Fishing a new-to-me condition

[Preytorien]

Heading out to a lake an hour or so from me tomorrow morning very early.

 

I have never fished this lake, but it has the distinction of usually being low visibility (0-2ft) from creek runoff.

 

That muddiness and the water temps being between 75-80F have me wondering how to fish. 

 

Most things I read about muddy water pertain to winter or spring muddy water, not the middle of summer hot water. 

 

How would you fish it?

[A-Jay]

Fishing the conditions present when you get there is often beneficial.

 Without any other information it's tough to deal out advice.

However, if conditions include 'low visibility' as you've described, I can often find a few by focusing on shallow water 'submerged targets'.  Could be wood, rocks, humps, depressions, any hard(er) deal that the bass can sit on or at least relate to in that dirty water.  Sort of like a home base.    Docks work too, but in many instances they get beat up because they are easy to see & readily available. 

 Using your electronics & mapping, looking for the water that has what you feel is the right depth & temp, in an area that's has signs of life (perhaps birds, bugs & even bait or panfish - although might be a little tricky in super dirty water)  and then locating stuff the bass might sit on, could be the way to go.  

 Frogs in & around any slop & super shallow might be something to consider as well.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Most everything I fish is muddy usually, more structure the better, dark color jigs, red craw cranks, loud topwater baits. 

 

Usually works down south! Good luck, I enjoy fishing new places, figuring them out is fun!

[Troy85]

I'll fish near grass edges, as the water is usually slightly cleaner.  Spinner baits along a soft grass edge, I usually reel slow enough to where I just lose visibility of my spinner bait.  Just two weeks ago, I caught all my fish doing this, water visibility was about 1.5', surface temp was 89, all fish were caught in about 4' of water or a little less. 

I'll use a 2-4' diving crank-bait if I'm fishing a hard grass edge.

Also, if the grass isn't to heavily matted, buzz baits will work.  I've had em take a buzz bait in the middle of a hot summer day, working over slightly matted grass.

[Black Hawk Basser]

As mentioned, I'd try frogs in shoreline slop, or a double Colorado spinnerbait for big vibration.  I wouldn't be afraid to try a steadily moving topwater like a Whopper Plopper.

 

I would focus on not making your bait too hard to track down in the lower vis water clarity.

[scaleface]

Shallow and tight .

[WRB]

The bass live there and rely more on sound vibrations then distance sight to locate prey.

Tom

[Catt]

45 minutes ago, WRB said:

The bass live there and rely more on sound vibrations then distance sight to locate prey.

Tom

 

This ^^^^

 

Bass in off colored water are lateral line feeders. 

 

Ya want lures that move a lot of water, which causes vibrations the bass can feel.

 

Ya also want a steady retrieve which will give the bass ample opportunity to zero in. 

 

Iwould throw a buzzbait over a frog; steadier retrieve & move vibration.

 

Colorado blades over Willowleaf

 

Plastics like Ragetail 

 

Jigs; Lunker Lure Gamakatsu Triple Rattleback Flipping Jigs

[Raul]

Spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, fat bodied cranks, close to cover and with a more steady retrieve so the fish can home in the bait, soft plastic baits with heavily curved appendages ( more vibration ). Actually it’s easier to catch fish in muddy conditions since it masks a lot of things. As for colors, I say it don’t matter, it’s more important to me to make it shiny ( metallic finish or lots of glitter ).

[kenmitch]

Is the creek still running? If so I'd concentrate around the area it enters the lake. I'd imagine the creek water would be cooler and supplying food sources. I'd beat the area to death with a lipless crankbait. If that dont work I'd change colors.

 

Hard to really come up with a plan without knowing what lake it is....This aint MLF.

[bagofdonuts]

Sounds like perfect conditions for a vibrating or bladed jig. 

[thinkingredneck]

Sounds like my home water.  Dark plastics with glitter.  What has been said above.  I have no luck with anything remotely finesse.