I feel like beyond a certain point, these conditions can work against you quite a bit. I generally prefer more visibility than less, only for the simple fact that it opens up the variety of presentations available to me. This is a small sacrifice for a potentially bigger moving bite.

 

My question is, when it gets so low and clear that you can see 4 feet to the bottom, what is your approach? Do you completely abandon moving presentations altogether?  I assumed that Finesse would be my friend today, however they didn’t seem to want much to do with any of it. I threw Fluke, Ned, tube, jig. I caught some fish, but struggled most of the day.  Do you think that downsizing from 10 pound sniper leader to 8 would have made a difference?  
 

Being this late in the summer, is it safe to assume they are already beginning to transition into fall feeding mode, and making their way towards winter holes?

Keep in mind if the fish can see you, it likely will not bite. And they are vulnerable from above so they are keeping an eye out. It's easier to spook out a hole with an imperfect presentation.

I only fish rivers, and I never abandon moving baits.  I’ll still fish shallow water with the understanding that in low water conditions it just relocates.  What was shallow water 2 weeks ago is now only inches deep or exposed mud and rocks; what was deep may now be shallow.  And I think this creates new opportunities.  Along with changes to current in low water, what is now shallow will often bring into play bottom contours and structure that fished differently at higher water levels.

When the water is particularly clear, I believe it always requires casting to targets from farther away.  Combined with lower water levels, this often requires a difference in positioning and casting angles.  
I am a firm believer that it is primarily photoperiod that spurs seasonal behavior change.  I don’t know where you are located, but here in the mid-Atlantic region I’m not sure day length has shortened enough to stimulate transition, especially with water temps still in mid 70s.  But I know we are close, and after a pretty dismal summer I’m ready for it.

3 hours ago, MassBass said:

Keep in mind if the fish can see you, it likely will not bite. And they are vulnerable from above so they are keeping an eye out. It's easier to spook out a hole with an imperfect presentation.

Great point, yes I definitely did my best to make long casts. Now if they are deep (5+ ft) which many of them are in these conditions do you believe the same rule applies and they can still see you even if you can’t see them or bottom?

53 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

I only fish rivers, and I never abandon moving baits.  I’ll still fish shallow water with the understanding that in low water conditions it just relocates.  What was shallow water 2 weeks ago is now only inches deep or exposed mud and rocks; what was deep may now be shallow.  And I think this creates new opportunities.  Along with changes to current in low water, what is now shallow will often bring into play bottom contours and structure that fished differently at higher water levels.

When the water is particularly clear, I believe it always requires casting to targets from farther away.  Combined with lower water levels, this often requires a difference in positioning and casting angles.  
I am a firm believer that it is primarily photoperiod that spurs seasonal behavior change.  I don’t know where you are located, but here in the mid-Atlantic region I’m not sure day length has shortened enough to stimulate transition, especially with water temps still in mid 70s.  But I know we are close, and after a pretty dismal summer I’m ready for it.

Yes I am with you on the photoperiod. I had always heard that they begin the transition within a week of the equinox. I assume this means after the equinox?

There may be conditions in which they may not ‘see’ us, but they know we are there.  How they react is the unknown.  Some might flee while others might just hunker down.  And I’m sure we have caught some who ‘decided’ we posed no threat.

I think the equinox is a pretty good benchmark.  But I believe it is largely the convergence of shorter photoperiod and cooler water temperature that promotes what we’d consider the transition.  One without the other can delay their seasonal response, while sustained cooler water temps and shorter photoperiod can stimulate it.   I think they will feed as long as temps allow it until their biology eventually tells them it’s time to prepare for winter and the next spawn.  I think this is why fishing this time of year can be such a challenge.

I will start switching up stretches of the river but, I do end up abandoning it. It gets way to dangerous and hard on my boat. The fisbing gets very tough. Right now we are about half a foot below the lowest I generally go out on. I feel like the fish spread out a lot versus when it’s above a certain flow. 

I will still use cranks and top water. Just trying to cover as much water as I can. If I want to get a little more finess I will use a drop shot or a weightless fluke

Little black marabou jig can be pretty amazing 

Best time to find fish as they are more concentrated.

@HawkeyeSmallie I agree to an extent. If they get quote on quote trapped yes. Generally where I fish no. Higher water lets more fish gather in a certain area. That’s why times of good flow I can catch musky, walleye, bass, catfish in one area. When it’s low that does not happen. The bigger bass do not want the competition for food in a smaller concentrated hole. 

13 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

Great point, yes I definitely did my best to make long casts. Now if they are deep (5+ ft) which many of them are in these conditions do you believe the same rule applies and they can still see you even if you can’t see them or bottom?

Yes I am with you on the photoperiod. I had always heard that they begin the transition within a week of the equinox. I assume this means after the equinox?

