Weed Combo
Bass Fisherman, colors for plastic worms in dark/murky water conditions?
What are some good color choices for dark or murky water with weeds & moss close to shore? A couple color combos I found that work are 1)green watermelon w/ red metalflake 2) watermelon w/ red metal flake Both are Zoom u-tails. The greens seem to blend in with the weeds, leaving only the metalflake showing and for some reason this seems to work fairly well. I'd like to add a few other choices in the bag of tricks. I usually use a 6 inch u-tail cut down smaller or a 4 inch lizard with a 1/0 hook and an 1/8 bullet weight. Any suggestions that seem to work (I'm in Tx, if that really matters)?
We mistakenly picture bass as creature at the mercy of their environment. Being cold blooded, bass are affected by water temperature. But as successful predators, bass have learned to adapt and survive in a variety of conditions, including muddy water. Of the many myths concerning bass behavior in muddy water, the most prevalent is that bass leave a muddy environment to find clear water. This implies a mass migration to a clear-running tributary. Bass generally don’t move far in clear water. When visibility is limited, they move even less. How would a bass in muddy water in the middle of the lake know the water was clear a distance away near the dam? When water turns muddy, bass have options. 1. They move shallower. This occurs in reservoirs and rivers. Even smallmouths acclimated to deep-lying structure move shallower when their habitat turns to chocolate milk. Fish can see better in shallow water. One to three feet isn’t too shallow for bass in muddy water. 2. They move closer to objects. Bass in clear water roam from a home base such as a sunken tree or rock pile to find prey. In muddy water, visibility is reduced, so bass tend to hold close to objects. They seek the security of a dock, brushpile, or boulder, perhaps using the object as a reference point. Present lures as close as possible to cover. 3. They move out of increased current. Muddy water and high flow usually coincide. Largemouths in particular don’t prefer fast water. They hold in slack-water pockets, backflows, or behind objects that break current. Smallmouths are at home in rivers, but they also avoid heavy current. Look for them in sloughs or downstream from cover objects. 4. They use other senses in addition to sight. A bass has to see a lure before striking it. Vision is their primary sense even in muddy water, but the lateral line, which can sense vibrations over 10 feet away, becomes more important as visual range is reduced. Bass also use their inner ear to sense sound produced even farther away. Smell is also important in muddy water.
Baitfish Movement: Muddy conditions also affect the location of forage fish as well as bass. Most waters have a threadfin and gizzard shad base. High muddy water pushes these baitfish toward the shoreline. Shad often seek plankton that accumulates in shoreline eddies. They feed more effectively in the thin band of clearer water that typically forms along the shoreline of a muddy river or reservoir. Mud-lines sometimes attract baitfish and bass, but they’re generally overrated. A much more dependable fishing pattern targets bass that move to shallow cover away from fast current.
Pinpointing Targets: In clear water, bass move several feet to strike a lure. But in muddy water, define high-percentage targets and place lures accurately. Try these areas: 1. Shallow points – Reservoirs have many shallow points, but in muddy conditions, fish shallow points that are far from the main river channel, yet close to deep water. The best ones often have bottoms composed of pea gravel, shale, slate, chunk rock, or red clay. 2. Springs – A mixing of clear and muddy water occurs wherever springs enter a river or reservoir. The area around the spring is clearer, so it draws baitfish and bass. But don’t expect a mass migration of fish to clearer water. 3. Shallow flats – An expanse of shallow muddy water warms quickly on a sunny day. During spring, look for creek arms protected from current and wind. 4. Shoreline objects – Bass hold close to stumps, rocks brushpiles, or boat docks.
River Hot Spots: 1. Rocky banks – Fish gravel bars, rip-rap banks, and chunk rock in current. Large rocks deflect current and provide holding spots for bass. Smaller rocks also filter sediment from the water, causing it to clear quickly. 2. Pockets – Current flow is reduced along banks, no matter how shallow. Stumps or logs make spots even better. 3. Eddies – Forage fish concentrate near structure. Spots where current changes speed or direction are particularly good for smallmouths. 4. Shoals – Largemouths concentrate along the lower ends of shoals where current is reduced. Look for smallies at the upper end. 5. Floating debris – Logs and debris are deposited in river bends and behind wing dams. Check these spots for smallmouths. 6. Manmade structure – Wing-dams and dikes concentrate baitfish and bass, especially where structure is adjacent to shallow slack water. In muddy water, bass often hold in shallow spots near a current edge or object.
Lures & Presentations: When visibility is greatly reduced, choose big lures since they are easier for bass to see and catch. Bas seem reluctant to move far from a holding spot, so you want their first swipe at the lure to hook them. When the going gets muddy try: 1. Spinnerbaits – A large spinnerbait is highly visible and produces vibrations fish can sense with their lateral line. For maximum flash and vibration, use a 3/8 to 9/16 ounce black spinnerbait with a single Tennessee blade. If the current is slack, you may want to drop to a ¼ ounce model. You can also tip your spinnerbait with a trailer such as a big pork frog to add buoyancy so you can fish it slower. 2. Crankbaits – A big crankbait with a diving lip is deadly in muddy water, even in very shallow water. Use a slow retrieve to give the bass ample opportunity to find the lure. 3. Jigs – Use a big rubber-legged jig and large trailer to probe shallow cover. Black is a good primary color, but try a hot secondary color on the jig skirt or trailer, such as chartreuse or orange. In muddy water, you can approach bass closely, so try flippin a jig into cover in quiet pockets. 4. Plastic Lizards – Rig them Texas-style on a 3/16 ounce slip sinker. They work better than plastic worms because they have more bulk, therefore easier for bass to find. A lizard with a twister tail provides added vibration. Try black or black and chartreuse.
If spinnerbaits and crankbaits aren’t producing bass, slow your retrieve. If you still aren’t catching fish, change the lure style or size. Even lures of the same kind often produce different vibrations. A change in style and size changes the pattern of vibration, which can change the response of bass.
WORM COLORS: You don't need every worm color under the sun to catch bass under most conditions. Here are some guidelines: 1. For years, the most popular worm colors were purple, blue, and black. These colors still work and should be included in any worm selection. 2. In clear water, use lighter and more translucent colors. Blue, strawberry, and melon green are favorites. Flake colors are also more effective in clear water. 3. In murky water, use darker and less translucent colors, such as black or purple. 4. Pumpkin is favored by many pro anglers in the spring. 5. Many worms are available with the body one color and the tail another. Where visibility is low, a worm with hot color tail ( chartreuse, orange ) will often trigger strikes.
SCENTS AND RATTLES : Scents. Many pro anglers use lure scents with worms, or scent impregnated worms, believing these may trigger finicky bass to bite and hang on longer. Experiment with these products to determine their utility to your personal fishing style. Liquid scent additives also help grease a worm and make it slide through dense cover more easily. Worm Rattles. They are tiny metal beads inside glass or plastic cylinders. These can be inserted into the worm body and emit a clicking sound when the worm moves, not unlike the sounds made by a foraging crawfish. Worm rattles are favored by many pro anglers in murky or weedy conditions. Have fun and tight lines.
