Water Too Murky For Soft Plastics?

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I fish a lake that is pretty murky. I have been fishing it for less than a year, but have only caught fish on "vibration" lures, like rattling crank baits, lipless crank baits, and indiana blade spinnerbaits. Is it possible that the fish just can't see or hear the lure whenever I try throwing anything t-rigged, drop shotted, or even jigs? I have tried all of these with no luck. Thanks in advance.

[quanjig]

More appendages = more water movement. Look at some creature baits, dip the tails in some chartreuse and take your time shaking the bait around cover.

[The Young Gun]

I have some discusting looking water here in northern Wisconsin, and I still have good luck. Just try more vibrations and scents to them. Mega Strike works well.. I do like trusty ribbion tail worms..

[MarkH024]

Dark colors like Junebug or black/blue work well. You could always add a rattle to it like you would a jig. That would help with sound and vibration. 

[slonezp]

They make glass rattles to insert in the plastic and rattling bullet weights as well

[MCS]

Ribbon tails seem to work for me with murky water after a rain, but if your looking for water moving appendages and scent  like the others recommended check out the Grande Bass Mutant.

[J Francho]

I actually find that plastics and jigs excel in murkier water.  Dark colors, action tails, and jig rattles all have their place.  Remember, these fish are tuned into feeding on things they may not be able to see.  Get some of the cues that your bait is food right, where there are fish, and you'll get bit.

[*Hootie]

The lake I fish is very murky. At it's absolute best, you can see a white spinnerbait at 10 inches. After that, it's gone. Said that to say this. I fish mostly plastics all year. I use wacky rigged Zoom centipedes, Zoom baby brush hogs, Havoc pit boss, Culprit 7 1/2 worms, Berkley chigger craws, crazyleg chiggercraws, all with success. I have never needed a rattle, although, it couldn't hurt. Like Francho said, these bass have learned to feed under these conditions. It's where they live. Whatever it takes to survive.

Hootie

[Jake P]

Everything that has been said is spot on IMO. Try going straight black for color. A high action lure like a rage anaconda in junebug. Try the rage lizard as well. TONS of action.

[38 Super Fan]

They can find them no problem. I was tossing a watermelon colored senko in water with about a foot of visibility yesterday and got a lot of bites. I'm not saying that's the best choice, just pointing out that they can find about anything.

[Bankbeater]

It could be that your presentation is off a little when you use the plastics and jigs.  Jigs, and plastics, in black or black / red is the first color I try in murky water.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I fish a lake I call the mud pit.  It is extremely muddy year round.  Plastics and jigs actually will out fish any other lure in the lake.  Most of the time I will throw a Dark Green pumpkin plastic.

 

This year I'm going to try the Double header space monkey.

[senile1]

I fish some muddy lakes too.  I have the most success with pitchin' and flippin' jigs and plastics as close to cover as possible.  I use dark green pumpkin and black/blue colors the most for these lakes. 

[gotarheelz14]

For murky/muddy lakes I usually aim to move a lot of water. I either use really big baits, or tails and appendages that help with moving water. 

I also like black/purple/blue colors. 

 

Also, when the water is murky, I find that fish tend to hold closer to cover than they probably would otherwise. 

[K_Mac]

As J Franco and others have said, get it close to the fish and they will bite. Close in murky/muddy water often means hitting them right in the face. Pitching/flipping tight to cover can get your arm broke. Be careful!

[Teal]

Thats when illl put a rattle on a big monstrosity of a jig with a full size 5 inch craw ttrailer.

I also like texas riggin with a heavy weight.....and a bulky bait that moves a little water.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for the answers, I will go buy some Megastrike to add some scent and color. With this rain we have gotten in the past 24 hours the water will definitely be muddy this weekend. Thanks again!

[jignfule]

I actually find that plastics and jigs excel in murkier water.  Dark colors, action tails, and jig rattles all have their place.  Remember, these fish are tuned into feeding on things they may not be able to see.  Get some of the cues that your bait is food right, where there are fish, and you'll get bit.

x2