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Catching bass in muddy water can be a whole different ball game compared to fishing in clearer waters. But just because it might be a little trickier doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun and catch bass.
You may just have to change up your tactics a little bit. So here are some tips that you might want to try out.
Bass Fishing Tactics In Muddy Waters
Short Casts
Making short casts could be one of the key tricks to remember when the water is muddy. This can be useful once you’ve found the general area where the bass might be hiding out, as it can let you cover more of the water compared to longer casts that might escape the bass entirely due to the lower visibility.
Fish The Shallows
When it’s muddy, bass will often be found in the shallows and close to the banks. This can be even more noticeable if the mud flowing into the water is warm, as this can attract more bass, which can often be closer to the shore or where creeks enter the river or lake.
Bass will also tend to favor cover in these conditions, and can often be found very close to it or in it. Rocky cover can also be an ideal spot to target, as rocks can help to provide extra heat, warming the water and attracting bass looking to feed on crawfish and shad.
Video: Better Bass Fishing In Muddy Water Tips
Tackle And Lures
For muddy water fishing it can be a good idea to work with larger, noisier lures that vibrate and attract attention, such as spinnerbaits, large creature baits or vibrating jigs. Bass tend to feed on what they can see but when the water is muddy they can’t rely on their eyesight as much and will generally rely on their lateral lines, which they use to detect movement in the water, as well as pressure changes.
A spinning rod and reel can be useful for muddy water fishing, particularly for short casts, however baitcasters can also be used since you will likely be using heavier lures.
The line you choose may not be as important as it might be for clear water fishing, since you don’t really need to worry about the line being invisible to the fish, thanks to the low visibility in the water.
The color of your lure may also be less important, but black and dark colors can work well for jigs and trailers but you might want to opt for lighter colors on spinnerbaits since the light can often highlight it when the bass get closer after being attracted to it by its noise.
Strike King Rage Tail Craw
The Strike King Rage Tail Craw is a 4 inch creature bait that can be fished either on its own or used as a jig trailer. It is designed to splash and move to attract attention.
Booyah Colorado/Indiana Blade Spinnerbait
This Booyah spinnerbait is a ⅜ ounce lure with double blades designed to create flash and vibration under the water. It also features a 55 strand skirt for added movement.
Evergreen Jack Hammer Z-Man Chatterbait
The Jack Hammer Chatterbait is a ⅜ ounce vibrating swim jig with a stainless steel blade for added flash and is designed to swim in a side-to-side motion. It can be ideal for adding a creature bait jig trailer.
Conclusion
While fishing for bass in muddy water may require you to alter your game a little, it can still be a good time to fish, if you use the right tactics in the right places. Just remember to think big when it comes to lure selection.
Leave us a comment to tell us about your muddy water bass techniques and give your fellow anglers some tips by sharing this with them.