Smallies in muddy water

[SmallieFever]

Just checked the temp at my favorite smallie waters...47 this am probably warmer by the end of the day. The problem is the water in this reservoir is pretty muddy right now with visibility around a foot. Normally I would throw X-raps, etc at suspended fish and around rip rap, but I'm not so sure this is the best option....maybe a Clackin' Rap? What would you guys throw? I'm planning to hit it tomorrow. Thanks for the help

[Teal101]

The lake I fish is pea soup year round.  I like to throw shallow cranks in craw colors that will tick the rocks on the bottom.  All my craw colored cranks have very beat up lips.

Black spinner baits should work as well.

I haven't been bit on any rattling lure yet in this lake, and have heard from locals the fish don't respond well to rattles.  I'll be giving it a go with jigs coming up here in april.

[Shane J]

I just got home from fishing for smallies in a muddy, high river with 50 degree water. I found water 56 degrees in some coves, and hammered them today swimming a Rage Eeliminator and Rooster with a split shot, and just under the surface. 15 smallies for me, between 1 1/2 lbs, and 3 1/2 lbs.

[SmallieFever]

Well, I've hit two muddy lakes so far with no luck. I'll try a third one tomorrow but I'm not going to hold my breath. My buddy caught two smaller brownies on a dam where we saw some bait, but that was all she wrote. They were caught on an X-Rap 8 in the perch flavor. Can't wait for things to clear up :-/

I looked for fish off of points in various depths and other areas near last years prime spawning areas but could not mark any fish...well there were the occasional fish but just one here or there... I doubt they were bass. 

[newriverfisherman1953]

I would throw everything I have at them, till I found something that works.

[A-Jay]

Muddy cold water is tough. You probably have already tried this but if you have not ~ maybe try looking a little shallower than you have been. The darker water might be a little warmer and could hold a few fish, especially when there is deeper water close by. As for a bait a Rapala X-Rap Deep in Hot Pink sometimes works under these conditions.

A-Jay

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[SmallieFever]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I got out this afternoon on another lake....not my favorite, which is still real muddy but another that was stained.  I ended up with only three little smallies (12-13") but nailed a few "ok" largies and a nice 6.8lb hybrid striper.  These fish were shallow on rip rap (2-6').  Most of the fish came on rusty craw X Rap 8's.  One largie fell to a chart. jointed Shad Rap (around 10').  I also snagged a 6lb channel cat...fought good but I sure was disappointed when I got it to the boat  ;D

I'll give the other real muddy lake a few days and hit it again.