Fishing for Bass in Muddy Water

Largemouth bass often live in areas where the water is constantly murky. In the Southeastern USA,and through the US Gulf states, these fish thrive in swamps and marshes, where water visibility isgenerally low. Throughout the rest of the United States, after steady rains, the lakes, ponds, andslow rivers that hold largemouth are likely to stain and become muddy. In the summer, the water isoff color a good portion of the time. But fishermen must not be discouraged, because in murkywaters, not only are bass still available, but they are more audacious feeders, because they knowthat predators (such as ospreys) are less likely to see them in stained water.

Fishing For Bass in Muddy Water: Using Bright Colored Baits

The first and most fundamental requirement when fishing for bass in muddy water is making surethat fish are able to locate the lure or bait being used. Although they have sensitive lateral lines(which serve as the ears on fish), appealing to the fish's vision is still the most importantrequirement for success in waters that are muddy. This is the time to use bright colors, and shinybaits that would otherwise startle bass. All white baits, as well as hot pink, chartreuse, and goldcolored baits are fine colors to use in water that is stained. Although they work wonders in clearwater, natural colored baits in shades of brown, gray, olive, tan, and black are much harder for fishto see in water that is off color. Flukes and plastic worms are great in white and bubblegum colorswhen the water is muddy.

Fishing with Loud Lures

In water that has extremely low visibility, helping the fish to hear the bait may be a requirement forsuccess. In late spring, summer, and early fall, when bass are active and aggressive, a white,chartreuse, or yellow buzz bait (a spinnerbait with a propeller instead of a blade, which splashes anddisplaces water) attracts the attention of any bass in the area. Although many anglers generally fishbuzz baits on the surface, they also work well when fished a few feet below it (which is done byallowing the lure to sink for a few seconds before retrieving it, and then reeling it at a steady, slowpace), because, although people cannot hear it, the lure moves water underwater, causing vibrationsthat bass pick up. When fishing in deeper murky water (of at least six feet), a rattletrap lure, or arattling jig are perhaps the best baits to use. In shallow water, poppers may also work for bass whenthey cannot see bait as well, and have to rely on the commotion caused by their prey to locate it.

Fishing around Structure in Muddy Water

Another thing that fishermen should recognize when fishing for bass in muddy water is that the fishcling to any available structure. A log by the shore, a downed tree lying in the water, a rock ledge inthe water, or any other structures attract bass, particularly when the water is stained. The bass waitbehind rocks, or under logs for baitfish to swim by, and then dart out and engulf them. Slowly

reeling a buzz bait, or gently twitching and retrieving a brightly colored fluke are some of the bestways to entice bass to dart out from their cover to grab lures.

Although sight fishing (casting to fish that the angler sees)is generally out of the question in stained water, fishingfor bass does not have to be postponed. Just try brightcolors, loud lures, and fishing around cover, and bass arelikely to strike. Bass fishing in muddy water can be veryproductive when the right steps are taken.