Tips For Fishing In Ultra Clear Water

[gotmuddy]

One day while fishing at the juncture of a creek that shall remain nameless and the white river there was a spot with quite a few large largemouth bass. I could not get them to bite anything. Any tips or techniques?

[eric1978]

They probably saw you before you saw them, and they were on to you before you even casted. When I encounter that situation in really clear water, I'll usually give them a half hour break or so, or come back later in the day if possible, approach as stealthily and slowly as I can and make a LONG cast with a fast moving bait...small spinnerbait, fast topwaters, flukes, etc. Don't give them a chance to see you, and don't give them a chance to inspect your offering. You're looking for a reaction strike. And as Al mentioned recently in another thread, don't plop the bait right on top of them.

[Al Agnew]

You also have to accept the fact that sometimes you just won't catch them because they are not in the mood. I've noticed that often, when bass are grouped up and just hanging around, they aren't interested in eating. Active fish are either hiding at ambush points or cruising and hunting.

Yesterday I waded a very small, very clear creek. Very little water much over three feet deep. Not much cover. You'd think you'd be able to see every fish in it. But I'd make a cast to what appeared to be empty water, and if I was going to get anything, one or more fish would just suddenly appear from wherever they had been hiding and whack it. On the other hand, when I did see a nice fish before I made the cast, that fish seldom showed much interest in the lure, even though I was pretty sure the fish hadn't seen me. It's not always like this...often visible fish are cruising, hunting fish. But not yesterday.