Bass Fishing in Muddy Water? Throw These Lures & Colors

Written by Aaron Warner in Bass

There are a lot of bass fishing anglers out there that dread fishing in muddy water. They lose their confidence and are unsure what to do when water rises and turns muddy. They often struggle to catch fish and don’t understand what lures and colors they should be using in these conditions.

So what is the best color of lure to use in muddy water? When fishing in muddy water you want to use colors that have a bold profile in dark water. The best muddy water colors are black & blue, white, chartreuse, red and junebug.

In this post I’ll share with you the best muddy water bass fishing lures and the key colors to use, as well as some tips and tricks that will help you catch more bass in stained and muddy water conditions.

Let’s get going.

Best Muddy Water Bass Fishing Colors

One of the key component to any good bass fishing presentation is its lure and bait color. When fishing in muddy water you want to have lures and soft plastic baits that stand out and allow the bass to easily track down your lure.

Here is a list of the best color of baits and lures to use when fishing in muddy water:

Black & Blue

Black and blue is one of my all-time favorite color combinations to use in muddy water. The darker the lure color the better, as they tend to stand out in water that has low visibility. Black and blue is a very popular and effective muddy water color and is a great option for soft plastics, top water lures, spinnerbait and chatterbaits.  

Red/Orange

Orange and red are also big time colors in water that has low visibility. In fact, the red/orange front spinnerbait blade has taken the bass fishing industry by storm and has been highly productive in off colored water. Red and orange is simply more visible and provides bass with a target in dingy water. Red or orange colors work great for crankbaits, blade colors and on other lures and baits.

White

Another great color you should be using in muddy water conditions is white. White stands out well in muddy and stained water and is a color that bass are used to seeing in many of their forage. White spinnerbaits, crankbaits and chatterbaits can all be big time producers in muddy water.

Chartreuse

Chartreuse is another popular and effective bass fishing color in water that has low visibility. This bright color stands out in muddy water and makes it easier for the bass to find your lure. Chartreuse works well as a stand-alone color or when paired with white and other colors.

Junebug

Junebug is another dark color that excels in stained and muddy water. I have had a lot of great success with this color especially in the summer months and it can also be effective in clear water as well. If you are fishing soft plastics, in muddy water than the junebug color is a great choice.

Now that we have discussed some of the best colors to use for bass in muddy water, let’s talk about the best lures and baits to use.

Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.

Best Muddy Water Bass Fishing Lures

Bass love muddy water and it can be advantageous to us as anglers as well. In a lot of cases muddy water is often caused by rising water which often means more food available, which in turn makes the bass more aggressive and easier to catch.

The key to having success in these conditions is throwing lures and baits that stand out and will be able to draw the bass in. Sound and color should play a huge role in your lure selection.

You want to fish with lures that have some sound to them and stand out in the dark water making it easier for the bass to locate and strike your lure.  

I have compiled the following list of some of the best bass fishing lures to use when fishing in stained and muddy water. All of these lures are proven producers and will help you catch a ton of fish when you are faced with muddy water conditions.

Spinnerbait

There probably isn’t a better lure for muddy water than the spinnerbait. A spinnerbait is one of the most versatile bass fishing lures out there. You can fish a 1/8-ounce in shallow muddy water or out deep with a 2 ounce.

An Important aspect of the spinnerbait is its two blades. When fishing in muddy water most anglers prefer to throw a spinnerbait that has Colorado blades as they produce more vibration, but I have also found willow blades to work just as well.

Adding a bright accent color like red or orange on the top blade can be super effective way to give the bass a better target in water with low visibility.

Overall the spinnerbait is a phenomenal bass fishing lure that can do some damage in muddy water. It’s extremely versatile and is worth a shot when you are faced with stained or muddy water.

Chatterbait

Chatterbaits or bladed jigs are another versatile moving lure that can be fish just about anywhere. Much like a spinnerbait they put off a ton of vibration and allow you to cover water quickly and pick off aggressive fish.

This lure is at its best when the bass are active and in shallow water. I prefer to use the chatterbait when I am fishing in grass, wood, on docks and shell beds.

In most cases I stick with 1/2 oz. weight. I feel like this size gives you the most versatility, but you can always go up and down from there based on how and what areas you are fishing.  

The best chatterbait colors in muddy water in my opinion is either black & blue or white & chartreuse. The dark and bright colors give the bass a target and allows them to locate you lure more easily.

