clear water tactics

[Denny_K]

Just wanting some advice on clear water.Ive mentioned I'm going to Tenn.in May 15-21 and a week later I'm going back down to Kentucky to stay at a resort that has a 15 acer pond (clear water).Fishing clear water is pretty new to me.What are your goto baits in this situation and colors.Thanks alot Denny

[Denny_K]

I will be stay in Kentucky at a place that's near the Red River Gorge.I forgot to mention.Sorry Denny

[Fish On]

I fish 90% of the time clear water. I like plastic worms, jigs, tubes in natural colors. I will fish white spinnerbaits and also natural looking crankbaits slowly reeled in.

Plastics are great for the inactive bass but if they are active go spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

[bassguy2004]

Just my open onion, but I don't fish clear water any different than stained water except that I make longer casts. As far as baits, I use the same types as I use on any other body of water. I just try to match the "hatch" so to speak.

[skeeter944]

i like smaller baits in natural colors.

[crankybait]

yeah, i read in a book to cast longer since the fish's visibilty is better in clear water so you dont want the fish to see you

[Cmac]

I agree with Fish on, I used to live in Southeast Mo & Kentucky was just a hop, skip & jump away. I like worms or tubes either Carlonia rigged or Texas should do you some good
I know what your talking about with the water clarity situation, In Missouri the water was clear & now that we moved to Ms & the water is murky I have had a heck of time catching any fish. I am getting the hang of it, but it sure has been a learning experience for me.

Have A Good Trip!!!

[Denny_K]

Great,thanks alot guys I value your thoughts.as always takecare.
And long cast Denny

[WIbassfisherman]

This time of year....clear water....two words....jerk bait.

Rapala HJ 12 - 14. Natural colors. Fish on light line. Cover staging areas.

[crankybait]

lots of people are saying jerkbait... does that apply to NJ? im goin fishin today, wondering if i should use a small T-rigged powerworm or a jerkbait

[Denny_K]

I plan on throwing the X-rap I got (silver).I havn't got to really throw it but once but I will Sunday at the pond. Denny

[WIbassfisherman]

Let's us know how that works out for you Denny!

[Curado]

A good jerkbait color in clear water on sunny days is a translucent bait.

[crankybait]

translucent? i thought thatd never work... i have one thats translucent and yellow back, i think its an X-rap. would that work?

oh and i got skunked yesterday

[Mac3]

Fished clearwater in Michigan for years. Best bait by far was a 4 inch Razor Worm in grasshopper color rigged tesposed on a number 1 Gamakatsu worm hook.....it's a light wire hook. We used 4 and 6 lb test line on ultra lite rods, but 6 lb on a medium action graphite rod will work well also.....cast to likely cover/structure and simply let it fall with bail open.....when it hits bottom, if it does, let rest for 30 seconds...then lift slowly to feel for fish...after lifting two feet off bottom and still not feeling fish, give the rod tip a very short flick....about three inches and let fall again.....this time, wait 20 seconds and lift slowly again...if nothing on, reel in at a moderate pace and cast to another likely spot.

This method of fishing will be agonizing for most bass fishermen and this is normal.......if you use two rods, you can slow-fall with the above method on one, and cast and retrieve as normal on the other using a different bait.

As the slow fall requires patience and careful line watching, it's best to just fish one rod, but if you want to fish two, here's a tip....scent the razor worm with garlic and salt the night before fishing. Mix two cups hot tapwater with a teaspoon salt and a tablespoon garlic powder....pour some in each bag of soft plastics to be treated. Now seal the baggies and float them for twenty minutes on a pail or sink full of hot tapwater.....this makes the scent penetrate.....pour off the extra liquid in each baggie and you are good to go.

With this scent on the lure, the fish will carry the lure a long way, thus giving you extra time to notice the line feeding out of open bail reel.....

You can order the grasshopper razor worms from www.buehlersales.com if you can't find them locally.

[Curado]

Originally Posted by crankybait

translucent? i thought thatd never work... i have one thats translucent and yellow back, i think its an X-rap. would that work?

oh and i got skunked yesterday

I usually like a black or blue black but your yellow back would probably work too.

[crankybait]

alright then, itll proably work. or do you think i should take the chances with airbrushing the back translucent blue?

[Curado]

I wouldn't worry about airbrushing it unless you just wanted to for fun.

[JB]

Well ,
we just finished fishing clear waters denny and the ticket today was
plastics and hardly moving them

[Denny_K]

It was a lot of fun,because JB and I always try to out fish eachother we kinda make it a contest between us,He got me today5 to 2,I tried.Jb did a great job He was dailed in. Good job JB Denny

[crankybait]

nice job denny and JV. and i guess ill leave my bait alone