As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Anglers believe that fishing in murky water can be difficult, however, if you know how to fish for bass in muddy water, you would know that it is a lot more fun and the adventure factor is also exciting. Bass love muddy water and you will too once you get to experience it once.
Contents
How to Fish for Bass in Muddy Water
When the water is muddy, and the level is rising, it means that there will be more food for bass, and they will be closer to the surface to catch small fish. Prepare your gear and tackle box according to the requirements and you will find many more bass than you do in clear waters on a sunny day.
Every living creature needs to eat, and bass see muddy water as an opportunity to remain invisible to smaller fish that they feed on. However, this fish cannot see through the dirty water either! Anglers must take a position with the right lures to ensure that they catch some hungry bass that take a quick bite and get hooked within minutes.
Look for the Right Points
The first step to catching lots of fish is to look for the right points in the lake. When you head out to the lake after rains, or on a windy day, the water will be murky and you might not be able to see what is beneath the water’s surface.
Moving to shallow locations in the lake will be a good move when the water is unclear. The hungry fish will move to smaller areas where they can feed on smaller fish easily. If you want some level of clarity, it is better to stay in places where there is vegetation. Plants help the water clear out soon, and bass will also like to hang out around these points because they can see better too!
Spring rains bring a period of muddy waters to the lakes, and since these waters are cold, the fish move to areas where the inflow is less. Look for locations where the lake tributaries and creeks do not open up.
Selecting Lures to Use in Muddy Waters
Every season requires anglers to make some adjustments to their tackle box and gear. A few tips to catch big fish during this season of low visibility can help anglers significantly and once they get a few big fish, they will adopt these lure selections for every trip during the muddy water days
- Select bigger bait
- Select lures that create sound
- Vibration is a good quality
- Choose a brighter color
These tips can help you select the best lures for a fishing trip to the lake after the rains. Since the bass is unable to see clearly, the fish picks up on other senses and comes up to bite the bait. Whichever lure you select, make sure that it is compatible with the technique of fishing as well.
The Best Lures for Muddy Waters by Presentation
Now that you know what kind of lures work best, you might consider which types of lures can be presented in muddy waters to attract fish. Should they be sinkers, jigs, or topwater bait? You will need artificial bait that can submerge in water so that the vibration and sound alert the predator fish.
The lures suitable for spinning, fly fishing, and even bait casting can work for hazy waters. However, since the fish will be close to the surface, you can ensure that you carry the right equipment such as rods, reels, and lines to ensure that bass is within reach. Here are some examples of good lure types for bass.
Reaction Baits
Reaction baits are small lures that coax the fish to come up and try to bite. These lures move naturally in water and the movement they add to the water makes them irresistible to the predator fish. Many anglers agree that spinnerbait, chatterbaits, lipless crankbaits, and swimming jigs work well.
You can explore some of the most reliable, and natural finish lures such as Lucky Craft, or Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer. These lures not only make it easier to get a quick catch, they come with good quality hooks that keep bass safe from injuries.
Whether the water is clear or muddy, bass fish will resist a hook-up and will try to break free from it. The hooks on these lures are the right size and do not allow the fish to get hurt despite the push and pull.
Slow Moving Baits
The slow moving lures move with the water and seem like small fish trying to find their way in the murky water. Predator fish cannot see clearly in muddy water so it is best to use small fish lures that have a slow movement, which convinces the bass that it can bite the small creature.
A few good examples according to anglers are the Yamamoto Senko lures, and No-Jack flipping jig. Usually, these slow moving jigs have vibration and create a rattle-like sound. Since the water will be unclear, these artificial baits will be able to create enough noise to get the predator species attentive.
Slow movements work best because the hungry fish gets the feeling that bait fish is around, and it is swimming around slowly without any fear of getting caught. As soon as the bass feels that it is an easy catch, it lets down its guards and that makes it easier for anglers to hook it.
Skirted Jigs
Skirted jigs are bigger than flipping jigs, or spinnerbait, which means that they will displace more water. Moreover, the blades attached with bigger lures will create more noise, and a significant vibration will make the fish curious. It is bound to come up to see what the commotion is and as soon as it bites, the battle begins.
Bigger lures will work near the surface in shallow water. Bass is an alert fish species and it might not get convinced if a heavier lure is lowered many feet below the surface. Since bass feed on frogs, crawfish, and numerous other creatures that are bigger than minnows and flies; these artificial lures will always work.
Some Tips to Fish for Bass in Muddy Water
Despite the right lures, anglers can miss a big catch if they do not implement the right approach to catch the feisty and energetic fish. There are a few things that will get you some catches and this includes
- Being consistent
- A little bit of patience
- Following the right technique
- Use of the right fishing rod, reel, and line
When you present the lure, it will work fast because the bass is trying to catch bait in the unclear water. However, if the fish does not come in to bite, do not change lures and present again. Use the same lure to try and attract the fish. Moreover, keep the lure in water for some time and patiently wait for the bass to snap.
All techniques of fishing can work, and if you have a bait casting rod, you can lower the lure into the vegetation cover, and this will ensure some quick catches too! Repetitive casts will make sure the predator fish is up and alert, and will attend to the bait.
The Right Fishing Rod
You can use a spinning rod with light to medium action, or a bait casting rod with heavy action if you are lowering the lure to a greater depth. However, many anglers say that a medium to light action spinning rod works best to catch fish on days when the water is dirty.
Conclusion
Anglers should learn how to fish for bass in muddy water, and they will be surprised at how successful they can be at catching big fish. The most crucial selection is of lures and using it with the right equipment.