Question about muddy water

[Shad_Master]

Okay here's the situation - the lake was up two weeks ago about 5 - 6' from heavy rains - it has fallen about 3 - 4' but has been hit with rain storms of varying degree off and on since then.  Four days before tournament, water is very muddy - by day before tournament water is muddy at the top of the lake where water is comming in, but more stained looking down on the bottom end closer to the dam.  A brief storm comes through that afternoon and then winds kick up to 30 - 40 mph all evening, night and on tournament day.

The question is - does the muddy water extend all the way to the bottom or is it more located up near the surface?  In other words will bass be able to "see" lures better on the bottom than we can see them up near the surface?  

[senile1]

I would guess (and I emphasize the word guess  ) that the water is muddy from top to bottom.  Since you had a very heavy rain a couple of weeks ago and it has been raining on and off for the whole two week period I think the mud would have dispersed throughout the water column.  

[WRB]

Your area has what we call flatland large power generating reservoirs. These lake are not typically steep banked, but wide bodies of water with long creek arms and a major river at the head waters.

The head waters should have the most muddied water and as the water gets closer to the dam it should be less and just off color.

Bass tend to move out of silted water as it's not easy to breath and locate where the water is less silted. The smaller creeks arms tend to have a more gentle run off and could have clearer water. The high water brush also tends to collect silt and clean up the water.

I would look for the bass to be anywhere that offers slightly clearer water, transition areas. Mud lines from wind tend to suspend more than rain mixed silted water. The bass will not go deeper than the thermocline, if a thermocline exist. The bass should be up tight to cover, near deeper channels or ditches, this time of year.

Try the same lures you normally use at night, except with highly visible contrast colors like chartreuse or orange belly, tails or skirts.

Dark basic silhouette with high light colors.

WRB

[Catt]

I'm amazed that people actually believe bass pack up the house and move to another lake just because the water muddies up.

[Catt]

This should help you understand the effects muddy water has on the bass  

http://brauerbass.com/articles/31_chad_muddywater.htm

[WRB]

It's a choice to continue to fish the muddiest water or move to where the water is less muddy and the bass are more active, can see a little better. You don't need to stay in the cellar or move to another lake, the back 40 may be were the bass are grazing.

Good article Catt.

WRB

[Matt Fly]

Denny made me want flip some jigs.    We got muddy to stained waters.   Most DFW lakes are full as ticks.

Nice post Catt.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I love warm muddy water

[Shad_Master]

Thanks guys, but I wasn't asking about what the fish would do in muddy water and I was never of the opinion that they went on vaction during these times - I was really trying to get some information on what the mud does in the water - Senile and WRB gave me some good info on this.