Muddy Water Finness Presentation?

[papajoe222]

When faced with rising, muddy water and a high barometer what is your go to finess presentation? 

The water in the strip pit I fish regularly is normally gin clear, but the river that runs parallel to it has been running over into it for the past couple of weeks. Clarity is down to less than a foot and the water level is up almost two feet.  The fish were where I figured they'd be, but were really tight lipped. I opted for a 3/8oz. black/blue jig with the skirt cut to the hook bend and a Tiny Paca Chunk trailer and was able to grind out some decent fish. The only other presentation that got any attention was a RocketShad pitched to similar locations. If I didn't give 'em something small with a quick fall rate, I may as well have been practicing in my back yard.  Don't get me wrong, I was happy for the bites I got. I just think I may have done better with something different.

[IndianaFinesse]

The z-man trd (otherwise falsely known as the ned rig) in either the coppertruse color or junebug.

[Molay1292]

1 hour ago, IndianaFinesse said:

The z-man trd (otherwise falsely known as the ned rig) in either the coppertruse color or junebug.

What is it truthfully know as?

 

[jr231]

I have no idea about the stripers. So this is off topic I suppose. But I love when the water becomes high and muddy. I often do the best with shallow shad raps(I guess that's not finesse either) With a sweeping retrieve. I find largemouth up much more shallow than usual checking out their new territory. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, Molay1292 said:

What is it truthfully know as?

 

It might not be THE ned rig but its A ned rig one of about a dozen variations of the ned rig mentioned in Ned rig in depth video.

[Bluebasser86]

A shakyhead with a black or redbug magnum finesse worm.

[smalljaw67]

I have more success with a shaky head in dirty water than any other finesse tactic. I like using black colored soft plastics but if it is a blue bird day with high sun I'll use black neon, black with blue flake or red shad, those colors seem to do better in bright sun than straight black.

[RyneB]

shakey head with a black trick worm, and a small black buzzbait

[Molay1292]

Black or dark colored tiny jitterbug and torpedos fished shallow and run parallel to the new shoreline.    Black and chartreuse beetle spin with a gold blade.      Many good recommends mentioned so far. 

[the reel ess]

Something with a rattle in black/blue.I like a t-rigged black and blue Hula Grub with a black glass bead between weight and hook. That will click if you retrieve it with jerks off the bottom.

I know this isn't "finesse" but my best buzzbait is an old black and blue Strike King and I have a black Midnight SK Colorado blade spinnerbait that works in muddy water. The Rat L Trap works in off color as well because bass can hear and feel it coming.

[IndianaFinesse]

20 hours ago, Molay1292 said:

What is it truthfully know as?

 

First off the term "ned rig" wasn't started by it's founder ned kahde, it was started from all of the hype around it.  Many people now think it means only a z-man trd on a mushroom head jig, probably because it is the current standard bearer of Midwest finesse fisherman and by far the most popular.  Other baits commonly used by midwest finesse fisherman are the hula stick-z, finesse shad-z, recently the trd tube-z, and small Bucktail jigs.

The ned rig really means any soft plastic bait (usually made by z-man) four inches and under threaded on a mushroom head jig weighing 3/32 ounce down to 1/32 ounces, with the most popular and versatile weight being 1/16 of an ounce.

[Molay1292]

Thanks for sharing, I am familiar with the history of the Ned Rig but always like hearing what others can share.    What I am confused by is a couple of different  posts in this thread.

"The z-man trd (otherwise falsely known as the ned rig) in either the coppertruse color or junebug. "

"The ned rig really means any soft plastic bait (usually made by z-man) four inches and under threaded on a mushroom head jig weighing 3/32 ounce down to 1/32 ounces, with the most popular and versatile weight being 1/16 of an ounce. "

Anyway I understand your point about some may be confused about how the term Ned Rig came about and think that it refers only to the TRD.   

["hamma"]

A black jig and pig with a rattle, and a purple french fry on a 1/4 oz jighead, again with a rattle, fished close to shore.

[Outdoor Zack]

1/8 oz beetle spin

[timsford]

It might not be finesse to some but I like 1/8-1/4 oz buzzbaits,  small shallow cranks and lipless, and hidden weight spinnerbaits with double Colorado blades. That way I can use a small frame and still have enough weight to keep hard thumping blades from rolling or coming up to high in the water

[IgotWood]

Wacky senko...weighted or not. If the water is muddy, the fish are likely to be on structure, and probably won't move much for a bait, if the fish can even detect it. Put your bait right in/on the structure, let it fall. I don't typically fish them super slow like many folks do. In dirty water, I try to keep the bait in motion as much as possible. Once it hits bottom, I immediately pick up my rod tip, and let it fall again. Once my bait is just a few feet out of the strike zone, or away from the structure, I reel up and do it again. I like coreshot luminescent chartreuse tip, and watermelon lemon laminate. 

[primetime]

I would try a small finesse worm that you have the most confidence in, then rig it with a brass bullet weight and bead for sound....I often peg the weight about 6-12" above the bait and work it slow and steady with pauses. I like to use a smaller creature bait with appendages like a Pit boss in 3", or 6" Zoom U Tail, Curly tail worm etc...

I would also try a smaller chatterbait in maybe 1/8 or 1/4 with a bright contrasting trailer that is not too over the top but has some extra flash. Or just add a willow blade to the back of the senko (MJ Rig) for flash and vibration, or try a smaller spinnerbait all chartruese...

I like to split shot a small boot tail swimbait and use the split shot to kick up mud 6" in front, sometimes no bead,but if I am using a creature I like a bead....

Then of course, I always would try a floating Minnow bait,if water is stained,I may start with a rattling Rogue floater, or just work a Rapala with quick snaps to make a commotion, skip baits, but in muddy water I always figure Bass are going to be touching cover to feel safe,so I like to use a bait I can pause and work slowly in areas next to ambush spots. I feel Bass are always willing to feed upward in stained water if they are active and you can put the lure in the right places. Stained water in deeper Pits can be really challenging. I have a favorite spot that is usually super clear,but in rainy season it gets really muddy, and I have had awful days but usually if you figure out a pattern you can find them in the same area. I know people say Jerkbaits are not for stained water,and I agree, not suspending, but a Rip bait can be fished like a Topwater if that makes sense or get it to dive to the depth they are at. I have had days in stained water where I would swima rogue or Long A 2-3 feet deep and they smoke it. Some days nothing. Always worth a try with wakes/Rip baits,when it works, it works. 

Stained water can be tricky, but sometimes it comes together, Maybe a slow sinking Spoon could work if they were smacking a falling bait? Added flash of a silver minnow can be good.

[IndianaFinesse]

21 hours ago, Molay1292 said:

Thanks for sharing, I am familiar with the history of the Ned Rig but always like hearing what others can share.    What I am confused by is a couple of different  posts in this thread.

"The z-man trd (otherwise falsely known as the ned rig) in either the coppertruse color or junebug. "

"The ned rig really means any soft plastic bait (usually made by z-man) four inches and under threaded on a mushroom head jig weighing 3/32 ounce down to 1/32 ounces, with the most popular and versatile weight being 1/16 of an ounce. "

Anyway I understand your point about some may be confused about how the term Ned Rig came about and think that it refers only to the TRD.   

What are you confused about, I will try to clarify if I can?

[Molay1292]

4 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

What are you confused about, I will try to clarify if I can?

It's all good my friend.