Clear Water Is A Challenge

[Mobasser]

With the season well underway, I'm again faced with fishing gin clear water. It's a constant challenge to catch fish, and not spook them.                                                   After a few seasons at this clear water lake, I've learned to stay back and make longer cast.  I also have to be aware of shadows from the boat, which can put fish down for a time.                        At times, clear water fish can be very tuned in to the surface, and topwaters work well on some days. Overcast days, just spitting rain are always good, as is night fishing. I usually have to fish deeper for these fish. Most days they're hugging the bottom, especially on bright sunny days.                                         I'm convinced that clear water fish are more sensitive to noise from above. It helps to be stealthy. Boat noise, loud talking or similar things can spook them in my experience.                                        For those that fish clear, deep water, what are your methods? Do you have any certain things that work the best for you? 

     

[Darth-Baiter]

clearwater?  i bring my casting distance game.  even a dropshot i fling as far as i can.

 

gah, i love clearwater fishing.  if anything, the picturesque tranquility is so captivating.  i use lighter line, mostly 12lb flouro anyways, so i am ready for clearwater.  even cover, i stay way back and fling them the lures from afar.  

 

wind or breeze helps

[gim]

3 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

For those that fish clear, deep water, what are your methods? Do you have any certain things that work the best for you? 

 

You already mentioned them.  Fish on cloudy or rainy days, and fish at night.

 

If that is not an option, go stealth mode and make long casts with natural colors.

 

[Susky River Rat]

This is a slightly different than you but, when the river is super shallow and clear I try to work my way up stream. Fish face into the current so I try to get my baits to them before the boat gets there. It’s not always easy On a lake I would try to find some thick over and get a texas rig up in there. Scent maybe another option. Some say it works some say it doesn’t. It maybe just enough for a fish to want to taste it rather then look.

[Catt]

When faced with shallow clear water & needing some distant on the cast.

 

 

[Bird]

Most of the lakes I fish are gin clear.

Definitely better fishing on overcast sky.

 

I approach every lake the same as the fish become more active.

Top water early " buzzbait/WP " and continue from there with moving baits.

Square bills no rattles, single Colorado blade Spinnerbait especially in a breeze,

3" Keitech alone and with 1/8 underspin, 

Rapala Rip-Stop.

 

Then I put the brakes on with a Drop-shot , my #1 clear water bait.

Jackal flickShake wacky rigged , Ned rig, Mojo rig, weightless Senko, Keitech easy shiner on a 1/16 head.

 

If I can't catch a fish with that lineup I go home and watch Whoopi Goldberg.

 

 

 

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

With the season well underway, I'm again faced with fishing gin clear water. It's a constant challenge to catch fish, and not spook them.                                                   After a few seasons at this clear water lake, I've learned to stay back and make longer cast.  I also have to be aware of shadows from the boat, which can put fish down for a time.                        At times, clear water fish can be very tuned in to the surface, and topwaters work well on some days. Overcast days, just spitting rain are always good, as is night fishing. I usually have to fish deeper for these fish. Most days they're hugging the bottom, especially on bright sunny days.                                         I'm convinced that clear water fish are more sensitive to noise from above. It helps to be stealthy. Boat noise, loud talking or similar things can spook them in my experience.                                        For those that fish clear, deep water, what are your methods? Do you have any certain things that work the best for you? 

     

 

My experience agrees with all your observations.  The only add from me is anchoring in prime spots works for me.  My water is clear, but busy with boat traffic, so I think constant trolling motor engagement can mess with them.  If I quietly sit there within a long cast distance, even with other boat traffic going nearby, I have more confidence.  And a weird opposite note, if you see a pleasure boat about to fly over a good ambush point, I love tossing a reaction bait right in their wake.  Somewhat of a dinner bell at times to grab startled prey.  Another "ironic" thing, I see no bite difference between braid or mono or floro when working weedlines.

 

scott

[geo g]

Some our waters in south Florida become gin clear because of the heavy vegetation that filters it.  It is sometimes easy to see 10 or 12 feet below the surface.  Being in stealth mode is extremely important during these times.  
Once the sun is up, I start with long casts with smaller baits, with little 1/32 to no weight, letting the bait fall in a natural manner.  The small weight help protect the plastic from pulling down the hook while going threw weeds.  I will use pads and weeds to lessen the initial drop of the lure on the surface.  If it is an open bank I will throw up on the bank edge and slowly pull it off into the water.  If the sun is high I will throw back in the thickest stuff and slowly work it out stopping at any openings between the plants.  
Stealth is so important, I try to keep any wind blowing from behind me which allows me to stay off the trolling motor as much as possible.  At ledges and drop offs I will let the bait fall deep to the bottom and then work it back to the boat with pauses along the way.  Over the years these techniques have help during tough fishing conditions.

[Jar11591]

Most of the water I fish is fairly clear. Im

much more at home fishing a clear hard bottom lake than a murky one. 

