Clear water tactics

[thediscochef]

Hey y'all

My lady got us a week in a cabin on a private lake that apparently holds good bass. I was looking at photos of the place and the water looks pretty clear - maybe up to 10 feet or so. I usually gear my approach to the waters around me that have maybe half that visibility. So far I'm thinking I need less noise, so maybe less on the chatterbaits, and more pumpkin/watermelon colors in finesse type baits like tubes, finesse worms, culprit worms, and ned rigs. If there's anything I'm overlooking, I'm here for a schooling. Thanks

?

[A-Jay]

Long Casts.

Stay off the cover & the fish.

If you can see them,

they saw you 2 minutes ago.

Game over.

A-Jay

[Finessegenics]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Long Casts.

Stay off the cover & the fish.

If you can see them,

they saw you 2 minutes ago.

Game over.

A-Jay

 

All it takes! You beat me to it

[thediscochef]

Long casts won't be a problem...that was one of the first things I worked out on my spinning gear...and why i dislike mono over 8lb. I use a daiwa fuego 2500xh, 7' MXF rod. 20lb 8 carrier braid with a 12lb cxx leader. May go for straight 10lb fluorocarbon for better hide. So the direction is to stand back from the water a bit? Should I bring a bush or fake tree to stand behind? Maybe a ghillie suit? Lol in all seriousness I should probably dress in natural tones too. Given that I'm going to fishing with reach too, maybe some thinner wire hooks?

I appreciate yalls input, I feel like I have decent instincts but there's always something I haven't thought about. I'm only one brain.

[Finessegenics]

7 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Long casts won't be a problem...that was one of the first things I worked out on my spinning gear...and why i dislike mono over 8lb. I use a daiwa fuego 2500xh, 7' MXF rod. 20lb 8 carrier braid with a 12lb cxx leader. May go for straight 10lb fluorocarbon for better hide. So the direction is to stand back from the water a bit? Should I bring a bush or fake tree to stand behind? Maybe a ghillie suit? Lol in all seriousness I should probably dress in natural tones too. Given that I'm going to fishing with reach too, maybe some thinner wire hooks?

I appreciate yalls input, I feel like I have decent instincts but there's always something I haven't thought about. I'm only one brain.

 

Dressing in natural tones is definitely a good idea. Try to match whatever bank you'll be standing on. I don't have to deal with this too much as I fish some pretty muddy water. It's hard to know before you get there but I suppose any natural tones will do. Also, approach the bank quietly and stay a ways back if you can. There might be bass right at the water's edge. Don't go crazy over it but a stealthy approach could help.

[thediscochef]

2 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

 

Dressing in natural tones is definitely a good idea. Try to match whatever bank you'll be standing on. I don't have to deal with this too much as I fish some pretty muddy water. It's hard to know before you get there but I suppose any natural tones will do. Also, approach the bank quietly and stay a ways back if you can. There might be bass right at the water's edge. Don't go crazy over it but a stealthy approach could help.

This makes sense, I do know that I've had less success in red shirts. I'm usually in khaki pants with a blue or teal shirt. I think from a fish perspective my upper half will usually need to blend with sky on the shore, if the fish is close enough to see me. May have to go get some tan shirts too. Black has also been good to me.

[Bankbeater]

I like fishing with 1/8 jigs in clear water.  Mostly watermelon or green pumpkin colors.  Be careful with the trailers, sometimes with the small jigs the bass like a more compact presentation so I'll thread the trailer over the entire hook.

[thediscochef]

5 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

I like fishing with 1/8 jigs in clear water.  Mostly watermelon or green pumpkin colors.  Be careful with the trailers, sometimes with the small jigs the bass like a more compact presentation so I'll thread the trailer over the entire hook.

This aligns with how I usually rig my baits, I mostly use 1/8oz chatterbaits, skirtless, with 2.75"-4" plastics. Trying to bring finesse lures from that range up to a 7" culprit worm. I'll need to make sure I bring some small crawz too I think...

[A-Jay]

Regardless of the tackle, the attire, or the water clarity, locating fish holding structure/cover on new water is often the biggest challenge. 

Looking forward to the pictures.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[thediscochef]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Regardless of the tackle, the attire, or the water clarity, locating fish holding structure/cover on new water is often the biggest challenge. 

Looking forward to the pictures.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Can't catch em if they aren't there 

I'm thinking visibility will also increase how many fish will see the lure. 