When you can see the bottom in let’s say, 5 ft of water, the light passes through 5 ft of water to the bottom then back up 5ft for 10 feet total. The bass is only looking through 5 feet of water. He can definitely see you. He can also feel you moving through the water. The transition has more to do with water temps than the amount of daylight. I was in northern Wisconsin around the 10th of October a few years ago, way past the equinox. We expected the bass to be transitioning but with 80° air temps, the fish were still in their summer locations. The water needs to be a lot colder, like in the low 50’s to really get any transition going, but it’s not something that’s written in stone. Depending on the river and how far they can move, they may not move at all and stay in the same section of water all year if their needs are met.

There may be conditions in which they may not ‘see’ us, but they know we are there.  How they react is the unknown.  Some might flee while others might just hunker down.  And I’m sure we have caught some who ‘decided’ we posed no threat.

I think the equinox is a pretty good benchmark.  But I believe it is largely the convergence of shorter photoperiod and cooler water temperature that promotes what we’d consider the transition.  One without the other can delay their seasonal response, while sustained cooler water temps and shorter photoperiod can stimulate it.   I think they will feed as long as temps allow it until their biology eventually tells them it’s time to prepare for winter and the next spawn.  I think this is why fishing this time of year can be such a challenge.

I fish a huge river (Columbia). This time of year visibility is over 10'. It's amazing that bass will still bite right next to the kayak. I think once they lock onto a lure they lose sight of everything else. 

 

If I come across a bass just sitting there it will usually not bite but if they are following a moving bait they will hit right next to me.

 

I guess that means you want long casts so the fish lock on the bait before they see you (basically what everyone else is saying).

 

I use the same lures as earlier in the year. JH stealth blade (around weeds), spy bait, 3" swimbait, jerk bait, wacky rigged Senko (all for shallow fishing). If I am fishing deep (15-35') I use a Ned, drop shot or wobblehead. Colors mimic either baitfish or crawfish.

14 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

I fish a huge river (Columbia). This time of year visibility is over 10'. It's amazing that bass will still bite right next to the kayak. I think once they lock onto a lure they lose sight of everything else. 

 

If I come across a bass just sitting there it will usually not bite but if they are following a moving bait they will hit right next to me.

 

I guess that means you want long casts so the fish lock on the bait before they see you (basically what everyone else is saying).

 

I use the same lures as earlier in the year. JH stealth blade (around weeds), spy bait, 3" swimbait, jerk bait, wacky rigged Senko (all for shallow fishing). If I am fishing deep (15-35') I use a Ned, drop shot or wobblehead. Colors mimic either baitfish or crawfish.

Do you find the stealth blade really helps?

6 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

Do you find the stealth blade really helps?

 

I almost never fish a regular vibrating jig. The stealthblade works great for me out here. The water I fish is usually pretty clear. I think the stealthblade is like 1/2 between a normal vibrating jig and a swim jig. It has a tighter, quieter vibration which works well for me out here.

need to get finesse.  8lbs test of whatever your choice IE mono, flouro, and or braid with 8lbs flouro leader.  ned rigs, tubes, and plastic hellgrammites.  If you have enough water, I suppose a drop shot would work. 

16 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

need to get finesse.  8lbs test of whatever your choice IE mono, flouro, and or braid with 8lbs flouro leader.  ned rigs, tubes, and plastic hellgrammites.  If you have enough water, I suppose a drop shot would work. 

10 lb is too visible in a river?

10lb works, and so will a drop shot around cover and/or current breaks. I have done it a few times as kind of a last ditch effort when little else was working.   I used a GP/orange tube about 1’ off the bottom.  My thinking was current would keep the tentacles moving.  I was surprised when it caught a few fish but then, I guess, why wouldn’t it.   I should probably do it more often.

Struggle and then wait for more water/rain/cooler temps.

10 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

10 lb is too visible in a river?

10 lbs probably would work too.  When I was in my river rat days.   8 lbs berkley mono( the red one) was just what I used.  This was during the historic dry years of 2012-2014. 

 

Honestly, it wouldn’t be beneath me to use a real crawler.  T-rig that bad boy throw it up stream and let the current bring it back.  You could use a small circle hook and nose hook them if you’re worried about gutting fish. Maybe put enough split shots on it just to make it sink. 

I fish the West Branch Susquehanna River. This last year. It was probably about a foot below the normal summer pool height. It limit's where you can fish.

Some days I will just take an hour and cruise around looking for fish, and take note to hit that spot a few days later.

Clear water equals long casts to try to get a strike. I have even went to 6lb Fluorocarbon from 8-10 lb line.

Another thing you could do is switch up your fishing hours. Try going out in the evening and fishing top water.

Dark spots Long casts and a black hair jig