Bass Fishing in Muddy Water

Ahhh spring. It is a long-awaited season for the winter-weary bass angler. There are so many things to look forward to as we head into warmer weather, but with this welcome change in seasons usually comes rain. Lots of rain. And a heavy downpour can turn your favorite fishing spot into something more closely resembling chocolate milk and leave you wondering where to start. Not to worry, you can still catch bass in these conditions! In fact I often find it is more fun to find a bite when the conditions are less than ideal. Below are some tips to help you find bass in even the muddiest of water.

Use Vibration and Movement

If fish are used to clear water, newly muddy water will disrupt their ability to see. When their vision is compromised, they must rely more heavily on something called their lateral lines, to detect movement around them. The lateral line is essentially a series of pores that runs from behind the gill to the tail and helps bass detect changes in water movement and pressure, allowing them to feel movement around them. For that reason, vibration and water movement are a great place to start when adjusting to fish muddy conditions. The more water that is displaced with the lure’s movement, the more likely a bass is to find it when they can’t see it. Spinnerbaits are a great choice for covering water. They are, in general, large lures – and the blades create a lot of water movement. A Colorado blade, with its wider profile, displaces more water and creates more vibration than the willow blade. I especially like a gold or painted blade in low light for increased contrast. Adding a trailer with a lot of movement can be another helpful addition. In that same vein, a vibrating-jig, or Chatterbait, is great for muddy water. My number one choice is the Z-man Jackhammer. Z-man also offers a Big Blade option which is displaces even more water and can attract some big bites. A squarebill crankbait with a wide-wobble can be great for targeting shallow areas and will deflect off of submerged cover to trigger bites.

Target shallow feeding areas

With heavy rain comes an influx of new things for bass to feed on as they are washed from the banks into the water. I love to fish the flooded areas when the water level is rising. Bass will often move into these new areas to feed on bugs or small critters that have washed into the water. Target cover close to the bank such as newly submerge trees and bushes. Bass will often find little pockets in these flooded spots to sit in and wait for food. Flipping a jig or Texas rig into these areas is a great place to start. Once waters start to recede however, bass will quickly start to move off shallow cover, so I like to target these areas as the water levels are still going up.

Choose the Right Color

High contrast and bright colors are your best bet for low visibility. Muddy water is a great time to throw chartreuse, white, and red. Red/orange is especially great for early spring when bass are keyed in on crawfish. Black or black/blue can also create a great contrasting silhouette.

Takeaways

Next time a good rain muddies up your fishing spot, don’t fret. Attracting bass with vibration and targeting shallow feeding areas can help you find a bite even in the muddiest of water. What have you had success with while fishing muddy water? Comment and tell us below!