Here are some other muddy water strategies that will put bass in the boat:
• More motion — A fluke or a swimbait on bladed swim jig combines vibration, water displacement and flash in an agitating profile that casts well on windy days.
In some cases, if the bass are just bumping larger baits and not committing, try dropping down to a smaller swimbait on a lead head. You might sacrifice the mass element, but at least you’ll maintain the motion/vibration part of the equation.
• Tail gunner — In lower-visibility of muddy water, fish often swipe at and miss baits. So trailer hooks are vital when using spinnerbaits, just to ensure you snare anything that bites.
• Now you see me … — In muddy water, Pickwick Lake guide Jimmy Mason finds Bandit’s Mistake series crankbaits beneficial.
With their side sporting different color patterns, these baits show bass alternating looks exaggerated by deflections off hard cover.
The simple logic is that when a bass suddenly spots a meal in murky water and that meal seems to disappear (alternating colors), it typically amps up aggression and pushes the bass to relocate that prey.
