Got My Bass Whipped

[David Goddard]

Well with my last 2 outings being absolutely phenomenal, I guess I cant be too disappointed that yesterday I fished for 6 hours and caught 3 twelve inch bass. I headed to a stream that I pretty much know nothing about accept that I smashed them at a different location a week ago. I figured I could run a similar pattern (clear tributaries on a muddy river) on a different stretch with similar results. I was very wrong. The water was higher than last time and had just crested and started to come down. Are those water conditions bad to fish? I found clear tributaries but they held almost no fish. I threw the kitchen sink at them too, swimbaits, a rigs, brown sticks (ned), crankbaits, HD craw, everything. Only had 6 bites and only capitalized on 3 of them. Did have a good one on the HD craw which spit it at the yak. 16-18 incher.

Anyways, being outside fishing sure beats the hell out of sitting on the couch and waiting for spring, even if I didnt catch hardly any fish. Plus my cat Rapala got his first lick of a smalljaw so I'm sure hes addicted for life. My girlfriend came along too after getting off at 3 a.m. and working a 12 hr shift in the ER so there's a lot to be thankful for. Any one have any ideas on why it was so much worse than last time other than location? Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!

[snagged in outlet 3]

That’s a lot clearer water than I had yesterday.  Is there such a thing as zero visibility?   Because if there is I had it yesterday.