Lakes come in all colors from crystal clear to dirt soup, and bass can thrive in any of them. However, water clarity has a big effect on how bass behave and feed, which in turn helps determine your best strategy for catching them.
In very clear water, where you can see a white lure down 8 feet or more, bass get wary, and tend to move into deep water or the shadows near thick weeds, creek beds, and stumps. Because the fish can get a good look at your lure in these conditions, you will be better off using natural colors, smaller lures, and thinner line. You will also need to make more of an effort to keep the boat away from your target area, and not to cast right on top of the fish.
Cloudier, stained water is usually a good thing, because bass are not as cautious, and are more likely to leave their holds and cruise for food. Some waters are stained yellow or brown by decaying plant matter. More common is green algae growth, usually in the warmer summer months, as millions of these tiny plants grow on nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients coming into the lake from fertilizer and urban runoff. Another factor is turbidity, or suspended sediment, which comes from storm runoff or wave action and can turn parts of the lake very cloudy. Stained water lets you use bigger, brighter, flashier lures to get attention.
When the water is truly muddy, visibility can drop to 6 inches or less, but you can still catch some bass. Bass hold tight to structure in these conditions and have a hard time locating an easy meal. You will find them tight in their holds or along breaks and shorelines away from strong currents. Use rattles and vibrating lures, hot colors, or dark-colored lures with big silhouettes you will have to get the lure very close to the fish for a strike.
No comments:
Post a Comment