This time of year can already be difficult on it’s own, but when it rains and the water becomes stained you are left with conditions that are less than ideal. The bass already seem to slow down from the heat but the bite can get even tougher when the visibility drops. As it turns out we just got a fair amount of rain here and so I’m expecting those conditions are what I’ll be faced with for the next couple of weeks. Today I’ll go over some of the lures that I use when it’s hot and the water is stained.
Lure #1 – Topwater Walking Bait
Even though it’s hot a topwater walking bait can do well in the summer months. For colors I usually go with something translucent like a ghost minnow or something solid like a bone. In this case if the water is dirty I’ll typically use a bone colored lure, and here’s one of my favorites:
This is a Sammy 100 from Lucky Craft and it’s easy to walk but also has rattles in it so it makes a little more sound than something like a Heddon One Knocker Spook. I actually prefer a one knock sound with most of my treble hook lures most of the time, but if the water is dirty and the visibility is lower I usually start off with a Sammy since it’s got glass rattles that can help the bass detect it. Having said that, if you look into these lures you will find people that say one caught them 10x more fish and vice versa. They both seem to work for me but I will admit there are times when one does better than the other and truth be told I can’t even really say that I’m always able to predict which one it will be that day. So my vote is take both, start with the one that you thing do well, if it doesn’t try the other one, and if they still aren’t biting then try something else.
Lure #2 – A Large Fluke
A fluke can work all year, but in these conditions I like to go with a larger one like the 6″ Super Fluke. In terms of color under these conditions I’d say just go with white pearl and there’s a reason why that color sells as well as it does. This is typically the next lure I’ll try if I’m not having any luck with the walking bait, and I like it as a next step because it’s more of a finesse presentation but still has some action to it which can help when the water is dirty.
Lure #3 – A Crankbait
Moving baits can be difficult in summer but there are times when crankbaits still seem to do well for me. In terms of which one to throw that usually depends on how deep the fish are, although they are usually a little deeper this time of year and so plug that dives down to 15′ can be a good place to start. In terms of color this is when I’ll usually go with something a little brighter and so something like a Duo Realis G87 15A in chartreuse blues might be a good choice. I also like this particular lure because it’s a little larger and like the larger fluke that I just mentioned it can be easier for the bass to detect when the visibility is lower.
Lure #4 – A Drop Shot
This one might come as a surprise since it’s a finesse presentation and you might be wondering how a fish would even notice it when the water is dirty. In my experience it’s still one of the best lures that you can use, but it can help to go with something a little larger and in a darker color. For example, generally speaking I personally like the Yamamoto Sensei in og junebug on a larger body of water and throwing a worm on a drop shot, but if the water is really stained then I might go with something larger like a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm in june bug. 6th Sense also makes a worm called the Divine Shakey Worm that comes in some nice darker colors that I like in these conditions.
Lure #5 – A Bladed Jig
If the bass are interested in moving baits then I would be remiss not to mention a bladed jig. In my case I like the Z-Man Chatterbait Elite Evo and in terms of colors I’d suggest chartreuse white if they are chasing shad or bruised green pumpkin if they are chasing bluegill. On a side note I realize black and blue is one of the best sellers and you could certainly go with that, but I personally love that bruised green pumpkin color and would pick it any day over a standard black and blue…especially since almost everyone else is probably going to be throwing a black and blue one.
Lure #6 – A Large Swimbait
Sometimes it can pay off to throw a hail mary, and ironically one of the lures I’ll personally take with me when it’s hot and the water is stained is a large swimbait. Most people would say that these lures do best in the spring or the fall (and I’m not saying they are wrong), but bass typically need to rely on their lateral lines to hunt in these conditions which means vibration and profile can turn out to be your friend. As a result this is one of the times when I might go with something like a 6″ Magdraft in albino pearl shad. A lot of anglers are intimidated by larger swimbaits and I was too for a while. Truth be told it can be harder to catch fish with them and you probably aren’t going to catch as many with a lure like this so there is a valid reason to feel some hesitation. Then again, these conditions can be tough regardless and if nothing else seems to be working anyway you might as well swing for the fences (and if you do happen to get bit there’s a good chance you will be very happy that you did so).
That about covers the lures that it looks like I’ll be going with for the next couple of weeks. If you do decide to go out in these conditions make sure you stay safe and hydrated. Also don’t beat yourself up too much if you don’t have much luck…these conditions can be tough so if you don’t knock it out of the park that probably isn’t a reflection on your overall fishing ability.
