dirty river water

[jeronimo]

is it worth fishing after a heavy rain when the water goes  from clear to muddy? or does it turn them off till it clears up again? i got the day off work but the water is pretty muddy after yesterdays storm.

[Crestliner2008]

Great time to fish as you will probably be fishing all alone. Everyone is afraid of muddy water for some reason. Fish slow and deep. Try an Ika or blade bait. Target the eddy edges. Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

I have never done well in muddy water. Been there, done that.

I don't fish it anymore.

[Davis]

is it worth fishing after a heavy rain when the water goes from clear to muddy? or does it turn them off till it clears up again? i got the day off work but the water is pretty muddy after yesterdays storm.

Depends on how "muddy" it is. The creek that I fish was cloudier yesterday (greenish brown tint to it).

I whacked them okay with a Chigger Craw with a bullet weight on the front to get it to dig into the gravel. The claws flappin wild causes quite the disturbance in the water. The fish had no trouble locating the lure in this water.

[basser89]

I go when ever I can. A few weeks back, the Potomac was running any where from 6 to 17' high and muddy! I managed to find some smallies stacked up just out of the current which was extremely strong! Tubes and Senkos did the trick for me then!

[justfishin]

Its funny how different regions fish. RW is my favorite guy in the smallie area in here because we seem to fish some much alike and in general have the same opinions on catching smallies except for one thing. By far the best time for smallies here is mid winter ( temps in the 38 degree range and up and muddy as heck ). I am talking big smallies, not so much numbers. Here in Western Maryland and Central PA., Dec-Jan is big fish time. I love the high, muddy, chocolate water. They are so easy to find in the eddies when the river is on a fast rise. Falling water is although, the death to the bite. Spring on the Susquehanna in central Pa is numbers time with lots of 60 and up days and 2-5lb fish. In high, muddy, cold water it is the small eddies that hold the fish. I have had some great days both guiding, as well as fun fishing in muddy water. I still have a theory that river smallies are deserving of different means and tactics per region.

[MNGeorge]

Hate to disagree with RW because he has been so right on about everything else I've asked hom about, but we've had some of our absolute best days when the upper Mississippi has been high and dirty.  As justfishin said, the small eddies are the ones to concentrate on.  We just keep moving and hitting everything that looks like it could hold a Smallie or two.  Jigs, single colorado blade spinnerbaits and tubes have been the most productive.  Dark colors on the jigs (black and blue) and the tubes (black neon) and chartreuse with a silver blade on the spinnerbait.

[roadwarrior]

Hey guys!

No problemo...

I was just posting my personal experience...

I have exactly no success in chocolate milk.

8-)

[jeronimo]

thanks for the replies fellas. i went out and tried for 2 days and got nuthin. last night i could almost reach the mudline. should be a lot clearer by tonight and maybe i can cast farther than the mudline.

[crazy4bass1]

well i fish the ohio rv

and its almost always muddy

i like to throw big brite and loud baits

Maybe a white spinnerbait

I normally use white swimbaits and 4 inch grubs

sometimes i insert a rattle if the bite is off and it usually helps me catch a few

[wisturkeyhunter]

I don't fish much different in muddy water than when the waters normal. Only difference is if water is high in a river current tends to be stronger so adjustments need to be made. If your talking lakes I don't fish much different. Smallies love nasty weather. Waves crashing into rocky shores with deep water close can be explosive action.