Entry 70-3

Mark Rose On Fishing Specific Types Of Weather

Muddy Water Fishing

Editor's Note: Thirty-one-year-old Mark Rose of Marion, Arkansas, fishes professionally, but in the past, he's worked as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America's national office. This week Rose shares with us how he succeeds in situations where other fishermen are ready to pull in their rods.

Question: How do you approach a lake the day after it has rained, and the lake is muddy?

Rose: If the lake frequently gets muddy, the bass are accustomed to it, and I’ll simply fish lures with louder colors. If you’re throwing a spinner bait, use white-and-chartreuse or bigger blades. If you’re throwing a jig, throw something dark that the bass can see well. However, if the lake is typically clear and there is some farm water or irrigation water running into the lake that is muddy, stay away from those extremely muddy regions. If you have to fish in those conditions, slow down, and downsize your baits. And, if you can, leave the area.

Question: What if you’re fishing a tournament and the fish shut off. How do you find the fish again?

Rose: You have to think about why the bass have shut off. Is it the weather, the water or the atmospheric conditions? If the bass just simply don’t want to feed there, continue to fish but change areas. If you have confidence in the area, come back later because bass are like any other animals in that they’ll feed according to the moon phase and the major feeding periods. Another reason bass may not feed is because of a tidal situation, and they’re not aggressive because of an incoming tide. If you know there are fish there, stay with them. Some people say downsize, but if you know fish are there you may want to upsize and use louder colors to shock the bass into biting. Also, quickly and aggressively bringing a bait by the bass can trigger a reaction strike.

Next: "My Lure Went Out on Me"

Contents:

• Part 1: Cloudy Day Fishing
• Part 2: Cold Front Fishing
• Part 3: Muddy Water Fishing
• Part 4: "My Lure Went Out on Me"
• Part 5: Wind and Choppy Water: Negative or Positive?