What Do You Guys Recommend For Targeting Big Bass In Clear Water?

[Unknownwaters]

I feel like a lot of my big bass techniques like 10 inch worms or jigs require heavy line that is less effective in clear water.  Maybe big swiminbaits?  What sorts of lures, techniques, lines, and rods do you use to specifically target big bass (5 lb plus) in water with between 7 to 10 feet of visibility?

[Catch and Grease]

I love using jigs in clear water with lots of cover, when we are flipping and pitching into heavy cover in clear water even with really heavy line I don't think it makes a difference because the fish thinks the line is just some more grass, in more open water its debatable whether or not you should have a leader. I like aqua green power pro super slick for jigs in clear water.

[CDMeyer]

I have not fished much clear water but I would maybe try a camo braid or floro carbon

[MainelyBASS]

Big swimbaits are a definite go in clear water. Also fluoro leaders on braid is a good thought too. I pre-fished a lake for a tournament and on the first day I was dragging a swim jig through heavy pad stems and hooked up a few times but nothing of any size. When I pre-fished the second day I threw on a 20lb fluoro leader and caught 2 fish over 4, and even caught 6 more fish than the previous day. If youre not fishing around dense heavy cover dont be afraid to throw a 17 or 20lb fluoro for big baits also.

[frogflogger]

spook on mono or braid with leader - but I love a furbit on 50# sufix performance braid in clear water - keep it moving they will come up for either bait from surprising depths..And like big swimbaits even if they don't strike they show themselves and you can go back with a senko or something of that sort.

[WRB]

Line size and type should be selected for the type of structure and cover you fish. What is important is you are in touch with your lure and can control the bass.

Big bass that you catch rarely study your lure/ line combination and strike within a few feet from where they are located.

Clear water is another definition that differs regionally, 3-5 or 8-10 or deeper.

Where I fish most of our lakes are deep structure water storage reservoirs with sparse cover, rocks and a few stick ups. Depth of good bottom visibility averages 8 feet or more.

The big bass are wary of boats do in part to fishing pressure and survival instinct and tend to stay below the visual depth of light. What all this means you can't sit on top of these bass and catch them so longer casts are needed.

My choice to catch big bass are swimbaits, jigs and big worms most of the time.

Swimbaits, depending on weight/size: 15 lb for 1-2 oz and 25 lb to lb for 3to 8 oz, premium mono.

Jigs and big worns (9" to 13") day time; 10 to 14 lb premium FC, night 15 to 20 premium FC.

Be alert when the lure first hits the water or within 5 feet of the bottom and within 5 feet of the retrieve, 90% of big bass strikes usually occur within that window.

Tom

[iceintheveins]

Swimbaits, senkos, flukes, tubes, finesse worms. Don't overlook natural colored cranks or natural spinnerbaits with silver double willow blades, especially with some chop in the water. Try clear poppers and spooks too.

[Unknownwaters]

THanks for the advice guys, I will definitely try some of this next time I go.

[papajoe222]

Two  trains of thought when it comes to clear water and it all depends whether you're going for a reaction bite, or you are trying to entice a fish to eat your bait.  For reaction bites, faster retrieves in clear water seem to be much more effective.  For any lure that a fish has time to look over, there is the concern over line visibility. 

As far as lure choices, I don't let water clearity change my approach. Going smaller may get you more bites and there is a chance that, if you're in the right area, you can catch a big one, but if you're targeting big fish you shouldn't concern yourself with numbers. As WRB mentioned, the lure, presentation, and cover, if any will determine line choice.

For me, clear water baits are spinnerbaits with smaller than normal blades than I can burn. Lipless cranks and heavy swim jigs with a curly tailed grub for reaction bites. Jig/pig, C-rigged big worms, and jumbo tubes get my nod for enticing the big girls.  OH YEA,  don't forget a buzzbait that you can burn accross the surface without it flopping on its side. 

[Bluebasser86]

Big swimbaits are great in clear water. You don't need heavy line to fish big worms or jigs either. I fish them on 12lb fluoro in clear water if I feel the need.

 

Another thing to consider about the heavy line is the fact that fish in very clear lakes will hit something like an A rig. I'm thinking if those wires and snaps don't bother the fish then heavy line isn't going to either.