clear or dark water

[llPa1nll]

I'm wondering if there are any states that just don't have one or the other?  Is there a state that doesn't have clear water? (around the 'ol Mississippi maybe) or states with only clear water (cali maybe) or are both represented pretty much anywhere?

I'm with you LBH I only fish clear water cause thats all thats near me. I dont know of any "muddy" water in NH. I mean there are some that are slightly stained but you can still see over 5ft easily in them. I am used to fishing spring fed lakes and ponds so seeing over 10ft is the norm for me. I watch in awe when the tv shows are fishing somewhere and the water is like a cup of coffee would seem so foreign to me.

[BackOnTheWater]

Most waters in my area's rivers, reservoir chains and lakes are dingy, so I chose dark water because I'm comfortable with the tactics and techniques.

[ejtaylor822]

I like a little stain - not totally clear.  Enjoy site fishing and watching them in their element.  Also, let me know what they are, or are not, interested in.  

[Taliesin]

I mean there are some that are slightly stained but you can still see over 5ft easily in them.

Wow... you call 5' visibility slightly stained?

Hmm... Maybe this goes back to what LBH was asking. If you are used to fishing "extremely clear" water, maybe your perception of what is clear and what is muddy changes?

Maybe we need to see what people's definitions of clear and muddy are.

To me, clear is at least 4' visibility and muddy is 2". Slight stain allows 3 to 4', with stained running 1 to 3'. Very stained (or slightly muddy) is 3" to 1'.

Maybe this goes back to my farm pond roots where the ponds were usually kept stirred up by catfish and cattle.

[FishTank]

Stained with about 3 feet of visability.  

[jb_adams]

I'm starting to like clear water because my local lake is so hard to catch ANY bass on, it's making me a better angler.  If I can lear to catch at least 1-2 fish per trip on this lake, I can catch fish in stained water a lot easier because I will know much more about presentation tactics, where to look for fish and what to show them when you find them.

The good thing about clear water is when they want to chase a bait, they can see it much easier in clear water.  In stained water, you could drag an orange hunters cap and they would have to be within a few feet to see it.  In clear water, they can be 8-10 feet away and see it easily.

Now, if I can only get the fish to bite at my local lake, I'll be doing OK.  This year, I've learned it's all about having high quality sonar and learning how to find the fish.  Once you find the fish, figure out what they are doing, then select your bait presentation around that and hope for the best.  Now I need a quality sonar.... :

[tnj8222]

my fav is dark muddy where you can see like 1-3 inches deep. then stained  where its 1 foot to 3 feet deep. my biggest bass if off of stained but i love muddy water.

[Valascus]

I'll fish whatever holds bass. Muddy, stained, clear, warm, cold...I don't care. However, I seem to be better fishing stained water. When I say stained, I mean 2 to maybe 5 feet of visability. Clear to me is anything greater than 5 feet of visability. Muddy, well...anything less than 2 feet of visability is starting to get a bit on the muddy side. Being from MO, clear water is by far the hardest for me to fish. I can catch fish, but it usually takes me longer to get on 'em in clear water.

[jb_adams]

clear water is by far the hardest for me to fish. I can catch fish, but it usually takes me longer to get on 'em in clear water.

Amen!  No wonder all you guys like muddy water.  They're easier to catch! ;D

[iminsanenutz]

i like it because you can see the structure alot better and allso see fish, ive seen his and just casted out my work a few feet behind them and drag it buy em, BANG fish on! ;D

[MemphisFisherman]

Bit dingy is my favorite type.  Nothing wrong with clear water, but theres some TWRA lakes around here that have just gotten insanly clear, like having 20/20 vision 15 feet underwater with no polarized glasses on *cough Glenn Springs i have you*.  I don't like fishing it any better, but it feels like I have the best luck in very muddy water....but only because a rattletrap is my go to bait and when its muddy and your throwing a red rattletrap, oh my gawd it work's nice.

[Walkingboss]

I grew up in Indiana, which has mostly stained to muddy water, with the excepion of some pits. Now I live in New Hampshire, which has crystal clear water on most of its lager fisheries. So, clear or dark...

Clear.

Once you get over your fear of spooking fish, clear water can offer some great advantages. I've pulled bass out of 2-3' of water only 10-15' away. Watched them turn away, turn back, get curious and bite. Also when you do spook a fish you know where they'll be returning to and then after some time you can ease up on that spot again and feel pretty good about your chances. It's great to SEE the fish and develop patterns from there.  Around here it's not unusual to see bottom in 25' of water and depending on conditions you might be fishing in 50-75' of water.  At that point you're as muddy as the Mississippi as far as what might be eyeing your lure.

Besides, I can go to Fl. or Tx. and hook up anytime...like to see those boys come fish Winnipesaukee in Aug.