What makes the lake water muddy and stain?

[kercha83]

Went fishing the other day and the water was brown, muddy and nasty. I have been to this lake a few times in the past and the water was normally clear with a greenish tint to it and the fishing is a lot better like this too. What makes the water muddy and how long does it take for it to clear up?

[Eager Beaver]

Wave action during and after a storm will normally muddy a lake up. It depends on how long the storm lasts but usually clears up in a few days as long as the wind is down. EB

[kercha83]

Thanks, looking to go back again this weekend and try my luck again.

[Bottombumper]

Topsoil and surface debris wash in water when it rains. It washes in the feeder streams to lake or river and the lower body of water will be the muddier.

[Drifty4]

It could be that the lake turned over.

[kercha83]

What do you mean by the lake turned over?

It could be that the lake turned over.

[cub48]

When the water temp changes the top water goes down and the bottom water comes up. Cub48

[kercha83]

Thanks!

When the water temp changes the top water goes down and the bottom water comes up. Cub48

[bubbinator]

Where I fish in AL, lakes and rivers are muddied and stained by rains, usually heay rains, that will settle out and clear up in a few days. Right now, after 7.5 inches of rain locally water looks like carmel candy @ 20 MPH! Tomorrow looks like 4-5 inches more coming. Got my boat prepped by Prattville, AL BPS yesterday(GREAT SERVICE-due time of year got 1 day turn-around(in Sat/out Monday). As storms slow down water will clear. A great water clarity on the Al river will occur in the summer with a white bait being visible about 3' down. Choose lures/bait as conditions tell you. I am a minnow fisherman and water clarity isn't that critical on my home waters.

[CrappiePappy]

When the water temp changes the top water goes down and the bottom water comes up. Cub48

Usually this is a Fall phenomenon ... when cooler/heavier water in the upper layer, drops down into the warmer/lighter water below, causing a mixing of water temps & a disturbance of the bottom mud/silt, resulting in a muddying/dirtying of the water.

This time of year, it's likely wind/wave action against the mud banks &/or muddy runoff water coming in from creeks, gullies, or mud banks after rains or snow melt.

... cp