I recently started fishing again after not doing much fishing for about the last 10 years. I've been catching bass from the local ponds here in Carrollton...(catch and release). I was thinking of trying my luck with the sunfish, can anyone suggest a good pond locally and what to use...worms, jigs. In years past I would always catch these guys on small hooks and worms but any advice would sure be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm sure someone from the DFW area will give you some suggestions. I'm a bass fisherman, but also decided to start fishing for gills when the bass are not cooperating, especially during the dog days of summer. Today, I caught one fairly nice bass and a dozen gills. I found them in the shade, behind boat docks. I used pieces of night crawlers on a number 6 hook. Some people use size number 8, but even a medium size gill can swallow a number 6 long-shank hook, so I see no reason go go any smaller. My rig is a light or ultra light spinning rod, a small cork, a split shot about eight inches above the hook, and the hook. Perch love live night crawlers, available at Academy and most sporting goods stores. You'll need a small ice chest in the boat to place the box of night crawlers in. I pinch off about an inch of a crawler and run it up the hook, barely leaving the point of the hook hidden. If gills are where you fish, it won't take long for them to take the bait. I just keep moving from one dock to another until I find them. I like the light spinning outfit to throw a tiny (1 1/2 inch) Rebel crawfish crankbait, and also 1/16 oz jigs with small swimming tail grubs or the little bubble belly things that have the tiny pointed tails. But, I may get one of the 10-foot perch poles to use around boathouses---one that collapses to about 5-feet before you extend the sections out. Well, good luck. It's a lot of fun to catch gills, especially when they are the large ones. And welcome to the Texas Fishing Forum.

Hey thanks gcf. I also went out today...No boat just fishing from the bank at the local library pond. I was able to catch four. Three bass and one catfish. Not sure yet how to post the pics. I'm planning on going to academy this weekend to get some ultra light gear and then it's on! As far as the bass go I'm still missing a whole lot more than I'm catching. I probably had all together 15 -20 good bites and only caught the four fish. I guess I need to practice more:) Today I used the Berkley Gulp 4" Goby in green pumpkin. The fish seem to love it! I was really surprised to see that CATFISH on the end of my line. Lots and lots of FUN though. Again thanks for all the good advice. This forum is really a cool thing.

The first pond north of GWB on McCoy has some warmouths in it.

I do better walking the small creeks with an ultralight and roadrunners. Green sunfish are fun!

Those bites where you were unable to hook up were probably perch or maybe catfish, unable to get the bait/hook in it's mouth. Yep, the forum is really good. I just discovered it not long ago.

Turtle, one additional tip: In ponds, if there are weeds along the shoreline in a place or two, that is usually where you will find the gills. Weeds provide a hiding place and food.

Excellent! I can think of a more than few places at the library pond that are weedy.

Hey Portabote, I just fished the first pond off of Mccoy. Your right it was full of warmouths. All together over 30 in an hour and a half. That was some fun! Thanks for the tip.

You're welcome. Glad you found them. You might also try walking down the creek just north of the pond.

Warning: there are snakes and coyotes down the creek.

Oh man I HATE snakes...not to fond of Coyotes either! But I'm gonna have to give it a try anyway.

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the area just moved to Texas and trying to learn where the fun spots are. Can any of you share some pond or creek locations where I could have some luck. I have mostly been on Lewisville Lake which has not yielded much in the way of perch or gills. Lots of catfish and sand bass for sure tons of fun there. Any suggestions of locations would be greatly appreciated.

I live in Carrollton in the North Texas area.

By any chance are you from Ohio? Don't see much Bengals stuff down here in Texas. Either way, welcome to the board. It's a great place to get some knowledge.

What lures do you use in the green belt ponds I used a crank bait yesterday and didn't catch any thing. What should I use?

WOW! Talking about going way back on a thread! "AWESOME"! First of all Mason Parker to the Texas Fishing Forum. Glad to have you on board. Looking forward to reading more of your post.


As for lures. Never fished the green belt ponds before and I usually use worms when fishing for Sunfish. If I do use lures they are usually Rooster Tails or other small spinner baits,especially this time of year. Also curly tail grubs and small jigs by Berkley. There are some very good threads in this section of the forum on lures that will catch Sunfish. Hopefully you will look at em. Best of luck and let us know how you do!

Ok thanks I will check it out!