Suggestions For Gin-Clear Water?

[naynayshimer]

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! 

  

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.

  

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.

  

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...

thanks so much to all of you guys. this is really good advice that could get me some huge lunkers this season!!

[bassguytom]

Don't forget swim baits. Use a zoom swimbait in albino shad or Disco violet color with a wieghted belly hook. This is a very good spring bait for clear water lakes. You will be able to throw this anywhere as it is also weedless. Good luck.

[thehooligan]

I fish an old quarry thats clear blue water thats mainly 18-25 ft deep with a few really deep holes, one being over 50ft. My go to baits is a sammy 85, hooked my biggest bass at 6lbs plus on that. Two cranks that work great are shadraps and owner cultiva mira vibe lipless cranks. When it comes to plastics, i always do well with dropshotting anything green pumpkin.

[Lip 'em!]

Ive always had good luck in clear water with a smoke w/ silver and blue flake (salt n pepper if you will) color kalins grub on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig head. Fish it from top to bottom and as slow or fast as you want depending on what the fish tell you.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I go the complete opposite from most. I upsize.

 

I would take advantage of the clear water and give them a natural looking, floating swimbait. Deadstick it or creep it slowly over and through the deadfalls you have access to.

 

If you don't have access to "swimbait gear" then I would suggest a Mattlures U2 floating bluegill. It can be thrown on regular bass tackle and it will get bit by all sizes of bass.