Howdy Ags! I've been getting skunked on the lake this summer and need some pointers. Some info: the lake is about 8 feet up, 6 inches of visibility. It ranges from 20-60 feet deep. Someone suggested fishing black lures (spinners/plastics) in the shallows since the lake is up, but is there anything else I need to do?

I know that without knowing the lake, it's difficult to say, but just assume none of you have fished this lake.

Might try a dark-color weighted senko

Why don't you want to tell us what lake?

Always have good luck with a deep diving bass colored crankbait.

TXAG 05 said:

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Why don't you want to tell us what lake?

Always have good luck with a deep diving bass colored crankbait.

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Agreed, there are some really good people on this board with all kinds of experience on damn near every lake in the state. So if it's a public access lake, name it and you might get some really dang good pointers/advice. If it's a private lake/member only lake, then it doesn't really matter since we don't have access to it. I don't care either way, but if you want the best advice/most help, that's the route I'd personally take.

With high turbidity I usually fish something that makes sound and I use scents sprayed on the baits. Color choices in turbid waters I start with something black and silver.
Black and bright iridescent blue spinner baits or buzz baits around the bushes and trees with the lake up.

AceAggie05 said:

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I know that without knowing the lake, it's difficult to say, but just assume none of you have fished this lake.

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why is it a secret?

The answer is always watermelon

I was told a long time ago that when the water is murky, fish with dark lures. When it's clear, fish with bright colored lures. It's always seemed true to me. Maybe check the barometric pressure when planning to go fishing. Fish seem to bite more when the pressure is 30 and above. Also, try running lures at different depths.

6 inches of visibility I would just go fish another lake until it clears up. Why torture yourself? Sure you can catch a few but it's not going to be great whatever you throw.

I just figure it's a lake that not too many Ags have fished, and would get more answers about fishing dirty water in general if I didn't name it. It's Lake Eufala, Oklahoma.

So visibly is the problem then? I've been fishing with dark colors. Hopefully if it ever stops raining the river that feeds in upstream will clear up a bit

AceAggie05 said:

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So visibly is the problem then? I've been fishing with dark colors. Hopefully if it ever stops raining the river that feeds in upstream will clear up a bit

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I bass fish a lot and I have never had great days in muddy water. If I had to fish that lake I would fish closer to the dam. My experience with high water is the cleaner water will get pushed down the lake so the dam area will likely be the cleanest there is or possibly one of the tributaries has better clarity. Anyways, I would seek out the cleanest water available. It's not like the fish moved out of the other areas but they will be difficult to catch.

You could probably catch a great big ol' blue cat on a driftin' jug line!

Yeah. Everyone seems to set out jug lines. I'm not fishing for food though. I just like fishing.

I don't believe OP's depth range for the lake. The range can't be 20-60 ft… it would be 0-60 ft.

I live on a lake that sounds pretty similar and it's been turbid for most of June because it's been a very wet June. The forage population looks pretty damned strong tho which leads me to suggest jerk baits under surfacing schools of forage might be a successful approach. I'm not a big proponent that specific color matters that much , either dark or light color is the bigger factor but try to just best match the forage "shade".

I'll probably get some pushback here because it's more of an inshore saltwater approach BUT maybe try the jerk baits or lightly weighted jig heads under a noisy popping cork like a Mansfield mauler as well.

Another critique of this approach will probably be this will catch mostly smaller schoolies and that is likely true but sometimes there are bigger fish under the schoolies.

On the jigheads I am a believe in a loop knot because it allows the jig to hang horizontally like a swimming baitfish as opposed to vertically . It looks more natural imo. If the fish are really feeding it probably doesn't matter but if they are being picky it might help.

When I'm fishing muddy water I generally go for something with heavy vibration like a spinnerbait, chatterbait, square bill, etc. There was actually a study done with crankbaits in muddy water. They fished a see-through crankbait side by side several different colored ones, and the clear one got just as many bites as the colored ones. So at some point, the fish aren't necessarily seeing your lure so much as feeling its vibration. This is a slight problem when they aren't hitting reaction baits, but I believe a rage tail craw or something similar on a jig would put off enough vibration to do the trick.

For me, "Fishing dirty water " always meant fishing with a Spinnerbait. But I like fishing Spinnerbaits in general. You can fish them slow or fast, and cover a lot of various water depths.

Ace Aggie ..... I just talked with one of my fellow boat reps that was working a bass tournament at Eufaula this past weekend. Here is some info for you:

As you probably know Eufaula is never really clear. It is always that muddy tint. However the lake is high right now due to recent rains. The places that had the most fish in the tournament were down toward the dam. If you are at all familiar with the lake they had good luck around #9 Marina around Longtown Creek. Also up by Porum Creek Landing by the dam.
If you are familiar with what is called "the narrows" you will want to go through the narrows toward the dam to get in the better water. They said the dam side of the narrows was good as well.
Another sleeper place to fish is the harbor at the town of Eufaula. It is sometimes more clear water when the upper lake is muddy. They release all the fish at most tournaments in that harbor so it is sometimes really good there as well.

On baits.......They had the most success using Spinner baits and Chatter baits in both chartreuse and white.
Also they were having good luck with square bill crankbaits in black and silver and black and chartreuse in 10' of water or less.
Jigs and worms were doing well with blue/black and black/purple colors.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Dynamite

googling "turbidity"....

I would fish near the cut where all the boats anchor up and the girls not wearing much are shaking it. Might as well have some fun til the water clears up.

raidernarizona said:

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You could probably catch a great big ol' blue cat on a driftin' jug line!

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Maybe the OP could do some sister twisters on the same trip.

Thank you for getting it…

Black or darker colors obviously. Agree on the vibration quality of whatever bait you are using or an increase in the size of the offering. A fish has a very sensitive lateral line that will pick up vibration and movement very well even at almost zero visibility.

I saw my fishing partner out catch five fish to every one fish I caught in a muddy Toledo Bend one spring using a chartreuse and white Bass Pro Shop brand senko. I know that's the opposite of what most folks are saying about the dark colors but I would tie one on and try it. Beats getting skunked.

Thanks Gunny. That is awesome info. Unfortunately my boat restricts me to the upper area of the lake. Thanks for the info regardless

Yes sir. Well good luck and have fun...be safe.
As the old saying goes a bad day of fishing still beats any good day at work!

Good info!

Fished north of I40 bridge several times. Good for sand bass and crappie but better duck hunting than big mouth bass fishing up there imo. It's a big lake and you have good advice here so go prove me wrong.

Gunny456 said:

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Yes sir. Well good luck and have fun...be safe.
As the old saying goes a bad day of fishing still beats any good day at work!

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Unless fishing is your work..... then it's just kaka de toro. Never ever take sunrise pictures. Sunset pictures after a day of grinding is ok.

Crank telephone.

!!

LMB and crappie hold very tight to trees and cover in the muddy stuff.

You ain't no fisherman…