pre-spawn
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johnnie crain outdoors
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
Reddog,
My favorite lure for pre-spawn muddy water bass has to be a 3/8th ounce black skirted single spin spinnerbait with a large orange blade. I add a twin tail black grub to the spinnerbait hook, into the grub I insert a plastic rattle and soak the whole thing down with Fish Formula Crawfish. Pre-spawn bass in muddy water tend to move very close to the shoreline. Often the water at the shoreline edge is warmer and a little more clear if filtered by weeds or grass. I fish this bait very near the surface so it leaves a vee wake on top. The black and orange combination just seems to work very well in muddy water, having fished the Mississippi river for thirty years, I know about muddy water. A black on black jig and pig will also work, but I really like the added attraction of the vibration of the spinner blade and orange shows up even in very muddy water. I came up with this combination while fishing a muddy lake and saw some red winged blackbirds near the waters edge, a couple of fish swirled the water and attempted to catch these birds, so I built a look alike spinnerbait. Hope this helps. Good luck. Johnnie Crain, Iowa
My favorite lure for pre-spawn muddy water bass has to be a 3/8th ounce black skirted single spin spinnerbait with a large orange blade. I add a twin tail black grub to the spinnerbait hook, into the grub I insert a plastic rattle and soak the whole thing down with Fish Formula Crawfish. Pre-spawn bass in muddy water tend to move very close to the shoreline. Often the water at the shoreline edge is warmer and a little more clear if filtered by weeds or grass. I fish this bait very near the surface so it leaves a vee wake on top. The black and orange combination just seems to work very well in muddy water, having fished the Mississippi river for thirty years, I know about muddy water. A black on black jig and pig will also work, but I really like the added attraction of the vibration of the spinner blade and orange shows up even in very muddy water. I came up with this combination while fishing a muddy lake and saw some red winged blackbirds near the waters edge, a couple of fish swirled the water and attempted to catch these birds, so I built a look alike spinnerbait. Hope this helps. Good luck. Johnnie Crain, Iowa
Johnnie Crain
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BASSGUIDEPA
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
Reddog,
Whenever I am faced with pre-spawn, muddy waters, I will fish any visible cover until I can establish a pattern. My number one bait would be a 6 inch, green-pumpkinseed lizzard.
I may dye the tail a little chartruse. I would be flippin' or pitchin' the lizzard with an 1/8 oz or a 3/8oz slip weight. If no takers, I will use an over-sized tube (5 inches) in same color.
One other lure to consider is a Cordell Big O
in chart./yellow color. This lure dives around 5 feet and has a wide wobble to it.
Just remember one thing when fishing for pre-spawn bass,.........hold on because the big hawgs are out in full force.
Whenever I am faced with pre-spawn, muddy waters, I will fish any visible cover until I can establish a pattern. My number one bait would be a 6 inch, green-pumpkinseed lizzard.
I may dye the tail a little chartruse. I would be flippin' or pitchin' the lizzard with an 1/8 oz or a 3/8oz slip weight. If no takers, I will use an over-sized tube (5 inches) in same color.
One other lure to consider is a Cordell Big O
in chart./yellow color. This lure dives around 5 feet and has a wide wobble to it.
Just remember one thing when fishing for pre-spawn bass,.........hold on because the big hawgs are out in full force.
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britchie
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
Depends on how long the water has been muddy and if the fish are use to the muddy water.
Usually after a few days of muddy water the fish will get use to it and the first few feet of water off the bank will start to clear quicker.
I'll key on this if the water temp is 55 or warmer.
Muddy water warms faster and if you have some sunshine the fish will be in 2 feet or less.
As far as baits:
Buzzbait on the flats and a black and chartreuse tube or jig and pig when pitchin to visible cover in the slightly cleaner water next to the bank.
Had this very scenario today in a club tourney.
Finished 2nd with 9.16 lbs, a little over a pound out of first.
Lost 3 fish, 1 around 4 another probably over 7 and a 1 around 1 1/2 lbs.
Four fish came on a black and chartreuse 4in tube, texas rigged with a bleeding bait hook and one fish came on a white and chartreuse buzzbait.
Air temp around 40, water temp at 55 to 57.
The fish came from the back third of a small feeder creek of the main lake.
Hope this helps some of you guys out.
Fish Smart.
Usually after a few days of muddy water the fish will get use to it and the first few feet of water off the bank will start to clear quicker.
I'll key on this if the water temp is 55 or warmer.
Muddy water warms faster and if you have some sunshine the fish will be in 2 feet or less.
