Clear Water Bass Lures And Techniques

[Dat_Bass]

Alright, I'm going to enter a tournament with some friends this weekend and I need some help with lure and technique selection. The lake is 10 feet at the most but common depth is around 6 feet. The water is incredibly clear and I've had luck on a shallow diving minnow multiple times.  That was onshore though and they were all small in general. I am planning to string up the minnow and maybe a buzz bait  and I would like some backup lures and techniques if they fail. Anything helps!

[papajoe222]

There are two ways that I attack fishing clear water. One is with fast/irratically moving baits and the other is with smaller, slow presentations. I lean on soft plastics almost exclusively. Curly tail grubs on a jig head and Flukes worked quickly should get some response presented above or along the sides of cover. Spinnerbaits with smaller willow blades and cranks with narrow lips can be worked fast also. Fish that show interest, but don't take those types of presentations will often times go for something slower or smaller. A Fluke can do double duty here, but keep some stick worms (Senkos) handy and don't forget wacky rigging when all else fails.

[WRB]

The lure you choose should be based on where the active bass are located.

We know the water clarity is good, the lake is shallow and you are located in Florida.

Florida strain largemouth bass prefer life like looking lures, not bright flashy noisy lure most of the time.

Florida usually has lots of aquatic weed growth that the larger size bass live in. If you use lures with treble hooks, the lure needs to be able work in that type of cover. Buzz baits work over the top of weed mats without a lot of above surface reeds.rip baits, both lipless and jerk types work in isolated cover areas.

Jig & craw and soft plastics work everywhere.

Tom

[Big Bait Fishing]

try a mojo rig with a plastic that has good action , fished with pauses .

[MIbassyaker]

I would stick with the minnow, if you've had success with that there. Instead of a buzzbait for the second, I would rig up the a weightless texas-rigged plastic, like a fluke, beaver, stick worm, or something like that. You could run it along the tops of weeds, twitch and jerk it through more open water, let fall through cover, or a hundred other presentations. That gives you multiple natural presentations, vertical and horizontal, that you can try right off the bat and will all work in clear water.  

[fisherrw]

A senko is a good bet along with a squarebill crank

[buzzed bait]

they've been all over the spinnerbait around here, also had a little success with the fluke jr rigged weightless.

[blckshirt98]

I would dropshot the sh** out of a 4" Molix Sator Worm in Seducente or Watermeon Gold Shad.

[Last_Cast]

Square bill, and some of plastic- I'd prefer a senko...always worked for me.

[Mike L]

The lure you choose should be based on where the active bass are located.

We know the water clarity is good, the lake is shallow and you are located in Florida.

Florida strain largemouth bass prefer life like looking lures, not bright flashy noisy lure most of the time.

Florida usually has lots of aquatic weed growth that the larger size bass live in. If you use lures with treble hooks, the lure needs to be able work in that type of cover. Buzz baits work over the top of weed mats without a lot of above surface reeds.rip baits, both lipless and jerk types work in isolated cover areas.

Jig & craw and soft plastics work everywhere.

Tom

Not bad from a California guy!

Mike

[everythingthatswims]

If you've got shallow clear water I would reccomend a glide bait. Even if they don't eat it, you will find them with it and can go back later with other baits.

[PourMyOwn]

We have really clear water around here in NH. Fluorocarbon is your friend. I learned my lesson, it does make a difference.

[Josh Smith]

Same as stained water, but with a fluoro leader. :-)

Josh

[Bankbeater]

Weightless fluke, or a weightless senko. A small jig and craw, or maybe a shallow running crankbait that is in shad color.

[Catt]

The frog bite is still on down south

Texas Rigged craw worm

Spinner Bait