Catch bass from cold muddy water
By: Bob Howell

Ask any pro and he'll tell you that it is the toughest condition any angler will encounter.

However, those anglers who are up to the challenge can catch lunkers by understanding how the bass relate to these conditions.

Bass are cold blooded. That means that their body temperature it the same as the temperature of the water. Bass are most active in warm water, but during the cold months of winter they become much less active; they move and eat less often.

This becomes more apparent the colder the water gets. In extremely cold water, an angler may only get one or two bites in an entire day.

They'll hold tight to cover. Bass feed primarily by site. They can see considerable distances in clear water, but when their visibility is restricted, only able to see a few inches; they'll hold tight to submerged objects such as stumps, logs, large rocks, etc.

Contrary to belief, they will also be much shallower, usually in 4 to 6 feet. This is due to the restriction of light penetration caused by sediments in the water.

Solving the puzzle. Since bass are less active, moving and feeding less in these conditions, lure presentation becomes most important. First, fish in shallower water and don�t over power your bait. Patience here is the key. Slow down. If you think you�re fishing too slow, slow down some more. Short subtle movements will get the bass� attention. Second, fish extremely close to cover and make several presentations to the same area. If you don�t get a bite, move to your next target. Just remember to be patient; fish extremely close to cover, slow down and you'll put fish in the live well.

Best spots to catch 'em:

When an angler plans to fish in cold muddy conditions he should be mentally prepared.

He should understand that the bite is going to be extremely slow so he shouldn't expect to limit out. Instead, he should be prepared to get only one or two bites. This is not an unreasonable assumption. However, choice of baits and areas fished will determine a successful or unsuccessful day.

Choose spots wisely:

Shallow cover in protected coves

When visibility is limited, bass will seldom be deep. Muddy water pushes them to shallower water where light penetration is greater. On a sunny day, the sediment in the water will cause it to warm quicker. Seek out coves on the north side of the lake. These coves usually provide the most wind protection and warm quicker than those in the southern part of the lake.

Runoff areas:

Mud has usually entered the lake by runoff from tributaries following a rain.

This runoff will be warmer or colder. Check the temperature. If it's warmer, baitfish will be present to take advantage of the warmer temps and the bass will follow. Start at the backend of the tributary and fish all available cover in the warmest water.

Large objects:

Bass will hold tight to stumps, large rocks, dock pilings and other large objects. Large stumps with exposed root systems and boulder-sized rocks are great. Look for them in 5-6 feet of water or less."

Bluffs:

Provided they aren't too deep, bluffs are good. Rock will often break off from the bluff and fall and deposit itself at the foot of the structure and bass will hide around the larger "chunks".

Best baits:

Catching bass in cold clear water, as any angler knows, has its disadvantages, but when the water is also muddy, catching them is extremely hard. The bait will have to be presented within a few inches of the bass, fished very slow and you will probably have to make several presentations to the same area to get it to bite.

When fishing in these conditions, flipping and pitching weedless baits is recommended. In cold muddy water bass will be holding tight to cover and will not easily be spooked. This allows you to get closer to the cover in order to present the bait into the thickest cover easily. At this point, bait choices become extremely important. The following is my recommendation.

Grubs: Leadhead grubs (3"- 5"). Use pumpkin and/or chartreuse colors and bump them off rocks and stumps with a slow swimming retrieve."

Plastic worms: Work them around shallow wood cover. Peg the sinker and flip or pitch the lure around stumps and logs. Dark colors like black or purple are more visible.

Plastic lizard: Its long tail and four legs will get the bass' attention. Rig it Texas-style and flip or pitch it around shallow cover."

Spider jigs: Use leadhead jigs in low-visibility water. These baits imitate a live crayfish. Bass just love 'em.

Jig 'n pig: In my opinion, these are the best cold-water lures. Flip or pitch it around stump roots, undercut banks, etc. Choose big bulky lures and attach a big pork or plastic trailer. This makes the bait easier to spot and slower to fall.

Tip: When you get a bite, you may only feel pressure on the line. The rule here is; if it feels like a bite, set the hook.

Next time you are fishing these conditions try these baits. As I stated earlier, be patient, fish extremely slow and make several presentations to the area.