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This
has certainly been the year of less than pristine-colored waters.
An unusually harsh
winter combined with both a colder-than-usual spring that also featured
near-record levels of precipitation combined to get the open water
angling season off to what many fishermen have
labeled one of the very most frustrating years in recent memory.
It seems as if something is fundamentally thrown in our faces to
be overcome every time we
get out to fish. Clearly, however, the frustration inherent of late
in the comments heard and the questions asked centers on how best
to deal with the varying degrees of stained, discolored,
or downright muddy water.
Here are some suggestions on how best to deal with this all-too-common
predicament:
CHANGE LOCALE
As a long time river lover, no one has to deal with off-colored
water more frequently than those
of us most often found walking along, boating or canoeing on our
favorite stream. However,
fact is, sometimes and often lately, the wiser man finally realizes
that it may be time to punt.
I feel most sorry for those anglers that restrict themselves either
mentally (simply refusing to
consider other venues) or physically (all-but-permanently docking
their boat at one specific
marina or location and/or refusing to even consider the most liberating
angling experience of
all-shore fishing-as now somehow beneath them).
As a personal example, this time of year is usually a primo time
for me to venture down to the
Cuyahoga River, which is conveniently near my home, to partake of
the excellent smallmouth
and largemouth sport. However, as many of you have no doubt noted,
many of our favorite
local streams, creeks, and rivers have been rendered tough as nails
to deal with, at least
much of this spring and summer.
So, knowing that deeper waters are better able to absorb the more
limited amount of sediment
directly incoming, while not having to further be very much sullied
by any further ongoing influx
from 'upstream', I'll opt for the Lake Erie alternative. Though
a more expensive outing, I know
the smallie opportunities at my Conneaut destination are excellent
this time of year, and the
ample series of harbor breakwalls there will inhibit all but the
severest wave action. This is not
to say that the aftermath of severe and/or ongoing blows doesn't
eventually wreak havoc at
Erie also, its just that by boat I can always seek out the other
side of any mudline.
It is to be noted that some anglers look for any excuse to go fishing,
whereas some anglers
look for any excuse not to.
CHANGE SPECIE
I'm not saying muddied waters always inhibit successful sportfishing.
I know some rather savvy
anglers that actually prefer it, their confidence tending to be
more adversley affected by clear
water, which they somewhat understandably view as making fish too
spooky. Personally, given
my druthers, I'd prefer a mix leaning more towards clarity, thereby
expanding my choices of
lure options.
One preferred way of dealing with low clarity is to switch species
to something a little more
active and less hampered by the situation - like the catfish, which
go on their most notable
extended frenzies just after a hot summer gully-washer, when the
influx of new food washed
into the habitat actually gives these scent-oriented battlers a
distinct advantage, albeit
temporary in daytime. Some of you more uppity walleye and bass chasers
may actually
enjoy yourselves, so please be careful.
CHANGE LURES
In a tournament situation, entrants must learn to adjust to at least
some degree, or fall by the
wayside. This being one of the plusses to tourney angling - having
to deal with adversity when
others can just sit home, thereby foregoing another important lesson
or two. Among my favorite
murky-water lures are black soft plastics, particularly 4"
plastic worms. Nothing maintains the
integrity of its shade in dirty waters like black. Should you doubt
this, the next time you're
confronted with such water, tie on a variety of colors and slowly
lower them down until out of
sight. It's a no-doubter.
Another major bass favorite during these times, particularly for
bass and pike, but also quite
effective for walleye, and even catfish, is the lipless crankbait,
like the Spot or Rat-L-Trap. Try
the chrome versions that will both reflect what little precious
light there is while simultaneously
appealing to the fish's sense of sound.
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