Recent rains don’t stop experienced fishermen
As the recent floodwaters finally recede, experienced fishermen are back on the creeks and streams, and they’re catching fish.
As they say, “Fish have to eat.” And those with long-held knowledge find just the right ways to entice the fish into striking at their lures or crankbaits.
Muddy or murky water means using a few different tricks, but it also means the fish – bass and crappies – have to lower their guards in order to find dinner. The fish don’t have to see their prey all the time. They use smell, motion or noise to find a meal.
Using a lure or crankbait that makes noise improves the chances of landing something, even in muddy waters.
If feasible, the fishermen look for the clearest waters they can locate. If a smaller stream enters a river or larger body of moving water, it has likely gotten clearer a little faster than the larger river.
When its more difficult to see, the fish find cover such as boulders or large rocks. Submerged logs or piers provide the kind of shelter they prefer.
Fish don’t actively chase food. They wait for it to come their way.
The fish are patient. The fishermen have to match their patience.
Lures and crankbaits have to be fished slowly and steadily. Casts have to be retrieved more slowly and at a steady pace so the fish can locate the baits.
A spinnerbait is often a good choice in muddy water. Lure color does make a difference. Black, red and chartreuse are the color choices of many veteran fishermen and catchers.
One most-used crappie jig in muddy water has a red head, black body and chartreuse tail. Many use chartreuse spinnerbaits when going after bass.
Fish slow and steady. Fish tight to cover.
Hungry bass in muddy water prefer to hover around havens they find to be safer. If the previously mentioned rocks, logs or docks can’t be found, they are even more wary than usual.
Numerous casts are likely if any success will come from fishing the stained streams. Cast. Reel in slowly. Reel in steadily. And hope for the best.
When fishing the bottom, use darker colors like black, brown, black-brown, blue, blue-brown or red-shad.
The water will eventually become clearer. The hazy days of summer have nearly always brought periods of no rain at all. It’s on those humid, mid-July days that the floods of mid-May can be remembered as a time when crappie and bass – and the occasional catfish – can be thought of in positive terms.