Muddy Water Patterns?

[Steve_A]

I tried hitting a local creek here (houston) this weekend...and after a solid week of pretty heavy tstorms the water was a bit high, and quite muddy.

I got a few looks early in the day, but ended up with nothing (except for a couple snakes i scared up), save the good soaking i got from a passing storm.

So anyone got some 'tried and true' smallmouth/panfish patterns / tactics for muddy water?

[dixieangler]

Have you tried using some bright patterns like yellow or green chartreuse, hot orange, white, and so on? Not to say that dark patterns won't work but I've had better luck (more bites) on brighter patterns in silty, dark, or stained water. Sounds like the water levels are up or in flood stage. Fish might have moved to other areas. I've had better luck on flooded creeks here in Florida along the edges or places where the water is slower rather than in the swift current. Please be careful when fishing swift flooded waters. Best of luck.


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Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL

"Flip a fly"

[Betty Hiner]

Steve_A,
Welcome to the Board!!
You may want to check on the flyanglers forum, down part way to a post on July 16, by LetortRun, titled muddy waters. Hans Weilenmann gave a great answer...and one probably not thought of often!
There's much offered on this board! You've found the best!!

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

[lee s]

Have you tried flies that are built to "push" water?
.....lee s.

[Rick Z]

I would use flies with alot of bulk. Also those with a spinner or blade on them.

Anything that will push water to help the fish locate the fly with their lateral line.

Rick

[James Smith]

I have the best luck with bass in stained/muddy water using dark or all black patterns. I find that the ligher colored patterns do not show up in the muddy water.

Jim Smith

[Steve_A]

Thanks for the responses.

I started the day using some foam/rubber legged critters (size 12...primary colors tried: yellow, black, chartreuse). After a bit, I added a dropper (pheasant tail, hares ear nymphs).

Later, working downstream, i tried an olive leach, black muddler dry, black muddler wet, wooly bugger in orange, chartreuse black and purple varieties.

Current was a little too fast to break out a poppers.

someone has to have the ultimate pattern