I fish a lake in Virginia that gets muddy very easily.  No big deal, lots of lakes are like that. I've been having great success (For me) fishing creek flats with a ratl-trap when there are bait fish present in the area, but when the water isn't clear the bite shuts off.  What I've heard so far is to switch to a jig and start flipping/pitching.  What are your thoughts and experiences for muddy water fishing? switch to a jig or find another lake? Thanks!

 

 

Something noisy and big, like a rat-l-trap.

I usually fish a War Eagle Night Time Spinnerbait with a big, single Colorado blade. I'll throw it right into the thickest cover I can find. Usually it seems like fish seem to hold tighter to cover when the water is really turbid like that.

Why stir up the mud and silt from the bottom? Stay off the bottom. Spinnerbaits, shallower cranks. I like a lot of thump inline spinners, Indiana blades on spinnerbaits.

I fished a swamp like that with mud/silt. As long as I stayed off the bottom I was fine.

I've had luck with jigs, wide wobbling cranks and bladed jigs in that situation.

Bladed jigs in dark or bright colors. My personal favorites are black and blue, chartreuse and black

 

or a firetiger type color I call spicy shad.

I'm a black and blue jig kinda guy when it comes to mud!

As HoosierHog writes, the bass will hold tight to "cover" in heavily stained to muddy water.

So pitching and flipping a black and blue jig will get their attention as will a black based plastic thrown to and against any "structure" you can find.

Bright yellow and orange can also attract their attention, so consider tipping your plastics with JJ's Magic to add a dash of color.
For moving baits, the vibrations will alert the bass the lure is close by and the bass will then try to find it via sight.

If the moving bait is close enough and the bass feels secure in leaving their place of comfort they will attack the bait our of hunger or aggravation.

Fishing in heavily stained or muddy water is done slowly so don't think you are going to get a bite on each cast.

You have to cast to any structure you can see or know is below the water many times.

Bladed jigs in dark or bright colors. My personal favorites are black and blue, chartreuse and black

or a firetiger type color I call spicy shad.

r those your baits blue?

Sam's post should be made a sticky. Pitching into heavy cover in muddy water can be work. Be very deliberate and careful. You may get your arm broken! I have caught good fish on heavy jigs, light jigs, and t-rigged plastics-usally creature baits like a baby brushhog or its bigger brother. Beaver baits can be effective too. Any color as long as it is dark with or without a splash of color. The key is getting the bait on the nose of the fish. A spark plug might work if you put it in the right spot!

r those your baits blue?

Yes, those are some of mine I make just for all the muddy lakes around here.

What I've heard so far is to switch to a jig and start flipping/pitching.

Bass in off colored/muddy water rely on their laterual line to help the locate prey.

I would throw a 3/8-1/2 oz Lunker Lure Original or Triple Rattleback Jig in Green Pumpkin or Texas Craw with a Rage Tail Lobster in Falcon Lake Craw.or Black-n-Blue.

I have had pretty good luck with a 1/2 ounce black jig and a blue trailer in muddy water.  The bass seem to like the blue trailer better than a black one.