A chatterbait is an extremely popular and effective bass fishing lure that can be deadly in shallow muddy water. The next time you are faced with muddy conditions give this lure a shot it won’t’ disappoint.

Crankbaits

Another great power fishing technique to use in muddy water are crankbaits. There are a ton of different styles, colors, sizes, shapes and sounds out there. No matter what style you choose you’ll want a crankbait that has a lot of sound to it and a color that can stand out in water with low visibility.

Often times in muddy water I find myself fishing shallow. One of the best shallow water crankbaits without a doubt is the squarebill. It’s ideal for deflecting off cover and triggering any nearby bass into striking with its erratic movement.

If you are fishing in deep water then a lipless, medium or deep diving crankbait would be the better option. They will allow you to cover a lot of water and get down deep to where the fish are sitting at.

Here are some of my crankbaits to fish in muddy water:

Texas Rig

If moving baits aren’t getting the job done, then a Texas Rig is a great option. The Texas Rig is a common and effective bass fishing technique used to fish soft plastic styled baits.

This technique is weed-less meaning you can fish it in heavy cover and not get hung up. Allowing you to pick apart structure and pull fish out of any situation.

One of the critical components of the Texas Rig is the soft plastic bait and color. When you are fishing in muddy water you’ll want to fish with dark colors and use big soft plastic baits. A bigger size and dark colors will make it easier for the bass to find your presentation.

My favorite soft plastic color when fishing in muddy water is black and blue and junebug. I have a ton of confidence in these two colors but there are a lot of others that can work well.

For more detailed information about fishing a Texas Rig check out this guide: The Texas Rig: Rigging, Baits, and Tips to Catch More Bass

Jigs

When the spinnerbaits and crankbaits aren’t producing try throwing a jig. A jig is a great alternative to for bass in muddy water and can catch you some big fish.

A black and blue jig is one of my all-time favorite bass fishing lures. I’ll adjust the type of jig by the kind of structure that I am fishing. If I am fishing in heavy vegetation than I’ll turn to a flipping jig. On the other hand, when I am fishing in open water with rocks I’ll turn to a football head jig or to more of a finesse jig.

Jigs are a big bass catcher and are excellent for catching bass in muddy water. Give the jig a shot you’ll gain confidence with this lure really quick.

Now that we have gone over the best colors and lures to use when bass fishing in muddy water, let’s discuss some tips that will help you catch more bass.

Dirty Water Bass Fishing Strategies

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you catch more bass in muddy water conditions:

Make Multiple Casts – When you are fishing in prime areas and especially when fishing in heavy cover and structure be sure to make multiple casts at the same spot. A lot of times you’ll catch your fish on the 2nd or 3rd cast.

Fish Shallow – In most cases bass will push cover and head to the shallowest parts of the lake or reservoir when the water becomes muddy. When the water rises there becomes more food available making bass more aggressive. Fish shallow in muddy water and you will do well.

Use a Rattle – Adding a rattle to your jigs, Texas rigs and other baits can make a big difference in your overall success. The extra sound will draw in more bass and get you more bites. Also when fishing crankbaits make sure you fish ones that have a nice rattle and sound to them.

Fish Thick Cover – When bass are in muddy water they tend to hang tight to cover. The best spot to pitch or flip your bait is right in the middle of all of the cover. The nastier the better.

Use Bright or Dark Colors – In water with low visibility it is in your best interest to use colors that bass can pick up more easily. For that reason, bright colors such as white and chartreuse as well as dark colors like black and blue are a must when fishing in these conditions.

Upsize Lure Size – Another helpful tip you need to try when fishing in muddy water is upsizing your bait and lure size. A larger profile will be easier for the bass to detect and will increase your chances at catching more fish. Upsize your baits and you’ll get more bites.

Other Bass Fishing Resources

Final Thoughts

A lot of anglers lose their confidence and have a hard time navigating and catching bass in muddy water conditions. They struggle to find and catch fish and are unsure what the right colors and lures to use.

However, now that you have read this bass fishing in muddy water guide you now understand the key lures, colors and strategies to use when you are faced with low water visibility situations.

Tight Lines!

Aaron

Aaron Warner

Aaron Warner is an avid angler with over 15 years of experience. He has participated and won fishing tournaments all over the country and enjoys fishing for bass, trout, walleye and other species.

Recent Posts