Fish 01 / Fisherman 00

[DJ_Callahan_27]

I got my butt kicked today. But in my defense the water was muddy and the current was very slow and I thought it would be a bit clearer. Today I went wade fishing in a small river below my house here in southeastern Ky. When I said the water was muddy in mean 2 to 5 inches of visiblity and to make matters worst all I brought with me was a 3/8 oz. white tandem indiana blades top one gold bottom silver, 3/8 oz. black/blue jig with rattles, # 8 shad rap, and a bag of 4 inch Zoom super flukes and 4/0 wide gap hooks. I'm not at all good at fishing heavily stained to muddy water. What can I do to be more productive other than loading the boats and heading to the lake. lol

[Jim80]

in real muddy water you want your colors to be darker , ie; black spinners with a colorado blade or black worms with a chartreuse tail .

[DJ_Callahan_27]

I really didn't think it would be that muddy. Even the flukes I had were white. The only bait that I had with me suited for the water conditions was the jig and I don't have alot of confidence in that bait unless I'm in my boat droping it aroung timber or into graas, ect. Never had any luck casting it. In water that muddy is it better to fish closer to the bank or what? I know that the grass kinda works as a filter but there really isn't much fishable grass there. All advice is greatly appreciated.

[Jim80]

in real muddy water like that the fish will hold extremely tight to cover so areas like that would be your best bet

[DJ_Callahan_27]

what lure types and colors would you use in this situation? And what presentation would you use? The river is only about 75 to 100 feet wide in it's bigger places and getting as narrow as 10 to 15 feet in places with average deeps of only 3 to 5 feet with a few exception here and there that will get as deep as 8 to 10 feet.

[pignjig]

DJ- If the water was up in the river, most times the fish have moseyed over toward the bank--easier for them to battle the current.

[BigBassin144]

IMO, vibration is WAY more important than color in muddy situations. Get a spinnerbait with large single or double colorado blade. Most people say dark colors and single colorado, but our best producer for muddy water (about 6" of vis) was a Booayh white/chartreuse double colorado spinnerbait. also try a rattletrap.

BB

[DJ_Callahan_27]

The Strike King Lil Mr. Money 3/8 oz in white got a couple of bumps today but only when I stuck it way back in a lay down. I had one hooked but it had me around every branch in three countys before it got off.

[pignjig]

When I read your description of the river again, it sounds a lot like the Roanoke River near Salem, VA. For what it's worth, we catch smallies on beetlespins, senkos centipedes and t-rigged craws especially in the deeper holes, where rapids transition to calmer water or floated past boulders and such. Green Pumpkin works the best for me in clearer water. When the river gets up and the bass hug the bank, dark spinners (in-line and safety pin) are pretty deadly. Also, split shotting a black needle worm will almost always get you a bite or two. bcklash and bassinbandit might have some other tips- they're a lot sharper than I am. Good luck, man!

[DJ_Callahan_27]

Never fished Roanoke River but sounds right up my alley. I will have to try some of those tips. Never thought of the t-rigged craws but I will the next time .lol This river also alot of smallies and largemouth aswell as the pesky musky. Matter of fact I caught my bigest smallmouth out of this river (23" did not wiegh, releast it) on an inline spinner. Thanks Pig for all the advise