Need Your Help

[duckaholic26]

MOVED UP HERE FROM SOUTH ARKANSAS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CLEAR WATER WHERE I'M FROM. I LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THE FINLEY CROSSES HWY 65. I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO FISH CLEAR WATER. I SAW A FEW 1/2LB BASS DOWN THERE TODAY, BUT NO BITE. I'M A BASS FISHERMAN AT HEART, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT TROUT ALSO. ANY ADVICE IS WELCOMED. THANKS!

[Wayne SW/MO]

It's not really complicated, you don't want to be obvious, obviously, so try not to be too conspicuous by a lot of unnecessary movement.. The biggest thing is that sometimes they can be picky about the picture they get so color and a reasonable silhouette is generally the key. Plastic tends to do this well. Of course it's not as simple as it sounds,, but it's a good place to start.

[eric1978]

Long casts, faster moving, lighter colored and smaller profiled baits, and LOWER CASE LETTERS.

[Daveinozark]

I'd suggest going early in the morning or at sunset and start with a small topwater popper. If that doesn't work, try a small white spinnerbait, then go to a teeny crankbait. Last resort is plastics which is slow for my taste.

I was doing well last weekend on the James with a weightless 5inch dark green worm. Just throw it in the shade along shore in the deeper sections and slowly work it back, pausing occasionally. They'll hit it when it's paused when they don't feel like chasing anything.