Clear Water Or Stained?

[dhami013]

Being in South East, VA a lot of lakes and ponds around here have stained to murky water. Now there are some lakes that are pretty clear but for the most part they're dirty.

I've fished this water all my life and have gotten used to it.

Just wondering what others prefer? I like fishing this stained water because I like using darker and not as natural looking colors.

What about ya'll?

[Jigfishn10]

I kind of like the challenges of both. It's what keeps bass fishing intriguing to me.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Darker lets me used braid without a leader, which i appreciate. Also allows for some loud fast paced baits, cant complain about that.

NGaHB

[NBR]

IMHO stained(not dirty) tends to bring the fish shallower which makes them easier to target.

[5bass]

I prefer stained. Not muddy, but stained. My home lake is gin clear from mid to lower lake and mostly clear above but when we get some rain, the upper part really turns on and thats where I always go first. Then I check all the creeks to see if I can find some stained water.

[Raul]

From stained all the way to muddy, fish are easier to catch and locate under those conditions.

[Bluebasser86]

If I can see 4 or 5 feet down that's really clear around here. I'd much rather be able to see about a foot or two down. Stained or muddy water makes it so much easier to find and catch fish unless the water's cold.

[James Yalem]

For 30 years, I have had a house on Truman Lake in MO. It is a muddy lake for most of the year. In the part of the lake, its 55,000 acres, that my house sits, the water never gets clearer than about 3 feet. Spring and fall visibility is usually .5 to 1.5 feet. Summer can be clearer, but sometimes is not.

Yes, the bass live in shallow water. However, the lake has always been somewhat inconsistent because shallow water bass are very influenced by weather. If the bass do move deeper due to fronts, then they become very difficult to catch. Remember a bass' strike zone is smaller in muddier water. So catching them in water below the lower 50's is very tough. Also, night fishing in the summer is useless. OTOH, the lake has been very good in stable weather and since the fish stay relatively shallow in the summer, it has been a good summer lake. The truth is that my best days came with 2-3 foot visibility.

In the last 10 years, bass fishing on it has declined likely due to constant water level changes in the spring. It's great for crappie because they never get deeper than 15 feet in the summer and the lake is loaded with trees. However, I'm in the process of moving to LOZ which has clearer but not super clear water.

[Bankbeater]

Stained

You need to make long casts in clear water so the fish cannot see you.

[Sam]

Stained.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Stained! Clear water is okay but VERY clear water can be very tough. It calls for light lines,ultra long casts,and very natural baits,and presentations.The clearer the water the more natural and realistic your baits better look and act. In my experience the bass tend to suspend a lot more out in the middle of no-mans land in clear water as well. We all know how fun they are to try to catch then. As others have said, generally the fish can be easier to locate. They generally move shallower and relate tighter to structure/cover in off color water. Not only that but it also helps cover your mistakes in your presentations,allows you to use heavier lines.

[Sfritr]

Stained.

However, there is something to be said for sight fishing in a gin clear lake. I also like watching the fight from a huge smallie in 25 fow.

[JigMe]

Definitely stained water, but not muddy. If I was fishing clear water, then need to bring out 4-6lb line and be very quiet. Not the way I want to fish.

[dhami013]

Stained.

However, there is something to be said for sight fishing in a gin clear lake. I also like watching the fight from a huge smallie in 25 fow.

X2 I definitely agree.

[endless]

I don't practically care either. My PB came from muddy water after the water rise from all that rain we got that one week about a month or so back. Most lakes or ponds I fish from AP Hill are murky. Some are clear less rain or weather affected it. My favorite color I use for wacky has produce no matter the condition, same for chatterbaits besides lately, topwater seem to be only thing working for me.

[zip pow]

Clear water is my favorite positions fish tight to cover easy fishing on southern lakes with clear eater when it gets stained fish spread out

[J Francho]

I guess I'm more comfortable in stained (not muddy) water, though my best catches have been in clear water.