[FishTank]

Clear water fishing usually means light lures, light fluorocarbon, and light gear. I like to fish on days with a little wind, just enough to disturb the top of the water,  and some cloud cover. 

[Darth-Baiter]

until bass invent sunglasses for themselves, on bright clear days, i punch the weed mats.  i imagine them wanting to give their eyes a break from the bright light and hiding under cover.  x2 in clear water. 

 

toss for cover.  punch.  

[Catt]

4 hours ago, softwateronly said:

If I quietly sit there within a long cast distance, even with other boat traffic going nearby, I have more confidence. 

 

There are several spots on Toledo Bend where I'm anchored a little over casting distance from boat lanes. I just sit back & watch em zoom on by!

[Bankbeater]

If there is thick vegetation growing then I will raise the motor and park the boat right on top of a weed mat.  The boat will usually sit in one spot unless the wind is really blowing.  The mat hides the boat from the fish below and I can punch the mat or cast around to the edge of growth.

[Mobasser]

15 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

There are several spots on Toledo Bend where I'm anchored a little over casting distance from boat lanes. I just sit back & watch em zoom on by!

Catt, my plastic worms are my best bait overall on this clear lake. They outproduce everything. Making long cast with light t rig worms is counter to how I was taught years ago. We always thought short accurate cast worked best. Getting too much line out front with a light t rig - it's harder to feel strikes also. We have to adjust as we go. There really are no set rules. But, I'm getting it down.

[WRB]

Use lures that appeal to basses sight impulse to strike.

Lures natural movements and more translucent coloration.

Line that doesn’t hinder the natural movements.

Look for changes is water color like mud lines created by wind, fish the wind beaten areas, look for shaded areas and any cover, even 1 stick up can make a big difference.

Think finesse because this is why light line bass fishing was created.

Tom

[Catt]

20 hours ago, Mobasser said:

For those that fish clear, deep water, what are your methods? 

 

My preferred scenario is 15' of water, plus or minus 3'. Reasoning, this is the depth at which Hydrilla, Coontail, & Milfoil stops growing. This is what's considered the "outside" grassline. I ain't talking the visible wall of a grass mat but the outer edge you have to locate with electronics.

 

Next turn out the lights the party is just starting. Why want for a cloudy day when darkness comes every evening? 

[txchaser]

Not new but worth reinforcing:

-anchoring or moving very quietly

-punching (IMO there are a bunch of unpressured bass under those mats, techniques that are harder or more technical get less use)

 

Also, be mindful of the color of your hat and shirt, how much you are moving around, etc. 

I recall that the georgia guy that caught 100's of DD's was careful with how much his arms and elbows moved about when he was throwing buzzbaits at night. He might have been overdoing it, but between color and motion, don't give them any extra cues or clues that you are there. 

[Jleebesaw]

I fish the st lawrence river and more recently lake champlain as well. Super clear water on both. I agree with what everybody else is saying. We have a lot of rocky bottom areas holding smallies. Soft paddle tail swimbaits on 3/8 jigs and the good old Carolina rig are my go too lures offshore. Also, you can't go wrong with jerkbaits. Use fluro leaders. If you are in an offshore spot and know bass are there, drops shots and ned rigs work well.

 

If I'm beating the bank, I use the same techniques as I do in murkier water. Nothing changes for me as far as using jigs or t rigs. 

[Strat64]

I fish a small glacier lake in NE PA, that at times the clarity can get to 10+ ft. (many resident take their drinking water from the lake).  I took a page out of Doug Hannon's book and painted my boat with black paint in a sort of camo pattern just to break up my outline.

[Reel]

Learn to wait !   Throw a lure where you think the fish are or where you saw them and wait a few seconds.  Something coming up from the bottom instead of down from the surface works well in clear water.

[scaleface]

I only fish clear water about once a year . Its always challenging and I' do a lot more experimenting than I do in home waters. Tubes , tubes on spinning gear have been most productive . I like the smaller Fat gizit in a dark brown then run a chartreuse marker down the back for smallies and spots.

[slonezp]

Fish deeper

[Darth-Baiter]

I didn’t skunk in super clear water today. 
 

I casted far and fished slow.  Natural colors, w 12 lb flouro. 

[thediscochef]

I hardly ever get the luxury of super clear water, max vis in most places at Ray Bob is about 4-6 feet on a good day. I love clear water because I often get the chance to actually see how the bass react to seeing the bait in full - makes for better presentation in mud. Clear water is less of a workout too - less imparted action needed to make the bait work. I usually try to find a tree near the water to hide behind and wear clothes that match the sky or shore depending on the terrain. Gradual rise of the shore = sky camo. 

 

That said, a wary bass in clear water is less catchable than the same one in muddy water, makes life hard sometimes but when they're biting aggressively...it doesn't matter too much

[813basstard]

Most days in Florida you can’t see the bottom of the live well when half full…

6”-1ft=feels just like home.

1-3ft=what the hell is this clear stuff?

3+= sorcery