Suggestions For Gin-Clear Water?

[naynayshimer]

I love to fish Green Lakes State Park in Central New York. The lake there has about 15 ft visibility (CRAZY, RIGHT?) and is home to VERY finicky, yet large bass. There seem to be two types of bass here; ones that cruise the shoreline looking for a meal, and those settled on lay downs along the shore. The settled bass seem to be much more active, but harder to find. I fish exclusively from shore, as no boats are allowed. Any suggestions for lures or techniques?

[BasskingKeith]

Fluorocarbon and finesse worms. Weightless stick worms. You just got to keep trying things out. Probably find one that you can see settled or w/e, and just cast or pitch all kinds of things at it. vary your presentation, jerk it by fast, let it sit in the fish's face, etc. TRY STUFF OUT, otherwise you'll never know.

[naynayshimer]

Fluorocarbon and finesse worms. Weightless stick worms. You just got to keep trying things out. Probably find one that you can see settled or w/e, and just cast or pitch all kinds of things at it. vary your presentation, jerk it by fast, let it sit in the fish's face, etc. TRY STUFF OUT, otherwise you'll never know.

thanks! i have gotten rare hits on tube baits and weightless ribbontails, so i'll experiment more with those!

[ripinthem]

Weightless Stickbait or Fluke. Thats what I use in clear water, and usually in Watermelon color. Throw it out,and let it fall vertical, be a line watcher. After it sits, pull it in slowly. If that fails, increase the speed and see if can ellicit a reaction strike. Slower presentation works best for me...

[naynayshimer]

Weightless Stickbait or Fluke. Thats what I use in clear water, and usually in Watermelon color. Throw it out,and let it fall vertical, be a line watcher. After it sits, pull it in slowly. If that fails, increase the speed and see if can ellicit a reaction strike. Slower presentation works best for me...

thanks! i do plan to use stickbaits a lot more this upcoming season, so i'll try those techniques with some of those stickbaits. flukes sound like a good idea too.

[BasskingKeith]

You're welcome. Maybe if you're not getting hits on what you are already using, change colors. Can't go wrong with natural colors. The more blended in the bait is, the better.

[A-Jay]

I fish very similar conditions here.

 

Some Parks don't allow it - but fishing at night really does even the playing field quite a bit.

 

A-Jay

[CTGalloway21]

go down to 8 or even 6 lb fluoro and dropshot or shaky head.  

[Comfortably Numb]

Try translucent (seethrough) baits.

[naynayshimer]

I fish very similar conditions here.

 

Some Parks don't allow it - but fishing at night really does even the playing field quite a bit.

 

A-Jay

thanks, great idea! not sure if night fishing is allowed but i'll find out!

[smalljaw67]

I fish similar conditions and it is why I started using a shakey head presentation on a regular basis. I would go with a shakey head no larger than 1/8oz, a 1/16oz would be better with a 3/0 hook, attached to it would be a 4.5" to 5" straight tail worm or slender stick worm such as a senko. Senkos fished weightless texas rigged or wacky rigged will work but no weight and natural colors.

[RyneB]

i wish gin clear strip mines that have 25+ foot of visibility. Anything natural looking will get the job done. But a blue glimmer shad strike king shadalicious in its smalles size is a fish catcher. I reel it through scattered vegetation and it flat out catches fish.

[naynayshimer]

i wish gin clear strip mines that have 25+ foot of visibility. Anything natural looking will get the job done. But a blue glimmer shad strike king shadalicious in its smalles size is a fish catcher. I reel it through scattered vegetation and it flat out catches fish.

thanks, i will definitely try that

[naynayshimer]

I fish similar conditions and it is why I started using a shakey head presentation on a regular basis. I would go with a shakey head no larger than 1/8oz, a 1/16oz would be better with a 3/0 hook, attached to it would be a 4.5" to 5" straight tail worm or slender stick worm such as a senko. Senkos fished weightless texas rigged or wacky rigged will work but no weight and natural colors.

great, thanks! i've always wanted to utlize shakey heads more...

