Fishing Muddy Waters
By: John R. Pulliam

One look around at the water, and you can already tell that it's going to be a bad day. That sinking feeling hits the pit of your stomach, and you wonder why you are even thinking of fishing on a day like this. The only thing that you see when you look around at the water is the color of mud. Whether you call it pea soup or chocolate milk, for most anglers, the site of muddy water causes them to think that the fishing in a particular area will not be promising.
However, knowing a few tricks could turn the attitude that muddy water is bad water into the knowledge that muddy water can spell out excellent fishing.
In early spring, when the waters are trying to warm, and those rainy times bring around muddy water......those should be the places that anglers should look at first, since muddy water tends to warm quicker than shallow water.
Another great way to take advantage of muddy water is to fish a huge mud line, since bass will use this, just like a weed edge. They will stay in the muddy waters and will chase bait that comes along in the clearer water. On large flats, several bass may be stacked up on these edges, so, do not overlook them, and do not give on them if a certain lure does not produce.
The lures that you should take advantage of when fishing muddy waters vary just as much as the range of muddy waters vary. From spinnerbaits to finesse worms, from crankbaits to topwaters, there are not many lures that you should not look at when it comes to muddy water.
In summer time, heavy rains that create muddy waters and that flood shallow cover will push bass tight to the newly flooded cover. At this time, fishing lures like jigs, spinnerbaits, and finesse worms will produce. Also, anytime that you these conditions while the rain is still coming down, look to topwaters to produce a few fish.
Wind is another condition in which muddy waters can arise. If you have a bank that has become muddy due to wind, make sure that you check out the area for baitfish activity. The wind will blow plankton into the banks, which in turn will draw the shad and other forage bait to those banks, which in turn will bring the predator fish to those banks. If the bait acvitity is present, be sure to try spinnerbaits in chartreuse colors with gold blades, as these colors will provide the most flash. Another important point to make with spinnerbaits is to try different blade combinations until you find the right combination. Fishing spinnerbaits with Colorado blades will give the bass a great deal of vibration to hone in on.
A lot of anglers say that dark colors are best in muddy waters, because the darker the lures, the bigger, bulkier, and larger presence, but do not forget the lighter colors.
In a recent fishing trip, I was presented with muddy waters, moderate winds, and small rain showers moving through the area, and the only fish that I caught came off a an Icicle colored finesse worm. I feel that this lure mimiced a dying shad, as the shad were present and active. After fishing spinnerbaits and crankbaits, I switched up to the finesse worm, in hopes that the fish had been pushed up into the shallow and newly flooded cover. Sure enough, after a couple of well placed casts, the first bass of the day hit in less than a foot of water. Two other bass came later, in the same general areas.
When the time arises that muddy waters present themselves, do not have the misconception that the fishing is going to be tough. Although it may seem tougher, make sure to pay attention to the situations that are present, and fish those conditions accordingly. You will find yourself fishing smarter, not harder, and you will also find yourself putting fish in the livewell.
As always, be safe and tight lines out on the water.

John R. Pulliam