Water clarity

[JABS]

Hello all,

 

Can anyone tell me how to figure out water clarity while bank fishing? I see a lot of topics on how to test it from a boat but since I don't have a boat, I'm searching for a different kind of answer. There is a lot of talk about how clarity determines the color of the lure and I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out. I'm looking for information on ponds and lakes around the Austin, Tx area. 

 

Any information would be great! Thanks!

[TnRiver46]

You look at it! The only device I know that measures water clarity is a secchi disc. Works from land or boat. Even then you look through the water to use the disc. So I recommend to dip your lure into the water and estimate how far under the surface your lure disappears. Viola, you have about as accurate of an estimate you will ever get or need for water clarity 

[collinfiske_RFC]

Eye balls and a good pair of polarized lenses

[bazzelite19]

If you're hitting the banks stained water is your friend. Stained would be anywhere from 8"-36", 24 inches is about just right. That way the bass are more likely to be position shallow closer to the bank because light penetration doesnt go as far. Everything in nature needs the sun especially plants to produce oxygen. In muddy water fish to a max of about 8 foot. In stained a max of 15-20 or so. In clear water the range is far greater. You can catch em in inches of water to 100 foot deep. If theres lots of cover like matted algae on the bank theyll be shallow. Look for lakes that have either vegetation or a healthy green looking tint to the water they usually have the most bass densities. 

[txchaser]

Put on something white that sinks and see how deep you can still see it. That'll be close enough. 

Put on something white that sinks and see how deep you can still see it. That'll be close enough. 

 

On 2/17/2020 at 2:46 PM, collinfiske_RFC said:

a good pair of polarized lenses

Really important

[Sam]

Fish can see six times farther in water than we can.

 

So when you look into the water to see when your bait disappears you will have a good idea of the water clarity conditions and you have to realize that the bass can see better in water than you can.

 

Light absorption and scattering also play a part in water clarity. You then have to take into account color and perception and how a bass sees your lures via size, shape, color, contrast, flash and action.

 

You can learn a lot in the written articles in bass books, magazines and videos about water clarity and how the bass see colors at different depths and clarities. I could go on and on about water clarity and bait colors from Dr. Keith Jones' book, Knowing Bass, The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish (The Lyons Press 2002) but it is too early in the morning to try to decipher what Dr. Jones' research determined.

 

For soft plastics there are three basic colors: Watermelon for clear water; Green Pumpkin for stained water; and Junebug for heavily stained and all types of water. For hard baits you go with what the forage is in the area you are fishing.

 

You have to experiment and use your best judgement and what you have confidence in throwing.

 

Do what the guys suggest above and experiment. Cast your baits out and reel them in slowly so you can see when you see them for the first time. This will give you an idea of the water conditions.

 

You will get the hang of it very fast.

[Paul Roberts]

I wouldn't worry too much about this; Color in particular. What's critical is being on willing fish, having proper depth and speed control, and good lure action. Exact "color" is down on the list.

 

Clarity is about lighting, which is about visibility. Bass can see really well in almost all conditions. If they regularly live in turbid water, their lateral line system steps up a notch.

 

My rules of thumb are:

In high visibility conditions I try to obscure the lure. In low vis conditions I choose one that's more visible/detectable. 

To make a lure stand out, go with opaque "colors", esp ones that contrast with the surrounds. For me, that's black, white, chartreuse, reds.

To obscure a lure, go with translucents, esp those that match the background: Essentially Earth tones. In hardbaits I carry some translucent "ghost" finishes. And I'll use some reflectives, like chrome, that can flash in shallow water. But chromes reflecting the water around them can obscure a bait too. I like chrome topwaters at times bc of this.

 

As to specific colors/hues/finishes, I suggest choosing ones you like and... keep 'em wet!

 

[Catt]

12 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

 

As to specific colors/hues/finishes, I suggest choosing ones you like and... keep 'em wet!

 

 

We act like we know what bass can & can not see, in reality we're looking at it through human eyes & interpreting with a human brain.

 

Pick a color you're confident in & keep it wet!

[Todd2]

I've caught Bass in muddy water on bright chartreuse lures but also on natural colors..so I agree with the others. We don't really know how they see but they manage to feed in all water conditions off of sight, vibration, and smell. Don't get too psyched out on color.

[scaleface]

If I am barely hooking bass , or hooking them in the face , or see bass nipping at the tail of something like a spinnerbait , then I switch colors . Usually  too something more natural , harder to see , less bright . 

[Crestliner2008]

Remember one thing. Fish don't "think"....as much as we like to believe that they do. They are reactive to their surroundings and adapt in order to take advantage of feeding opportunities. Their main purpose in living to eat and reproduce. And if the water is pure chocolate milk, they can still find prey.

 

This is why I spend most of my time on the water focusing on depth & speed control. instead of color of the water, color of my bait and anything else I "emotionally" feel. JMO!

[Jermination]

chocolate milk throw mistake colored bandit or a swimbait like the one below that i just caught a bunch on in some ketchup sunday 

[AstroFishingTV]

17 minutes ago, Jermination said:

chocolate milk throw mistake colored bandit or a swimbait like the one below that i just caught a bunch on in some ketchup sunday 

I love throwing that rig around here where I fish. I've had a lot of big fish success this time of year.

[WRB]

Without a dock it is difficult to see straight down into the water from the shoreline. 
Bass have no problem finding prey that are trying to hide and camouflaged for survival. Use whatever lures you have confidence in, the bass will did it.

Tom