[aceman387]

I fish clear strip mine pits and my favorite lure over the years on calm sunny days has been a wacky rigged 4"watermelon colored yum dinger. One the other rod i will tie something faster moving like a 3"watermelon colored grub rigged on a 1/8 oz jig head .i use 10# power pro braided line in moss green color with a 6# floro leader.I rarely shore fish anymore since buying a kayak but i would think you would have better luck shore fishing with a chop on the water or overcast rainy days so the bass are roaming more and not so spooky,night fishing is great on clear water also. Don't be scared to throw the kitchen sink in clear water on because i have caught bass on all kinds of lures and all kinds of colors but on flat,calm,sunny days (which can be tough) i always go with my two favorites i mentioned above.

[naynayshimer]

I fish clear strip mine pits and my favorite lure over the years on calm sunny days has been a wacky rigged 4"watermelon colored yum dinger. One the other rod i will tie something faster moving like a 3"watermelon colored grub rigged on a 1/8 oz jig head .i use 10# power pro braided line in moss green color with a 6# floro leader.I rarely shore fish anymore since buying a kayak but i would think you would have better luck shore fishing with a chop on the water or overcast rainy days so the bass are roaming more and not so spooky,night fishing is great on clear water also. Don't be scared to throw the kitchen sink in clear water on because i have caught bass on all kinds of lures and all kinds of colors but on flat,calm,sunny days (which can be tough) i always go with my two favorites i mentioned above.

thanks, great advice!

[RODNEY]

"T" rigged tubes with as light a weight as you can get away with in translucent natural colors and don't be afraid to up size, at times that works better than downsizing.

Rodney

[Felix77]

I fish similar conditions and it is why I started using a shakey head presentation on a regular basis. I would go with a shakey head no larger than 1/8oz, a 1/16oz would be better with a 3/0 hook, attached to it would be a 4.5" to 5" straight tail worm or slender stick worm such as a senko. Senkos fished weightless texas rigged or wacky rigged will work but no weight and natural colors.

X2 on the Shakey Head. Deadly from shore with a finesse or trick worm.

[naynayshimer]

"T" rigged tubes with as light a weight as you can get away with in translucent natural colors and don't be afraid to up size, at times that works better than downsizing.

Rodney

Thanks! I actually did get a hit on a tube there once...

[naynayshimer]

X2 on the Shakey Head. Deadly from shore with a finesse or trick worm.

Thanks! will try!

[naynayshimer]

I fish clear strip mine pits and my favorite lure over the years on calm sunny days has been a wacky rigged 4"watermelon colored yum dinger. One the other rod i will tie something faster moving like a 3"watermelon colored grub rigged on a 1/8 oz jig head .i use 10# power pro braided line in moss green color with a 6# floro leader.I rarely shore fish anymore since buying a kayak but i would think you would have better luck shore fishing with a chop on the water or overcast rainy days so the bass are roaming more and not so spooky,night fishing is great on clear water also. Don't be scared to throw the kitchen sink in clear water on because i have caught bass on all kinds of lures and all kinds of colors but on flat,calm,sunny days (which can be tough) i always go with my two favorites i mentioned above.

thanks! will do!

[Deleted account]

I've got a couple of lakes I fish that have aquarium clear water. After going through all the finesse lure light tackle combinations, I've settled on the opposite approach. I use 12 lb green mono, natural colored baits, and turn the handle faster than humanly possible, also the advantage of fishing during low light and or windy conditions is more pronounced I've found. Pitching a slim senko, and a small swimjig during tougher sunnier middays will catch a few. If you have grass, fish it hard. A rico early and late when calm, barely splishing has caught me some nice ones too. and using the "trick" in trick worm is my #1 catcher...

[Fishes in trees]

Don't ask if night fishing is ok.  Just do it.  It is easier to say, "ooops, sorry" than it is to jump through hoops asking permission.

[Curved]

In the January Bassmaster, Aaron Martens was talking about his regrets of using 5 lb flouro while dropshotting in a prior tournament, and how he should have used 3 lb instead. Don't be afraid to really lighten up. Try 6 lb Nanofil with a very long 4 lb flouro leader. Downsize the hook to a #2 or #4, and figure out a way to hide it in the lure.

[Crestliner2008]

I'm not sure what season you are going to be hitting this lake on, but I've always found one pattern that consistently gets me the bigger bite in late spring through early fall. And that's a Sammy (or Spook if you prefer) on a long cast, using mono for line. Especially in gin clear water, they will rise a considerable ways to nail something like this. Just make sure you are fishing it over some type of structure and you can see bait on your sonar or otherwise in the area. Good Luck!