttinwood]

How much ice are on the Bozeman ponds and three forks ponds?

[Houdy66]

How much ice are on the Bozeman ponds and three forks ponds?

Now that you have your first post you can access the Montana Fishing Reports & Conditions page. There is a ton of great info on the Bozeman area ponds.