Stained vs muddy water

[juicebass]

When selecting baits, is there really much of a difference?

 

For example, would bladed baits and bright/black colours still be a good option for both? Or should there be a different approach for one or the other?

 

Just wanted to "clear" this up!

[rosshilk]

They can work great in both, but in stained water it's just less necessary to have that much flash or brightness. It can be off putting to stand out too much in stained water situations. More natural shad patterns or greenpumpkin variants might do better for you in the long run in stained water. I don't think major adjustment between the too is absolutely necessary since its not like you are going from muddy water to crystal clear water.

[RoLo]

As a rule of thumb, 'murky water' is favored by dark colors and noisier, larger lures with a slower retrieve.

In contrast, 'clear water' is favored by lighter colors and quieter, smaller lures with a faster retrieve.

So when you're dealing with water clarity between murky and clear, just compromise the options

it's not an exact science.

 

Roger

[flechero]

I treat them differently...

 

Muddy conditions are [usually] a temporary and new thing for the fish so they will act differently because their environment changed recently... where as stained or tea colored water is just that.  In muddy water, slowing down the presentation can also be key, as eyesight and strike zones often diminish proportionally.  In the case of spinnerbaits, going to a single colorado blade is helpful a it allows the fish to really zero in on a pronounced thump.  I'll also change to a jig with a rattle when water is muddy...  Black and Blue is a classic muddy water combo for jigs and or plastics, and my own favorite.  

 

 

[scaleface]

Chartreuse works well  in both .

[RoLo]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

Chartreuse works well  in both .

 

 

Gosh, it must've been about 40 years ago now, when I first read what Scaleface stated.
Tests conducted by Mepps found "chartreuse" to be the only color highly visible in both clear & murky water.

 

Roger

[Catt]

Stained, murky, & muddy

 

Bass in off colored waters rely more on the lateral line than vision. Unless like flechero mentioned & the diminish visibility is temporary.

 

I prefer lures that move a lot of water & are noisy.

[jbw252]

14 hours ago, RoLo said:

As a rule of thumb, 'murky water' is favored by dark colors and noisier, larger lures with a slower retrieve.

 

Sage advice here. ⬆️

[Raul]

Less visibility ----> more sound, more vibration, larger hydrodynamic signature, more flash.