Muddy Water???

[electric chicken]

Guys help me out here, please. What is it with muddy water, that shuts the fish down completely? Heres my situation, when it rains of course what comes with rain is run off. Leading to muddy water, for a few days until the water clears you can forget a good bite. Sure< you could go some where else, but i dont have that option, with a smaller craft with just a trolling motor to get me around, cruising the lake for clearer more fishable water is just not happing.

I know those fish are still there, but there not having any. I just wonder what factors are playing here. Is it, they cant see well enough? Times like these ive used all approaches when it comes to jigs, either really bright colors, hot, hot pinks, all the way to the other side of the spectrum, dark colors. Nothing! Yep, and on those muddy day, when your like why am i out here, beating this dead horse, the blows like crazy. Boo!

[crappielimits]

Go to the new water and fish something like pumpkin seed chartreuse or live bait. Scents help! These fish will bite. They can not feel the baits vibration as far or see it as far, but if you put it in there face they will bite. Scents will help them locate the bait and a live bait helps you keep the bait there longer with action.

[electric chicken]

Thanks for the input there ''crappielimits'', that all makes perfect sense.

[jaxsprat]

What he said--also with muddy water many times fih will move to shallow water. In small bays the water at shore to 1 to 3 foot out usually clears up first and fish will sit where dirty meets clear looking for food, the fish do want to eat so they will go where they can see if nearby.

[bkgooch]

yup they will bite

[filletfetish]

I don't shy away from muddy water. You might try fishing shallower than normal in these conditions. The fish are going to feed, that's for sure. There is an influx of new food for all creatures in the food chain and muddy water will also warm quicker which brings in bait fish, as well. Don't let it discourage you, try something with flash or vibration to help encourage a response. Good luck!

[sparkie51]

I guess I'm weird. I always go deeper when the water gets muddy. Unless you have had a tremendous amount of rain the whole lake won't be muddy. The silt and run off will muddy the shore line first and by the time it gets to deeper water it will be a non factor. Fish the muddy break line where it transition from cloudy water to clear. Target any brush piles you find or drop offs.

[genec]

After many years of fishing i notice that weather crappie or bass when water is still cold that when it first start to get muddy that the fish are turn off but as soon as it gets to its muddiest point and then starts to clearing up but still muddy they will bite no matter if it is still muddy.fish like stable weather and water or going to their preferred liking.when water is muddy the backs of creeks will start to clear up first and that is a good place then unless it is bringing in colder water.as said some can still be caught but it is good to put bait in front of them and annoy them,they will usually get close to a object like a log ,brush or hill or dropoff.it then takes patience,but the viberation lures do not work good untill it has completed it muddiest point and start back.fish are not like humans that feel like they have to eat all day no matter what the condition are but can lay dominate for days if nessesary,but bait in front of them a while ,they will bite not of hunger,but for other reason,but who cares as long as he bite it

[captankangaroo]

I use sent on hair and feather jigs, crappie nibbles in tubs. I also fish roadrunners and beetle spins with minnows on all. ya need all the smell and vib ya can to help`m find it.

[hunter1314]

when water gets muddy all of a sudden I have my best luck with all black marabou jigs @ 1/8 oz - I usually like 1/32 or 1/16 oz but the bigger seem to work better when its muddy