How is water clarity defined?

[captdave]

Curious what the consensus is on how to define water clarity. What is considered clear.....like bath water? Like tea/coffee colored but no mud like after a hard rain? Reason I ask is I see advice on selecting jig colors based on water clarity. What y'all think?

[Cane Pole]

I just read the KY lake fishing reports and then use some other color.

[DWILL]

I just read the KY lake fishing reports and then use some other color.

[ClearCreek]

Water turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). But, unless you are versed in measuring water quality a given NTU reading is somewhat meaningless.

A more practical way to measure water clarity or transparency (turbidity) is with a secchi disk. A secchi disk is an 8-inch (20 cm) disk with alternating black and white quadrants. It is lowered into the water of a lake until it can no longer be seen by the observer. This depth of disappearance, is called the Secchi depth and is a measure of transparency of the water.

There are lakes where a secchi disk will disappear in 6-8 inches of water and there are other lakes where a secchi disk can still be seen in 20-25 feet of water.

ClearCreek

[BobC]

Water turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). But, unless you are versed in measuring water quality a given NTU reading is somewhat meaningless.

A more practical way to measure water clarity or transparency (turbidity) is with a secchi disk. A secchi disk is an 8-inch (20 cm) disk with alternating black and white quadrants. It is lowered into the water of a lake until it can no longer be seen by the observer. This depth of disappearance, is called the Secchi depth and is a measure of transparency of the water.

There are lakes where a secchi disk will disappear in 6-8 inches of water and there are other lakes where a secchi disk can still be seen in 20-25 feet of water.

ClearCreek

That was an interesting bit of information CC. I at first thought you were funnin’ with the NTU units. Thanks for the post.
Bob

[GreenLine]

Here in the south we have these water colors -
Chocolate milk
Real muddy
Muddy
Pretty muddy
Coffee
Stained
Iced tea
Kinda clear
Clear
Gin clear
I seem to have the best luck using brighter colors the darker the water.




Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Ketchn]

as mentioned, there is the scientific way, with the disc, but it is pretty easy to just look down at it and swim a jig thru it and go from there .
yesterday I visited a spot that has lost some of its clarity , it wasn't really clear to begin with , but bright orange was difficult to see at around 5 inches deep .
it was a mixture coloration of slightly green and brown and rather cloudy , like tea that has sat in the fridge way to long, often times this type of clarity is a dream, fish can't look over a bait and it is easier to trick a crappie into a hit in cloudy water for sure ....just saying

[captdave]

as mentioned, there is the scientific way, with the disc, but it is pretty easy to just look down at it and swim a jig thru it and go from there .
yesterday I visited a spot that has lost some of its clarity , it wasn't really clear to begin with , but bright orange was difficult to see at around 5 inches deep .
it was a mixture coloration of slightly green and brown and rather cloudy , like tea that has sat in the fridge way to long, often times this type of clarity is a dream, fish can't look over a bait and it is easier to trick a crappie into a hit in cloudy water for sure ....just saying

Thanks Ketchn.......as usual I was making stuff harder than it is. Your answer makes good common sense....gonna run with it!

[SloppyJ]

Secchi Disk is what I was taught in school. I just know my lake and base it on what it typically looks like. It's stained always but lately it's been beyond chocolate milk with all the rain.

[Jamesdean]

Here in the south we have these water colors -
Chocolate milk
Real muddy
Muddy
Pretty muddy
Coffee
Stained
Iced tea
Kinda clear
Clear
Gin clear
I seem to have the best luck using brighter colors the darker the water.




Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Momma grew up down Abbeville way, says you forgot a water clarity of Gumbo on that list, lol