need help with this spring

[darren]

I have yet to catch a keeper this spring and it is already late april.....the water at the lake is really muddy, and I mean really muddy... I have been trying a chartruese spinner bait and when it gets more than 4 inches below the surface I cant even see it.. the water temp is about 59 but in the back of the coves it is already above 60... I need help.....I would think that at this time of the year and with warmer water temps I would at least catch some smaller bass...any help would be great....darren

[Grey Wolf]

Big noisey baits like 1/2-3/4 oz. rat-l-traps and large spinners with large colorado blades.

Use dark colors like black , blue.

[Paul Roberts]

Need more info.

What type of water body body are you fishing?  I'm guessing you are fishing a reservoir, and trying the incoming creeks?

Why have you chosen the particular location you are describing?

Are you in a boat or on shore?

I'm wondering if you can get away from the mud. Different locations, different water body altogether?

[darren]

sorry, the lake I currently fish from a boat is fed by  a large creek, and even the water at the dam is muddy.  generaly is the water clearer at the feeding creek or at the dam?  Right now it seems to be about the same.. It has steep banks and with all the rain it is extremely muddy.  Lots of docks to fish some rip rap banks , a few coves with docks.  thanks.......darren

[roadwarrior]

Here is your answer:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

8-)

[Paul Roberts]

If this mud is not the norm (over the year) in this lake, I'd simply choose another fishin' hole. If you don't have another option, or feel like taking the challenge (and the lumps) try these (together):

Find the clearest water.

Fish a slower straight retrieve, without lots of turns, starts or stops -the opposite of what tends to trigger in clear water.

Fish tight to solid cover -close to vertically where you can.

Make repeated casts.

Lures:

Bulky dense-skirted jigs with a bulky chunk trailer ( I like pork).

Same in a Colorado bladed spinnerbait.

Fat crankbait fished as above (But people often have a tendency to fish crankbaits too fast!).

Choose opaque colors: Black, white, fluorescent chartreuse in green-stained, fluorescent red in brown-stained.

[JerseyBassin]

i fish a muddy lake...few days ago i went there and got them on a dark lizard with a bullet weight.......typically anything dark colored and/or makes noise will do the trick

atleast from my experiences

chartreuse spinnerbait is probably a good idea for clearer...plus the water is just warming up so i don't know if the bass are actually going to chase a spinnerbait your ripping through the water.. you got to give them some time to become active again...the past week i've been strictly fishing plastics...lizards, flukes, tubes...all dark colors and i've been killing them..haven't tried hard plastics that make noise because i've been doing so well...either way, give both a try and see what works best

[Jim The Fisherman]

I'd say the dark spinnerbaits are your best bet.

A few days ago I went to a dam and slayed the bass on a dark colored jig.  Got about 40 in one day.  I then went the next day and tried a black spinnerbait and got nearly double the results!

And...

I went to a lake near my house and I tried out the jig.  I got nothing.  No sooner I put the same spinnerbait on I connected with some bass.

It was dark muddy water and pretty windy.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Forty one day, eighty the next?

I bet most guys would settle for either day and fish both a spinnerbait and jig!

8-)

[darren]

thanks guys, I am going to give it a whirl this sat morning and I will try to find some clearer water...In a lake that is fed by a natural creek, would the water generally be clearer at the dam or at the incoming creek?    darren

[roadwarrior]

Generally, closest to the dam because the silt coming in through the creek settles as it moves through the lake/pond. The dam itself can be productive structure. That's probably a good place to start.

Good luck!

8-)

[wagn]

With the temps you mentioned I'd try the creek first if it has warmer water flowing in. That will tend to pull the bass to the creek mouth stack up and wait for food to flow to them on the warmer water.

But RW maybe be right as well. The key is to try both and figure out what the situation is like on your lake