How go spooks do in muddy water? Would I be better off with something like a buzz bait? Thanks

I would gravitate towards something that makes more commotion; such as a popper, buzz frog, or a buzzbait. However, I'm sure the bass will eat a spook in muddy water, it just wouldn't be my first choice. 

You never know what the fish prefer until you try something.  That being said, as a general rule, lures that make some noise or surface disturbance in dark or contrasting colors are a good starting point for muddy water conditions.  If they work, your bait search is over.  If they don't, a more subtle presentation may be just what they're looking for.

As a side note, Heddon does market a Spook with rattles.

I use a Chug'n Spook Jr in stained water in low light conditions with some success. It does cause a commotion that makes it easier to locate. But bass need to be looking up at bait for the topwater to be very successful. The chuggers or poppers would probably be better for muddy water because they can be used on a very slow retrieve. Bass can locate and not have to chase it. Hula Popper sounds like a good idea.

1 hour ago, papajoe222 said:

You never know what the fish prefer until you try something.  That being said, as a general rule, lures that make some noise or surface disturbance in dark or contrasting colors are a good starting point for muddy water conditions.  If they work, your bait search is over.  If they don't, a more subtle presentation may be just what they're looking for.

As a side note, Heddon does market a Spook with rattles.

I didn't realize this until the other day when I tried a new Spook, Jr for the first time. I thought "Man, this thing is a lot noisier than I remember." And I got a bite on it in a spot where the old ones had failed me. I checked and my old ones do not have a knocker.

They will work in muddy water. I've had success fishing them slowly and sometimes with prolonged pauses. Like others said though, I prefer to go with a different bait in muddy water. 

It will work in muddy water but as others have said, different presentations are better. I found that if you're fishing muddy water that is shallow, less than 5' deep, and dead calm, a walking bait can be decent but most of the time poppers or buzzbaits and even prop baits work better.

if you want to fish a spook i would say get the chuggin spook instead it would make a little more noise