Super User CWB Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Rhino has it right. I've read that using the disk determines light penetration. If the disk disappears at 3 feet, light penetration is 6 feet. What I've read is that is the depth you should start fishing. But just because I read it doesn't mean I do it. Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 OP: Does anyone have a general visibility cutoff where you might decide to only use flashy or noisy lures, or do you keep on using baits like soft plastics through the murkiest water? If there is a line, where is it? Based on thousands of hours of experience by our members the unanimous answer was an emphatic no there should not be a visibility cutoff or line. No science required Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Plastics work in all kinds of conditions. Just need to choose the right plastic and colors. Case in point ... A Black senko has performed for me in almost every condition. Including stained/dirty waters. Quote
Nice_Bass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I would disagree catt...there is. Sudden acute clairty change does have a cutoff for me. Sometimes fishing from experience and history works but there are times where it does not. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 22, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 22, 2015 Huh... Sometimes when a simple question is asked you guys get so wound up in your effort to help, the unscientific less educated of us (which may only be me) just has to sit back and admire the education and knowledge some of you have and just keep reading. I've learned a few things reading these 3 pages that I never expected to. OP...I can't add much to the discussion, but to say... Go grab a freakin rod, tie something on, and throw it in the water...You'll know soon enough. Mike 3 Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 I would disagree catt...there is. Sudden acute clairty change does have a cutoff for me. Sometimes fishing from experience and history works but there are times where it does not. If you do not use past experience & history what left? Everything we do in life is based on past experiences & history! 1 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 If you do not use past experience & history what left? Everything we do in life is based on past experiences & history! I would say you should use past experience and history as a starting point, and go from there based on what current things are telling you. My 2 cents. As for as the OP question goes, I don't have the knowledge or experience to answer it... Sorry Quote
Nice_Bass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 If you do not use past experience & history what left? Everything we do in life is based on past experiences & history! Current conditions is what is left... Sudden changes in clarity does change what may have worked, or was working prior to a change....or so says my experience Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Current conditions is what is left... Sudden changes in clarity does change what may have worked, or was working prior to a change....or so says my experience But when you look at the current conditions how do you decide what to do Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 But when you look at the current conditions how do you decide what to doBased on past experiences in those conditions! That's why we keep logs! The ahhh moment now appears. Quote
Nice_Bass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 But when you look at the current conditions how do you decide what to do I do what feels good, of course! The topic of soft plastics and sudden clarity changes. If you fish just experience then you may not be changing the way you fish, ever. certainly limits the experience you would gain. Apparently this is a chicken or the egg conversation. but,....I still stand by original topic answer...rapid and sudden change does change the amount of soft plastics I would use under most circumstances especially in a post spawn timeframe that he would be in right now. Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 I do what feels good, of course! The topic of soft plastics and sudden clarity changes. If you fish just experience then you may not be changing the way you fish, ever. certainly limits the experience you would gain. Apparently this is a chicken or the egg conversation. but,....I still stand by original topic answer...rapid and sudden change does change the amount of soft plastics I would use under most circumstances especially in a post spawn timeframe that he would be in right now. Everything is just said is based on your past experience! Oh yea the chicken came first or there could be no egg! 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Everything is just said is based on your past experience! Oh yea the chicken came first or there could be no egg! I agree on both statements.. But I'm stoked that we both agree on the chicken came before the egg! 1 Quote
Nice_Bass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Everything is just said is based on your past experience! Oh yea the chicken came first or there could be no egg! More of a evolved from dinosaurs kind of guy...and agree- Chicken. Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 More of a evolved from dinosaurs kind of guy... Uh! No!!!!!! Quote
Super User Raul Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 I don´t know everything there is to know about bass fishing, you may say that I know a "couple" of things; whenever I see a thread like this and read why the thread was created there´s always one common denominator, the OP most of the time focuses only in the baits used, "I fished with this", "I fished with that", it´s always the bait, it´s never you.... always the bait, never you. You choose the bait, has it ever crossed your mind that: a) you may not be choosing the right bait ( size, weight, profile, color ) for those conditions ? you may have chosen the right bait but are you absolutely sure without beyond the shadow of doubt that you picked the right rigging method ( since we are speaking about soft plastics in poor visibility conditions ) ? c )you may have chosen the right bait, chose the right rigging method but are you absolutely shure you are fishing with the right presentation ? d ) right bait, right rigging method, right presentation and....... how about right location ? 1 Quote
einscodek Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 water clarity is not the only factor but its a factor. clearwater absent of any other factors such as light or wind or current or structure etc.. guess whats comin out of my box first.. plastics.. the best lookin natural ones why first cause imo from experience thats what works best and I'm not out there to waste time Can plastics work in heavy stain and wheres the cutoff? Depends on the conditions and how the fish are feelin IMO even in water with less than 6" visibility there are times fish respnd to subtleness over a rock concert in the water Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Uh! No!!!!!!All right, lets not get this thread locked down boys! Believe what you want to believe. My mother always told me to worry about myself and what I do, not others. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 Aliens, man it was aliens! Anyway, one thing I'll tell you I think about is the possibility that in clearer water that the fish I'm after might be deeper than I'm used to. Nothing hard set. I know many times when I'm having a tough time, deeper bites come a little easier. It might be in comfortable with that being a Great Lakes/Finger Lakes guy, or its a northern thing -who knows. Deep fish don't seem to have the same temperament as shallow fish. They're steadier, less fickle. I do love a shallow bite though. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 22, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 22, 2015 All right, lets not get this thread locked down boys! Believe what you want to believe. My mother always told me to worry about myself and what I do, not others. Mama is a smart lady Mike 1 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 22, 2015 Super User Posted May 22, 2015 I thought about contributing to this thread a couple times, but nope...that's where I draw the line Roger 1 Quote
5 Dollar Fishing Game Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 Lol http://youtu.be/H8Q_8DvipCA L O L Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted May 23, 2015 Super User Posted May 23, 2015 John, I thought mebbe you'd joined the bucket brigade. Since the OP mentioned he’d done well on this water using topwaters I wondered whether there really was 6in or less in visibility. I tend to put the topwaters away (“noisy” or not) in those conditions, along with… finesse worms. Now I’m sure someone out there has slayed them at one time or another with to topwater or finesse worms with 6in of visibility. But that hasn’t been my experience. The OPer could be describing that black bottomed tannin stained water. Or, it may not be stained at all, being an algal bloom and depending on lighting he could have been seeing illuminated "scattering" which could make it appear worse than it actually is. I suggest he go ahead and measure in this case, which might allow him to be more comfortable with his decisions. You know, I love the idea of "let the fish tell you". But what if they don’t? Ever had that happen? As to the science words ... I guess I don't know what else to call some of that "stuff" we see out there. For one thing, "stain" is not a ubiquitous word for all less-than-transparent water. TonyL, if it really has 6in of visibility and you want to try plastics: go dark, go bulky, and fish close -even tight- to cover. Give it a shot and tell us what happened. (BTW, it's the egg! The egg predates the chicken, being a MUCH older development.) Quote
BobP Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 I make two changes when fishing very stained water. I'll go with a darker color plastic, preferably one that moves a lot of water. And I'll fish even closer to cover than usual. Bass tend to position closer to a cover object as water visibility is reduced. 1 Quote
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