The basics

[usarmynole]

I am relatively new to bass fishing. I used to go with my dad when I was younger, but did really pay attention to what he was doing or how he was doing it. Now that I'm older and more patient (to a certain extent anyways). What are some tips that could improve my fish catching prowess. What type and color of lure should I use for darky, murky water as opposed to clear, visible water. When should I use a crankbait, plastic worm or a spinner bait. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Raul]

Put yourself in the place of the fish: darky, murky water

That means you can´t see the bait so visual clues like color are a lot less important to locate the bait than sound, vibration, flash and hydrodynamic signature, now begin by selecting your baits under such needs, the bait should have rattles, a fat body, a shiny finish and/or rotating blades. Now look at your tacklebox and check which baits follow that criteria:

fat bodied crankbaits preferably with rattles ( sound, strong hydrodynamic signature, wide wobble ) if with metallic finish better ( flash )

Spinnerbaits ( lots of vibration, lots of flash )

Jigs with rattles ( sound ) and curly tailed trailers ( vibration ) if with metal flake better ( flash )

Lipless crankbait ( vibration and sound )

Worms or grubs with C shaped tail ( vibration ) if with metal flake better ( flash )

Color is the least important, choose it after you have chosen based on the others not before.

Now if you are big on color ----> any color is fine as long as it´s black.

[Jim80]

Originally Posted by Raul

Put yourself in the place of the fish: darky, murky water

That means you can´t see the bait so visual clues like color are a lot less important to locate the bait than sound, vibration, flash and hydrodynamic signature, now begin by selecting your baits under such needs, the bait should have rattles, a fat body, a shiny finish and/or rotating blades. Now look at your tacklebox and check which baits follow that criteria:

fat bodied crankbaits preferably with rattles ( sound, strong hydrodynamic signature, wide wobble ) if with metallic finish better ( flash )

Spinnerbaits ( lots of vibration, lots of flash )

Jigs with rattles ( sound ) and curly tailed trailers ( vibration ) if with metal flake better ( flash )

Lipless crankbait ( vibration and sound )

Worms or grubs with C shaped tail ( vibration ) if with metal flake better ( flash )

Color is the least important, choose it after you have chosen based on the others not before.

Now if you are big on color ----> any color is fine as long as it´s black.

agree completely a double colorado blade on you spinnner works in water like that you could almost feel your teeth rattle from all the vibration . and black is the best color maybe with a chartreuse tail but raul was dead on with everything else and btw welcome to the nut house man

[tnfisherman]

now for dark water i like any thing with flash.... spinnerbaits- for semi clear water(if shad is main food)i like a bleeding bait spinnerbait with a willow leaf and a clorade blads on it .. crankbaits,i cant help there i just pick a color that looks good to me