How to catch bass in a farm pond

I would warrant a guess and say that most of us experienced our first taste of bass fishing from the edge of a farm pond?  
To catch a bass from the side of a little pond can be just as thrilling as catching it off the deck of a bass boat. My motto in life is that one does not need to be a bass snob to enjoy the simple pleasure of catching a bass. Be it from the side of the dam, a little farm pond, or a top-of-the-range bass boat, a bass is a bass and that tug on the end of the line is always enough to get my heart pumping double time.
Pond fishing is actually really simple, as long as you keep a few basic guidelines in mind.  
Most importantly, whether fishing on a huge lake or miniscule pond, you need to locate fish. The difference between looking for bass in a pond compared to a huge lake is the amount of water you are faced with, and this is what makes pond fishing such fun. It does not take long to figure out a pond, and before you know it you are catching bass.

Scan the Perimeter
In most cases, one quick scan around the edge of the pond will give you a good idea of the structure and cover of said pond.
What feeds the pond? Is there a stream, culvert or ditch running into the pond?
Fresh running water and current increases oxygen levels, which in turn attract baitfish and other aquatic life on which bass feed.
What kind of shoreline vegetation do you see? Water lilies grow relatively shallow in soft, silty bottoms.  
The outer edge of the lily line could indicate a drop to deeper water.  Standing reeds growing along the edge provide ideal cover for a bass. Emergent reeds that form a point into the water usually grow out along a shallow submerged point. There could be deeper water on either side of the point.
Is there any kind of wood cover?  Stumps, trees, brush, logs or jetty?  Fish magnets.
Are there any trees that cast shadows out over the water? Cover for ambush.

Check the Water
Is the water clean or dirty? Water clarity may determine the type of lure you select.
Do some spots feel cooler or warmer to the touch?
Depending on the season, warm or cold water may make the difference whether you are catching fish or not.
Is there a difference in water colour within the pond? Bass may use the cover of a mud-line to ambush prey swimming by in the clearer water.

**  Photo Credits: Dorothy Rood