Well, I remembered all the tips you guys gave me, I studied articles, I watched bass fishing shows on winter fishing, I bought some of the suggested baits, and struck out.  If anyone has followed my posts, you know that I am relatively new to bass fishing.  I had always took some "backup" bait with me to the lake in case the bite was cold (nightcrawlers, frozen shad, etc.).  This time, I didn't take the backup bait because I was determined to catch fish with my vast array of lures, not wanting to give into the temptation of fishing with live or dead bait.  Well I got to the lake and it was cold and raining.  I went to a spot that produced some modest bass two weeks before, but noticed that the lake level was up several feet from two week ago and the normally greenish blue water was as brown as chocolate milk.  I threw everything in my box at 'em.  Deep and shallow diving cranks, lipless cranks, black, white chartruese spinners, t-riggged baits, drop shots, jig and pigs, darter heads, jerk baits.  I fished very slow to very fast with all of them and the results were the same... NOTHING.  Not a single bite for 5 hours.  The rain and wind picked up to make it a little hazardous, so I left with a wet rainsuit and nothing to show for it.  Does anyone else feel my pain?  Bass fishing is the most difficult fishing that I have tried.  I have never struggled so much to just get a single bite.  Someone please tell me that my persistence with this sport will pay off.  My dad, an accomplished striper and sturgeon fisherman, doen't understand my obsession with bass fishing.  He says, "why don't you hit the slough and go after sturgeon?"  My wife thinks that I am nuts for getting up at dark o'clock and driving an hour to fish in the rain.  I need some encouragement from someone who has been there and suffered like this.  Someone tell me that the bass will find my bait!

I threw everything in my box at 'em.  Deep and shallow diving cranks, lipless cranks, black, white chartruese spinners, t-riggged baits, drop shots, jig and pigs, darter heads, jerk baits.  I fished very slow to very fast with all of them and the results were the same... NOTHING.

Deep cranks, drop shot, darter head, jerkbait's, T rig(unless its creature)lipless crankbaits, and depending on the spinnerbait blade style I wouldn't throw in that kind of water.

The muddier the water the more you need to use baits that have vibration, displaces water, or rams something like bottom or cover. Slow down to give the fish time to locate the bait. Single Colo bladed spinnerbaits with chart or black skirt would be my #1 choice. If you have a short arm spinnerbait even better because it throws off more vibration. You got to fish the bait tight to the cover or in it. A jig and trailer with a rattle works in real dirty water because you can put the bait in their face. (same with a creature bait) With a jig under real muddy water you need a rattle. Try dark colors with some orange or chartreuse in it with your jig. Pitch it into a spot and just shake and rattle it for awhile before you move it any to give the bass time to find it. Crankbaits you want to throw larger than normal because of water displacement and wide wobble cranks. Just fish them with a straight retrieve bouncing it off of cover. You want to hit anything you can with it on a medium retrieve not fast. Fish shallow real shallow because the bass will be there on anything that is cover related. If you got a channel or tree line the fish might move up or just stay and suspend higher in the water column but they will always be tight almost nose to the cover.  

I agree that you need to attract attention with your baits in muddy water.  My home lake varies from stained to really stained to downright dirty.  I find that when in doubt throw a rattletrap.  Also on a rainy day in dirty water topwaters can work.  I like when the wind picks up because the bass like to hang near the windswept points and will hit big bladed gold or chartruese bladed spinnerbaits.  

Also remember this is an iffy sport.  At the classic last year half of the best bass fisherman in the world came home empty handed.  It's part of what makes it so great.   I also get the sense that you are feeling very pressured to catch fish.  This can cause you to hurry retrieves, move around too much, and change baits too often.  Settle down, tie on a few baits that are good choices for the given conditions and believe that they will work.  Virtually every successful pro will list confidence as number one on their list of things that lead to success.  So take a few deep breaths and go get em

Don't worry man, we all have days like that and your best bet would be to keep trying. Some days they bite some days they don't, its a fact.    

Mudcat Will- If you're anywhere up in my neck of the woods on this New Year's day, might as well sleep in alittle. With all the rain, things are alittle unsettled.

Everyone has given very valid advice regarding these conditions. And some where on the body of water you're fishing is going to be clearer water, you just have to find it.

Just a couple of questions, what was the water temp. and did you mark any fish? Just a guess, is 46-48 degrees close? Got to remember the bass are going to be lethargic this time of year.

Don't dispare my brother, I'm waiting for February on the delta myself. But in the meantime, join your dad on San Pablo or Suisun Bay. And as you wait for that sturgeon pump or striper run, read about bass fishing and bounce ideas off your dad.

And when you get home, check out all the information posted here.

Hey, the days you don't get bit makes you appreciate the days you do!

FYI- check out the article by Bill Simantel at http://www.westernbass.com/, it may help answer some of your questions as well.  JB

Don't let it get you down, Mudcat-cold, muddy water is probably the toughest water to fish. I'm with Chris on his recommendation-my go-to chocolate milk bait is a spinnerbait with a big, single colorado blade, too. I usually don't throw anything else in those conditions.

I fished fairly clear water yesterday with temps ranging from 53-58 and couldn't buy a hit-getting skunked happens to everybody. That's why they call it fishing instead of catching ;D.

Hey man don't get down on that. Fishing can be about paying your dues. This is this week at a glance,

Monday

0

Tuesday

5 bass and a 8 pounder or better

Thursday

1

Saturday

0

Sunday

3

Don't get down that 8 pounder might hit.

Cold,muddy water is the absolute worst fishing condition for bass.Even the touring pros acknowledge that.They could probably drum up some bites,but they'd have to work for every bite.

Cold, muddy water = Stay home.

Cold muddy water is tough cause bass cant see the bait well and yet strike zone is pea size so yep its almost almost impossible.

Getting skunked is just part of the game. All of us have been skunked. I loaded up yesterday,but zeroed the time before. Research,research,and then use this forum as another research tool. Every bit helps, I have picked up quite a few things off this forum,nobody here is stingy with info.

Good luck to you.

Cold,muddy water is the absolute worst fishing condition for bass.Even the touring pros acknowledge that.They could probably drum up some bites,but they'd have to work for every bite.

I totally agree with Rattlinrouge and with Fishie, the strike zone is down to a minimum, this requires you to look for ways to increase the strike zone, noise producers and large spinner baits are key like they said but there is also loud outragous colored worms also you might try a 10 inch black dead ringer. Just a suggestion works for me. I think the large size and vibration off the tail are good attractants also I think about night fishing and that the silouete is the main thing the bass see. also this is a slower presentation and slowing down is key for catching fish with a small strike zone.

Getchu sum o' dem dar basses,

Peter