stalking coyote

If they dropped the water 4' leaving nothing but bare exposed banks... little to no wood... that is tougher, no doubt... But, yes I would start looking for any type of cover... rocks, what wood I could find, any vegetation... bridges along roads... and like I said above... if you find clear water/ muddy water mud lines... I would fish these very hard... especially along points and any ledges I could find... look for water runoff ditches, etc... it's tough and slow fishing like I said earlier... but it sounds like you are trying... catching a few fish... but if you are finding mudlines with clear/ muddy water mix... then I'm assuming the whole lake is not a choclate milk mix or Yoo-Hoo mix... and in this case you might not actually have muddy water throughout the complete water column... which means you might be able to go out into deeper water and actually fish below the horizontal (surface) mudline.... this can be an effective method as well if this is the case (i.e. a horizontal mudline profile in the lake)... You can have muddy water on the surface of the water column and clear water beneath it... but I don't know your lake and can't actually see the conditons for myself... so I can only offer suggestions on where to start looking... hope this maybe of some help anyway...

It would be a good place to fish... how you fish it depends on the bass and the location of the mud line... is the mudline on the inside or outside? What I mean is starting from the bank is the water clear for a ways and then gets muddy (inside) or is it muddy from the bank out and then the mud line is out in deeper water? And sometimes... you can have both mudlines in the same place... Fishing the outside mudline is always a good place to fish... First I would get parralell with outside mudline and throw the same lures along the edge of the mudline, next I would throw the lures into the muddy water and bring them out into the clear water... bass will set up along the mudline and ambush bait as it comes out to them... this is even a great place to fish on windy days along the wind blown banks... except I would also add jerkbaits to this mix... Fishing the inside mudline depending upon how much space you have between the mudline and the banks can be tougher especially along bare banks (i.e. no structure) ... but the same principles apply... and if you can find some structure like wood, rocks, or vegetation all the better... I would also look for ditches coming off the banks where water runs into the lake... any ditches or runoffs... even small ones like 6" and follow them out a little ways with your graphs... it's not easy but this is where I would start... and just adjust from there...

Clearer cold water is better than muddy clear water... now with that said... and if you have no choice... How muddy are we talking here? If were talking chocalate milk or Yoo-Hoo... then you basically have to hit the bass on the nose with the lure to get them to bite... and if that's the case then forget fishing deep... the chances of getting the lure in front of the fish or hitting him on the nose so to speak is not very likely... you will have alot better odds of getting on top of the bass up shallow where you can see the structure you need to fish and pick it apart... fish any wood cover you can find... and go big... bigger profile baits... bigger jigs and trailers... bigger bladed spinnerbaits... larger crankbaits... you want the most vibration you can get... as for color's... visibility is the key... darker colored lures like black or dark purple and high viz colors like floro chart or floro orange... spinnerbaits with a big Colorado blade (strong thumping vibration) in the above colors will work... bass will hug the wood tight tight tight in any really muddy water condition... by going shallow at least you can increase your chances of thumping one one the nose... I'm assuming you are talking about less than 6" of visibility hear... you have to be accurate with your pitch's or flips too... in 6" or less visibility and cold water... bass are not going to see, feel, or chase your bait if your not on top of them... period... he won't hit what he can't see or feel... and they will not be out roaming in Yoo-Hoo water... they will hunker down and wait it out... you have to HIT THEM ON THE NOSE... and that is just less likely to happen in deep water under extremely muddy conditions... it will be slow slow slow fishing... and very very very few bites... 5-8 good bites all day is what you are fishing for... and you better be ready for them... cuz they will be few and far between... but chances are they will be very good fish... I Fish these exact same conditions every year during February and March somewhere... and it is very slow fishing... but like I said... you have to be determined, alert, cover water, and still fish slow... I forget any open banks without wood, rock, or vegetation... hit the key spots thoroughly and move on to the next piece... look for any dark objects that may absorb heat from what if any sun that may be out that day... and remember muddy water will absorb heat quicker and to a much higher degree than clear water... look to the backs of shallow dips or cuts... if you catch a fish take stock on what you caught it off of... wood, rock, vegetation, lone piece of wood, rock, or vegetation, heavy wood only, type of wood or vegetation, I've seen alot of times where the type of wood, vegetation, size of the wood limb or log made all the difference... These are just the things that work for me in these conditions... you have to adjust as you figure out what they are holding to up shallow and what it takes to get them to bite... jig, spinnerbait, or crankbait... I'll throw all three at the structure until I figure out which one is working better than the other... sometimes it is one... sometimes it's the first one that gets close enough for him to feel the lure... in these extremely muddy conditions the bass will most likely feel the lure before he ever see's it... if he even really ever see the lure... Good Luck... and I hope this helps... I'm like you... I would rather be out there trying that sitting home wishing I was out there!

