Catching bass in muddy water can scare some anglers. There are times when this is the best option to get bites. Some anglers look and search for muddy water to catch bass. We will discuss tips, strategies and best baits for these muddy water conditions. But first, a recent success story I had personally fishing in muddy water.
STICK AROUND THROUGH THE END AS I LIST THE TOP 10 MUDDY WATER BAITS FOR BASS.
Muddy Water Success Story
A couple of weeks ago (mid-March) on Lake Lanier a buddy and I were out fishing on the south end of the lake. If you are familiar with Lake Lanier in Georgia it is a relatively clear lake filled with spotted bass. We fished all morning on the south end and it just wasn’t happening. We were in clear water which is normally what you want to target on Lake Lanier. The water temperature was about 50-51 degrees.
So I said, “it is not happening here, we have to make a big move up north.” We started to go that way and the water was not chocolate milk but it was noticeably darker and muddier. On Lake Lanier that is usually not a good thing. However, the water temp was 56 degrees which was a pretty big difference from down on the south end of the lake. We fished around a little bit and I made a short pitch with a crankbait (all muddy water lures will be listed at the bottom) and BOOM I got nailed. Ok, maybe we were on to something. A couple of casts later I caught another one. We ran this pattern all day in that stained muddy water and caught fish. Don’t believe me look here. The fish flocked to that muddy water because of the water temperature. This brings me to my first point!!
Muddy Water (Can) == Warmer Water!!
A lot of anglers think that muddy water that shows up in a generally clear impoundment will turn the fishing off. Or you may think that they won’t be able to find fish in the muddy water. The fish have lateral lines that they used also to feel their pray. A lot of instances it makes it even easier for them to attack their prey because they can’t see them coming. Muddy water that shows up all of the sudden can turn the fish on. Do not run from it…Go find it.
During early spring and Late winter water temperature is vital. Find the warmest water possible and you are going to find the bass. I believe this is true anywhere in the country. So for instance, if you found some muddy water and some rock that gets the first sun in the morning you would be in a prime location. Hank Cherry just won the Bass Master Classic running a pattern like this the entire tournament. He went up and down bridge rip rap walls with muddy water to win the Bassmaster Classic.
Look for areas that get the morning sun first. Those areas mixed with some muddy or dingy water you will find the bass during the late winter or early spring. Docks with the sun on them in the backs of muddy pockets can be an excellent place to look. During the pre-spawn time of the year, bass will move and feed a lot. They will stage in certain areas. I like to look at the very last dock in the back of a pocket. A lot of times the bass will ambush baitfish and crawfish in these areas before they get ready to spawn just a couple yards away. Try starting with the part of the dock that gets the most sun. I usually like to aim for the back post of the dock on the sunny side with some type of worm or grub rigged with a weight of some type.
Lateral Lines
Fish do not have to see to find your lure. But we do need to make it as easy as we can for them to find our bait. In muddy water I like to add rattles to anything I can. If you are fishing with any type of soft plastic then consider using glass rattles in your baits.
A lot of your crank baits already have them built in. You can even add rattles to your spinner baits.
Speaking of spinnerbaits I would recommend using gold Colorado or Indiana Blades. I only throw these when I am night fishing or when I am fishing in muddy water.
PRO TIP: Find a spinnerbait with a painted red or orange small Colorado blade as one of your blades on your spinnerbait. AGAIN THE TOP 10 LURES WILL BE LISTED BELOW FOR MUDDY WATER.
Magic Color for Muddy Water – RED
Red is a magic color for muddy water. It may have something to do with the bass targeting Crawfish. Regardless, this color just flat out works. So if you are around muddy water get something red tied on and go to work. Generally, if you have a little bit of wind it is better to use a moving bait of some sort. If it is calm and little to no wind then you may want to try throwing a bottom bumping bait like a worm, creature bait or jig.
Cover Water
One thing about muddy water is you are going to need to keep covering water. Most anglers prefer moving baits. You may not find as many mega schools but rather little wolf packs of fish. Just keep moving down the banks and rock walls that you are fishing. If you catch one to make another cast at the same target to see if there are more there and then continue to move on.
Add Scent
If you have a bait that has sound, vibration, and the right color then you are already on a good track. Now just add some scent and you are good to go. As we stated earlier crawfish is usually the food of choice for the bass. So why not spray it down with some Bang Crawfish. It will help the bass find your bait and hold on to it longer.
Muddy Water and No Wind
Like I said it is probably more prudent to cover water with search baits during this time of the year and in muddy water. However, if they are reacting to that it does not mean they are not there. You may have to bump the bottom. I have already stated that I love red for this time of year and that holds. But, another great option for muddy water fishing when bumping the bottom with a worm, creature bait or a jig is black. Colors like June bug are great for this type of fishing. I guess it sticks out a little more and is easier to find. So give black a try next time you are fishing muddy water.
Remember a bass has to eat. Especially in the late winter early spring. They have to eat a lot to get ready for the spawn. They will target the warmest water they can. They will tend to be more aggressive also so use your good search baits if you can to find fish. Play around with different baits and sizes until you find what they want. This is the time of year that you will want to have ten rods with you with all different kinds of things until you find what they want. Just because it worked one day does not mean it will work the next day. So now without further ado here are the top ten baits for muddy water.
1. Rapala Demon 2
Use this bad boy with a glass cranking rod and fluorocarbon lie and go to work.
2. Orange Kicker
3. Strike King Rage Bladed Swim Jig
Chatter bait with red appeals to that muddy water color scheme and has excellent vibration. I also love to add a trailer hook and a soft plastic trailer to this bait to better my chances of getting hooked up and found.
4. Shaky Head with Zoom Worm
5. Booyah Colorado Blade
6. Strike King Rage Tail
Creature baits with lots of moving legs and flaps can be a great presentation for muddy water bass. Texas rigged.
7. Reaction Tackle Swim Jig
Swim jigs with a trailer that causes some sort of vibration in the water. If the water is muddy enough you can tie this up with straight braid.
8. Luck-E Strike Rick Clunn Jerkbait
A jerk bait is a great lure for muddy water. Just ask Hank Cherry who just won the mass master classic with this bait.
9. Strike King Red Eye Shad
I love this bait. I use a technique especially around muddy water and grass that i like to call the yo yo method. I like to pop the bait up and let it fall on slack line as I reel it in. When you see the line stop reel and swing and set the hook.
10. Nawaish Senko Bait for Green Pumpkin
A wacky rig with a rattle in the tail and scent is an awesome muddy water offering. It is also a great option for the pre spawn and spawning times of the year.
This Post Has 2 Comments
Very informative article. Thanks for the pointers, in my area we are definitely dealing with the muddy water right now. Thanks for the insight!
Glad you liked it Kevin
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