I may throw a mini fluke on a 1/16oz weighted ewg and see what happens, too 

So many choices with clear water, the usually murky water I fish requires noise and flash to maximize the number of fish that see you. Given the visual nature of bass, clear water seems to give you way more presentation options visually 

[Deeare]

I’d suggest trying to get (borrow) a kayak for the trip.  Check out the lake map and fish the break lines.  When are you going?   Water temp/season will help decide what lures you want to throw.    If you need a partner I’m available!!!????

[thediscochef]

6 minutes ago, Deeare said:

I’d suggest trying to get (borrow) a kayak for the trip.  Check out the lake map and fish the break lines.  When are you going?   Water temp/season will help decide what lures you want to throw.    If you need a partner I’m available!!!????

So the cabin is provided with kayaks which will be used for sure. I will be there Feb 21 through 25, and things should be in a general warming trend. I suspect I'll be getting in towards the middle of prespawn or the beginning of spawn. I'm not sure if the lake has a contour map or not, but it's also in an area that may have Guadalupe bass so I may pull one of those. I need to text the guy who owns the place and pick his brain. We will be making day trips to canyon lake and Buchanan as well, Canyon has super clear water. Never been to Buchanan but definitely want to check it out. Might also take a detour to lake travis, I have a buddy in Lago Vista.

From the air, the private lake looks more like a large pond with lake-like structure and shape. 

[garroyo130]

3 hours ago, thediscochef said:

So far I'm thinking I need less noise, so maybe less on the chatterbaits, and more pumpkin/watermelon colors in finesse type baits like tubes, finesse worms, culprit worms, and ned rigs. If there's anything I'm overlooking, I'm here for a schooling. Thanks

?

 

I'd add jerkbaits to the list

[thediscochef]

18 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

I'd add jerkbaits to the list

Ya know

The biggest fish I've ever seen in person was caught on a jerkbait. I've never been able to figure them out. I think I tend to get 30 minutes into fishing new things, lose confidence because of my impatience, and switch to what I use 95% of the time. I need to go fishing and only take jerkbaits or something, until I figure out how to fish them...

[gim]

When I fish clear water, I use the same strategies already listed above. Long casts and natural colors.

 

Another item that hasn’t been mentioned is perhaps try fishing at night time. Worth a shot if you are able to do it.

[NorthernBasser]

Your lady didn't get you guys a cabin on a private lake so you could go bass fishing.

 

Signed, your lady

 

(JK obviously)

 

 

 

[thediscochef]

5 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Your lady didn't get you guys a cabin on a private lake so you could go bass fishing.

 

Signed, your lady

 

(JK obviously)

 

 

 

She did actually, wants to learn how to fish. I'm trying to make sure we both get something ?

This forum is the best, y'all always come through with great advice 

[NorthernBasser]

6 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

She did actually, wants to learn how to fish. I'm trying to make sure we both get something ?

 

Nice! That is one catch you don't wanna release!

[thediscochef]

Just now, NorthernBasser said:

Nice! That is one catch you don't wanna release!

Working on that one ?

[AManWearingAHat]

Long casts, natural colors, less "noisy" presentations. Swimbait on a swobble head or a swim jig would probably be my search bait in these conditions. 

[thediscochef]

2 hours ago, AManWearingAHat said:

Long casts, natural colors, less "noisy" presentations. Swimbait on a swobble head or a swim jig would probably be my search bait in these conditions. 

Bringing some owner shakey ultra heads, 1/16 and 1/8oz and 4" finesse worms for sure. I'll have to see if I have a paddletail somewhere. The owner of the lake says the primary diet is bluegill

[TnRiver46]

The fish that are 20 feet underwater won’t be so scared of ya 

[thediscochef]

So this may be a topic for a different thread, but I was wondering how yall rig your shakeyheads and how yall retrieve them

[Bird]

Most of the water I fish is gin clear. 

Finesse techniques with a Flouro leader will produce fish......drop-shot Roboworm, Neds, speed craws, baby brush hogs and Jerkbaits all do well here.

Early morning the whopper plopper does surprisingly well in clear water here.

Enjoy your time in the cabin, wife and I do the same. This year is Smith mountain lake. 

[thediscochef]

7 minutes ago, Bird said:

Most of the water I fish is gin clear. 

Finesse techniques with a Flouro leader will produce fish......drop-shot Roboworm, Neds, speed craws, baby brush hogs and Jerkbaits all do well here.

Early morning the whopper plopper does surprisingly well in clear water here.

Enjoy your time in the cabin, wife and I do the same. This year is Smith mountain lake. 

Thanks! I'm finding that a lot of my instincts about this were correct. Those same instincts came from this website, it's one big circle. Yall are so helpful, I appreciate it very much