Skip to content

Water Too Murky For Soft Plastics?

Featured Replies

Hey guys, I fish a lake that is pretty murky. I have been fishing it for less than a year, but have only caught fish on "vibration" lures, like rattling crank baits, lipless crank baits, and indiana blade spinnerbaits. Is it possible that the fish just can't see or hear the lure whenever I try throwing anything t-rigged, drop shotted, or even jigs? I have tried all of these with no luck. Thanks in advance.

More appendages = more water movement. Look at some creature baits, dip the tails in some chartreuse and take your time shaking the bait around cover.

I have some discusting looking water here in northern Wisconsin, and I still have good luck. Just try more vibrations and scents to them. Mega Strike works well.. I do like trusty ribbion tail worms..

  • Super User

Dark colors like Junebug or black/blue work well. You could always add a rattle to it like you would a jig. That would help with sound and vibration. 

  • Super User

They make glass rattles to insert in the plastic and rattling bullet weights as well

  • Super User

Ribbon tails seem to work for me with murky water after a rain, but if your looking for water moving appendages and scent  like the others recommended check out the Grande Bass Mutant.

  • Super User

I actually find that plastics and jigs excel in murkier water.  Dark colors, action tails, and jig rattles all have their place.  Remember, these fish are tuned into feeding on things they may not be able to see.  Get some of the cues that your bait is food right, where there are fish, and you'll get bit.

  • Super User

The lake I fish is very murky. At it's absolute best, you can see a white spinnerbait at 10 inches. After that, it's gone. Said that to say this. I fish mostly plastics all year. I use wacky rigged Zoom centipedes, Zoom baby brush hogs, Havoc pit boss, Culprit 7 1/2 worms, Berkley chigger craws, crazyleg chiggercraws, all with success. I have never needed a rattle, although, it couldn't hurt. Like Francho said, these bass have learned to feed under these conditions. It's where they live. Whatever it takes to survive.

Hootie

Everything that has been said is spot on IMO. Try going straight black for color. A high action lure like a rage anaconda in junebug. Try the rage lizard as well. TONS of action.

They can find them no problem. I was tossing a watermelon colored senko in water with about a foot of visibility yesterday and got a lot of bites. I'm not saying that's the best choice, just pointing out that they can find about anything.

  • Super User

It could be that your presentation is off a little when you use the plastics and jigs.  Jigs, and plastics, in black or black / red is the first color I try in murky water.

I fish a lake I call the mud pit.  It is extremely muddy year round.  Plastics and jigs actually will out fish any other lure in the lake.  Most of the time I will throw a Dark Green pumpkin plastic.

 

This year I'm going to try the Double header space monkey.

  • Super User

I fish some muddy lakes too.  I have the most success with pitchin' and flippin' jigs and plastics as close to cover as possible.  I use dark green pumpkin and black/blue colors the most for these lakes. 

For murky/muddy lakes I usually aim to move a lot of water. I either use really big baits, or tails and appendages that help with moving water. 

I also like black/purple/blue colors. 

 

Also, when the water is murky, I find that fish tend to hold closer to cover than they probably would otherwise. 

  • Super User

As J Franco and others have said, get it close to the fish and they will bite. Close in murky/muddy water often means hitting them right in the face. Pitching/flipping tight to cover can get your arm broke. Be careful!

  • Super User

Thats when illl put a rattle on a big monstrosity of a jig with a full size 5 inch craw ttrailer.

I also like texas riggin with a heavy weight.....and a bulky bait that moves a little water.

  • Author

Thanks for the answers, I will go buy some Megastrike to add some scent and color. With this rain we have gotten in the past 24 hours the water will definitely be muddy this weekend. Thanks again!

I actually find that plastics and jigs excel in murkier water.  Dark colors, action tails, and jig rattles all have their place.  Remember, these fish are tuned into feeding on things they may not be able to see.  Get some of the cues that your bait is food right, where there are fish, and you'll get bit.

x2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.