Plan on fishing the lake conditions that you know... "Water looks like Yoo-Hoo"... well two weeks of good weather isn't going to clear that up completly for sure... and any additional rain... well forget it... plan on muddy to stained for sure... and like someone said... if the current water temperature is 40 degree's... then two weeks of warmer weather... let's face it... you ain't gonna get 70's... just look at the weather fronts that moved through the last two weeks... the water will still be 50 degree's or lower... so plan on cold, muddy-stained water... pack for cold weather... you don't have to use it... but at least you'll have it if you do need it... and be glad you get to go fishing... in two weeks we will still be iced over :'( Good Luck and have fun fishing... even given the poor conditions I would be happy to just go!

Don't ask me what it is... but last year I caught 4 bass that each weighed exactly 7 lbs 5 oz! And two were in the same day... so at this point I will settle for one that goes 7 lbs 6 oz ;D Illinois

I have an idea... Have Gerald autograph something... like a T-shirt, photograph, or something... and let's have a contest where we guess his daily finishing position and weight, final finishing position and weight, giving points for each right guess and if he agrees to autograph the item... then the person with the most points at the end wins his autographed item... What do you think?

Very nice... Cudo's

Thanks guys... it's interesting to hear everyones thoughts and opinions... keep them coming...

Marty... I really like the color schemes on # 1 & 3 Alot! So I'll take those two and # 5, # 4, and # 3 in the same colors as # 1,3,5,4 and ah never mind... might just as well send them all my way... I'll end up buying them anyway Beginning to think I might just as well have work set up a direct deposit into your account ;D Great job Marty!!!

Stringjam, I have tried to find the WooDream crankbaits online and can't even find anyone who even carries them... do you know of anyone who does carry them? And the OSP HPF Spec 2 crankbaits I can't find either... every sight I find that does carry them or at least has them listed all say "sold out"... know of any place that does still have them available? And thanks to everyone for the suggestions...

Looking good Marty... let's go...

Even though I've been bass fishing ever since I could hold and cast a rod... Until recently I never really had much intrest in trying or experimenting with japanese crankbaits... even though I'm a crankbait junkie... but now I must seek out the best and give them a try... So... what are the best of the best japanese crankbaits... I want to know what your favorite and best producing japanese crankbaits are... best producing japanese colors for you... you know the ones you just have to have... the ones that even o'le bannana breath doesn't even have to talk you into buying and using ... please help me with my obsession... :'( Thanks... Jerry

Over the years I have tried every way imaginable... depth, color, style, lip size, pattern, habitat... but in the end... the crank bait I really end up wanting will be in the box I don't have with me...

For starters... a new back... right ankle... and left knee... Oh, ya... and time

Road Warrior... or anyone else... have you tried the Shimano Antares Ar or the Shimano Aldebaran MG7?

I thought so... but was just checking because I've been looking online at BPS, Cabela's, and Gander Mountain and couldn't find one listed... finally did find them listed at TW... Anyone had a chance to use the GLoomis Deep Flex yet?

Which model of the Diawa Sol are you guys using? How does it compare to the Diawa Zillion CC?

I'm looking to get a pair of new crankbait rod & reel outfits set up for the sole purpose of fishing shallow running crankbaits. One bait cast and one spinning outfit. Most of the baits will be 1/4 oz - 3/8 oz in size (mostly 1/4 oz). I'm looking to get one bait cast outfit and one spinning outfit. I currently have several Abu Garcia Revo Winch's and love this reel for deep cranking; however, as most know this reel performs less than desirable on lighter weight cranks. I'm looking for some reviews and suggestions on the possible choices out there for shallow running crankbaits and lighter lures. I've considered the Diawa Zillion TDZLN 100PA and the Shimano Curado 200E5; however, I've never fished either reel and would like some reviews or other suggestions. What do you like about your favorite set up and why? In regards to rod selections I've been looking at the regular GLoomis crankbait rod line along with the new Deep Flex line... any thoughts? give me your reviews and suggestions about what is working for you and why? Looking for specific model numbers that has worked best for you on shallow running crankbaits and lighter lures.

I like the shad color baits in # 2 and # 3... and the yellow shallow runner is just... Cool! Marty... I see a need for product testing... and it just so happens that I can fill that bill for you ;D

Shad fry...

Not sure how the bass in Illinois would respond to that paint job... better send it me and let me try : Great job!!!

Stringjam... that paint job looks awesome... in fact it would be perfect if it wasn't for a slight imperfection I noticed in the first photo... better send it to me and try again... I wouldn't want to see you fish with anything less than perfection... and I will take that one and hide it away! : Great job!

Big M... where do we go to look at your crankbaits and place an order? I'm new to the forum and have been reading about your crankbaits... I would love to try some out... they look great!