Question: Has anyone ever fished a drop-shot in MUDDY water?

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Answer #1:

Yea try that and also a shakyhead. Maybe try some sort of scent to attract the fish if it's really muddy.

Answer #2:

Somehow it was just the weather, time of year or the fish just wasn't biting. The drop-shot would work fine in muddy water. Over 50% of the time my waters I fish in are not only stained, but absolutely MUDDY. At times your lure will be invisible to you if it is a foot deep in the water. But I have to add since this is the "norm" for these waters and fish may act differently in waters that are usually clear. And last spring my favorite color in these waters was pumpkin seed green. Definitely not a highly visible color, but yet was my best fish catching color. In the waters I fish in I have never found any correlation between water clarity and lure color. I know that in the eyes of most fishermen this sounds ridiculous. But even so, That's my observation. That's not to say fish do not prefer certain colors over others. Their preference may change almost daily, it's just the standard knowledge about what lure color to use depending on water clarity just doesn't work on my home waters. But what does work is having a color in your lure that matches the color of their favorite forage fish at that time of year. Long winded answer here but I can't fish and have a strong case of cabin fever.

Answer #3:

I'd try a 1/4-1/2 OZ RattleTrap type lure first. If that didn't work I'd try a Chatterbait........

Chatterbaits are my new "spinnerbait". They put out TONS of vibration, (MUCH more than even the largest Willow or Indiana Bladed Spinnerbait), which would work perfect in stained water. Because Chatters have a TOTALLY different "vibration signature" in the water, pressured Bass that "laugh" at 3/8 - 3/4 OZ normal spinnerbaits tend to DESTROY a Chatter......

Remember, until the first "Spring hatch" of minnows, frogs, perch, insects, Etc Bass will still be feeding on last years "larger forage". Which means they will feed less- esp if their diet is last years Bluegills/Perch or similar sized bait.....

Whats the point?

"Down-sizing" is not ALWAYS the way to go, (even in a pond)!

Look around the ponds edge. Do you see schools of minnows, tadpoles, Insects, Etc???

Is there anything emerging? If not, maybe the pond is still in it's "Winter pattern". Winter pattern forage is NOT small..........

Understand- When you want to catch a "Whale" you don't fish with a "toothpick".........(wink).

I've fished many a pond in my day and have found that "time" is more important in a pond situation than "lure choice". Ponds have a certain "time" when they will turn on and if you can find out when that is, your destined to catch fish. I've noticed, (over the years) that the "twilight period" right before dark is "usually" the best "turn-on time" for the average Pond.

I've surmised a theory- Ponds "turn-on" right before dark more consistently than larger lakes because of a bigger Insect and Amphibian presence. Huge lakes and impoundments NEVER have the same amphibian/insect activity right before dark like a small pond has.......

If I were you, I'd narrow my fishing time to (say) 5-8. And remember that Amphibians, Craws, Insects and Reptiles are the TOP forage in any pond (that doesn't freeze solid in the Winter).

Wish I could go with ya BC! I've not been fishing in 2 weeks- and "ice fishing" ain't exactly "fishing"! (lol)

Good luck! I'm sure you'll figure them Bass out in that pond......

Answer #4:

We use a rig called "Wolf River Rig", same principle I'll bet. Use it for fishing the bottom 2-3 feet, we add a Colorado Spinner for flash in muddy water.





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