Hi there,

I am located in Marin County, California and we had a lot of rain over the last weeks. The lakes, which were scarcely empty in Summer are now filled up again. The water is now really murky though, due to the amount of rain that fell. The water temperature is around 55-60 degrees. A lot of areas are flooded now that usually are not. The water there is around 4-5 feet.

Since I am a bank fisherman and I can not reach the really deep areas anymore,  I am wondering the following:

* How long does it take the fish usually to migrate to flooded areas?

* Will the fish move to shallow areas considering the new rain, muddy water and water temperature

* What lures would you try and what kind of fishing style would you choose (weather was overcast with some slight rain)? Personally I tried a lot of search baits (spinner baits, buzz baits, shallow divig rip baits and some bigger blue gill swimmbaits), Jigs (which stopped after a few attempts, since the water was too murky and I am thinking that a Jig is not the best in murky water if you dont know where the fish are) and even some top water (Spoons and Frogs).

Would you have done something different?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Seb.

Bass tend to move up as the water level rise, move down as it falls.

It's January everywhere but it's early pre spawn in most of California's lakes, that makes a big difference where bass will migrate. Prior to the rain the bass were in the deepest regions of the lake. After the rain those boss moved up, look for the closest flooded new water near where they where, that is where they are!

keep it simple, use lures that represent the prey the bass are seeking; crawdads, worms and baitfish.

Tom

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bass tend to move up as the water level rise, move down as it falls.

It's January everywhere but it's early pre spawn in most of California's lakes, that makes a big difference where bass will migrate. Prior to the rain the bass were in the deepest regions of the lake. After the rain those boss moved up, look for the closest flooded new water near where they where, that is where they are!

keep it simple, use lures that represent the prey the bass are seeking; crawdads, worms and baitfish.

Tom

Thanks again for your thoughts Tom.

 

I thought I needed to get something loud and shiny into the water, so that the bass would see/hear the lure in the murky water and would come to the lure, even from some distance (since I had no idea where the fish would be).

So it sounds like you are suggesting worms, jigs and swimbaits?

Cheers.

I would try pitching a large plastic to cover and I've had luck in similar conditions with a chartreuse lipless crank bait.

12 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks again for your thoughts Tom.

 

I thought I needed to get something loud and shiny into the water, so that the bass would see/hear the lure in the murky water and would come to the lure, even from some distance (since I had no idea where the fish would be).

So it sounds like you are suggesting worms, jigs and swimbaits?

Cheers.

Do you think natural prey has to be flashy for bass to find it? They would starve if that was true! Look for funnel zones where rising water flows through, that is where you will find bass.

Tom

If there are any areas of inflow still that would be your best bet if the bass have moved in search of food. If not fish near cover in the flooded areas near where the fish usually are. A square bill crank in natural darker colors bounced off of and worked around cover might have good results or a large plastic of your preference, also in a darker color around that same cover. Hard to offer good solid advice for water I've never fished.

If the water is stained like you said "root beer water" then use loud and dark colored lures... (Buzz baits, spinner baits, shad raps, and anything else loud and dark colored. The fish should be in the flooded parts I think. 

I'd probably try a shallow running squarebill in Firetiger or Chartreuse Shad that rattles.  Maybe even a Sexy Shad chatterbait.

Just get out there and start fishing bro. You'll figure it out !

3 hours ago, clh121787 said:

Just get out there and start fishing bro. You'll figure it out !

Haha, That is the plan! Though I can only spend one weekend day fishing, so I would love to make the time most productive. Since I would still consider myself a noobie (have been going after bass for not even a year now), I would love to get some ideas and suggestions for more seasoned folks like you.

I hate to come home with 0 fish and 0 baits. This is pure defeat. ;(

22 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Haha, That is the plan! Though I can only spend one weekend day fishing, so I would love to make the time most productive. Since I would still consider myself a noobie (have been going after bass for not even a year now), I would love to get some ideas and suggestions for more seasoned folks like you.

I hate to come home with 0 fish and 0 baits. This is pure defeat. ;(

Any day on the water is a gift, enjoy it.

Tom

When the water is murky, the bass tend to stick very close to cover.

You probably won't find them out cruising like you might when the water is clear.

Target the bases of trees, stumps, laydowns, etc.  Even better if you can bounce a jig or chatterbait or other lure off of where the bass are hiding.

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Any day on the water is a gift, enjoy it.

Tom

I really do. Seeing the lake being full of fresh water after such a long drought, makes me happy!

Though, as we humans are, we always want more. Bass is my 'more'