As far as baits:
Buzzbait on the flats and a black and chartreuse tube or jig and pig when pitchin to visible cover in the slightly cleaner water next to the bank.
Had this very scenario today in a club tourney.
Finished 2nd with 9.16 lbs, a little over a pound out of first.
Lost 3 fish, 1 around 4 another probably over 7 and a 1 around 1 1/2 lbs.
Four fish came on a black and chartreuse 4in tube, texas rigged with a bleeding bait hook and one fish came on a white and chartreuse buzzbait.
Air temp around 40, water temp at 55 to 57.
The fish came from the back third of a small feeder creek of the main lake.
Hope this helps some of you guys out.
Fish Smart.
Brian Ritchie : Bassin' USA Prostaff : Kentucky
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dansfishntales
- Posts: 248
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
I knew Johnnie was going to pop up with that black thing that has the orange blades. However, he has had some success with the ugly thing.
My choice has been a chartreuse/white or chartreuse/lime skirted spinnerbait, with gold blades. I'll use this in whatever size is needed, usually 1/8 to 3/8 ounces. I use the tandem blades, with will slow roll it, being sure to bump the wood cover.
I don't always use a trailer, but if one is used it will be a Mann's twin tail, or some sort of big curl tail grub. First choice of color is white. Another trailer, with which I've had good success, is a purple pork frog, mainly combined with the chartreuse/lime skirted lure. OK Johnnie, now I have an ugly one, or maybe not, however a person looks at it. This bait pulled me out during a TV show for Midwest Outdoors a few years ago during a pre-spawn time on the Mississippi River.
Johnnie and I do a lot of murky/muddy water fishing in our area since we have the Mississippi River. In our part of the Mississippi, if you can see a foot down you are in clear water.
Dan
My choice has been a chartreuse/white or chartreuse/lime skirted spinnerbait, with gold blades. I'll use this in whatever size is needed, usually 1/8 to 3/8 ounces. I use the tandem blades, with will slow roll it, being sure to bump the wood cover.
I don't always use a trailer, but if one is used it will be a Mann's twin tail, or some sort of big curl tail grub. First choice of color is white. Another trailer, with which I've had good success, is a purple pork frog, mainly combined with the chartreuse/lime skirted lure. OK Johnnie, now I have an ugly one, or maybe not, however a person looks at it. This bait pulled me out during a TV show for Midwest Outdoors a few years ago during a pre-spawn time on the Mississippi River.
Johnnie and I do a lot of murky/muddy water fishing in our area since we have the Mississippi River. In our part of the Mississippi, if you can see a foot down you are in clear water.
Dan
Dan Galusha : Bassin' USA Prostaff : Illinois
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johnnie crain outdoors
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
Hey Dan, speaking of UGLY, you have one of the ugliest crankbaits I've ever seen, but it sure catches fish. We had some good times watching that old bait perform. Johnnie. :rolleyes:
Johnnie Crain
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dansfishntales
- Posts: 248
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2002 5:00 pm
pre-spawn
Johnnie,
Now that you brought up my little ugly secret, perhaps I should share it with the rest of the folks on here.
The lure is a Norman Deep Tiny N in dark green with black tiger stripes. This is an 1/8 ounce size. Because of the small size you have to play fish a bit easier. However, although I lost a good one in a tournament, it did help me win the event. Every fish I caught during pre-fish time, and during the tournament was caught on this lure. The location was the muddy Mississippi River back waters, and I was using a 5' Skyline rod with a Ryobi VMag 3 reel. Not only will it be almost impossible to find a lure like this, but the remaining items will be equally difficult.
I've still got a few of the lures remaining, but for some reason, even when the fish are hitting them, Johnnie won't except the offer to borrow one. Oh well, he still does great with his little grey painted Wiggle Wart.
Dan
Now that you brought up my little ugly secret, perhaps I should share it with the rest of the folks on here.
The lure is a Norman Deep Tiny N in dark green with black tiger stripes. This is an 1/8 ounce size. Because of the small size you have to play fish a bit easier. However, although I lost a good one in a tournament, it did help me win the event. Every fish I caught during pre-fish time, and during the tournament was caught on this lure. The location was the muddy Mississippi River back waters, and I was using a 5' Skyline rod with a Ryobi VMag 3 reel. Not only will it be almost impossible to find a lure like this, but the remaining items will be equally difficult.
I've still got a few of the lures remaining, but for some reason, even when the fish are hitting them, Johnnie won't except the offer to borrow one. Oh well, he still does great with his little grey painted Wiggle Wart.
Dan
Dan Galusha : Bassin' USA Prostaff : Illinois