Stained water

[Fishin buddy]

I could use some advice from some of you experts. Sometimes when fishing stained water (less than a foot of visibility, ) I struggle when I can’t get a reaction bite from a vibrating bait. (Spinner bait chatter bait etc.). In clear water I down size, slow down and use something like a drop shot, Ned, worm or finesse jig. In stained water I have less success I assume because fish are attracted less by site than vibration. Any suggestions?

[Catt]

Lateral line ?

 

Bass in off colored water are more lateral line feeders, I use lures that create more vibration regardless of size.

 

With that being said in clear or off colored water a bass doesn't need to see your lure to know it's there.

 

Example: night fishing, black worm sitting on the bottom in 20' of water will get bit.

 

Bass knew it was there ?

[kingmotorboat]

I fish stained water 90 percent of the time. Usually a creature bait or craw with a light weight gets bit. The more action the better is what I've always found. And add a bead if necessary 

[NoShoes]

All I fish is stained. Mostly cypress swamps which are almost black.

 

I catch most of my fish on Texas rigged trick worms and ol monsters. They don’t have any trouble finding the lures. There are days I limited out with colors that supposedly only work in clear water. 

 

I think it effects the angler more than the fish, they are used to it the conditions. Just fish lol. 

 

 

[kingmotorboat]

5 hours ago, NoShoes said:

All I fish is stained. Mostly cypress swamps which are almost black.

 

I catch most of my fish on Texas rigged trick worms and ol monsters. They don’t have any trouble finding the lures. There are days I limited out with colors that supposedly only work in clear water. 

 

I think it effects the angler more than the fish, they are used to it the conditions. Just fish lol. 

 

 

Fish a lot of these myself in south Louisiana. Green pumpkin magic is the deal for me

[NoShoes]

1 hour ago, kingmotorboat said:

Fish a lot of these myself in south Louisiana. Green pumpkin magic is the deal for me

 

South GA swamps. Green Pumpkin, June bug, and black. 

[Captain Phil]

The Harris Chain has been the poster child for stained bass water for years.  Bass act differently in stained water than clear.  Bass tend to stay shallow and won't move far to chase a lure.  What you want is a lure with a lot of vibration and flash.  Rattle Traps, crankbaits and spinnerbaits work better than top water lures.    Add fishing pressure and things can get tough in a hurry. 

 

For plastics, you want dark colors like black or June Bug.   Paddle tail worms work well.  Glitter worms too.  Normally bigger is better.  Back in the day we used to glue rattles in our baits.  

 

Fish have a strike zone around them.  As the water darkens, their strike zone shrinks.  If the fish are pressured such as when we have a lot of tournaments, it shrinks further.  If it gets bad enough, the strike zone may be inches.  That's when you get out your flipping stick and hit the bass in the head with your bait.  

 

Most bass fisherman I see fish with their trolling motor on high.  They fan cast everything they see.  They think 6 feet is close enough.  One cast and off they go to the next pad or stickup.  They catch some bass, but they are leaving most of the fish behind.  Slow down, make multiple casts to each target.  Try different angles on the cover.  The fish are there, you just have to talk them into biting.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Theres a local chain of small lakes that never has more then 3ft viz at best and 1 foot or well under after it rains.  There aren't many fish to begin with there and its highly pressured.  I suppose its the pressure, but the majority of the time adding a rattle to your soft plastic or going from a silent crankbait to a rattling one cut the few bites in half.  Having fished there my entire life I'm always surprised at how a bass can zero in on a 3" grub in water that looks like chocolate milk.  If you cant buy a bite, scale down and fish high percentage areas.  If you throw a 3" or 3.5" ktech enough times your going to catch a fish eventually.

[BigAngus752]

22 hours ago, Fishin buddy said:

Sometimes when fishing stained water (less than a foot of visibility,

Is this normally clear water that had gotten muddy?  Or is the water always one foot visibility?  If the water is always that “stained” you can ignore it. The fish don’t know it’s stained. Dead-stick a Ned rig and you’ll catch fish...but you still have to find the fish...

[Fishin buddy]

1 hour ago, BigAngus752 said:

Is this normally clear water that had gotten muddy?  Or is the water always one foot visibility?  If the water is always that “stained” you can ignore it. The fish don’t know it’s stained. Dead-stick a Ned rig and you’ll catch fish...but you still have to find the fish...

Both clear water that has gotten muddy and water that is always stained. 
 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I always learn a lot from these forums. You guys have made me a better fisherman. 

[Bluebasser86]

Bulky, dark colored jigs and plastics are my go to if moving baits aren't working. Fish pull in tight to cover in dirty water and sometimes take repeated casts to a target to get them to bite. A 1/2oz jig is one of my favorites in that situation but a flipping tube with a rattle is another good option.