I live in western Kentucky and there are a few stip mines that arent too far from my house.  I dont own a boat so I can only fish the bank for now. I mainly fish one of the largest pits I know of out there because it has the easiest access to the water.  Ive been told there are some very large fish there but all ive been able to catch is small large mouth, id say not much over a pound if that.  The water is pretty clear im guessing because the bottom is mostly rock and there are a lot of dead trees sticking up out of the water.  Ive been fishing texas rigged worms of various colors for the most part because I havent been fishing that long but still Im not really producing fish.  I know they are there because the come up and hit the surface of the water all over the place, especially as it starts to get dark.  Any tips for fishing this type of lake?

Suggestions to consider:

1.  Try a wacky rigged watermealon Senko using a weedless 2/0 or 3/0 hook.

2.  Go finesse and throw some weedless Zoom or Berkley watermealon or pumpkinseed worms using those weedless hooks.

3.  Use 8 pound line on a spinning reel and 10 pound test on a baitcaster as you want to go light.

4.  Get up early in the AM, and be on the water before and during sunrise and throw a Cavitron buzzbait. Try black with silver blade.  

5.  Go out a dusk and fish the buzzbait once again until dark.

6.  Use trailer hook on buzzbaits.

7.  If heavy cover, try a spinnerbait without a trailer hook.  Cut some of the skirt to give lure a slimmer look.  Add some red or blue strands to the skirt for more color.

8.  If possible, throw a crankbait like a Bandit 100 or a 200 if you can go deeper without getting hung up.  A Mann's Minus One is a good topwater choice to try, too.

9.  Try drop shotting.  Good rig to try as long as you know you are going to lose some rigs and the sinkers.

10.  If any flat bottoms, try the split shot rig. Fun to fish and you will get bit unless you get caught up in the wood.

11.  Try topwaters, too.  Pink or white trick worms; frogs, rats; Pop-Rs; Spooks may work.

12.  How about a weedless tube?

13. Shaky Head presentation will work in the rocks as will a finess presentation.

If you are fishing in rocks and heavy cover be sure to check your line for nicks and cuts.

Just keep trying to see what works.  This is the fun part of fishing when you realize that an animal with the brain the size of a marble can outsmart you.  ;D

I forgot to mention the Mojo rig.

Give it a try, too.

Fish hitting the top sounds like the bass surging on bluegills where I fish. Try a popper or jumpbait (walker) -under low light conditions. Keep casting because these fish aren't concentrated.