Clear Water and Winter Fishing

If you抮e a brave soul and get out on the water a lot during the cold of winter you are greeted by what seems to be the devil of winter fisherman that being clear water. In most cases the water clears quickly in the winter even after strong winter rains, I am sure there is a scientific reason for it but no matter the fact remains you have to be able to overcome this winter obstacle.


I believe that the clear water can be your friend you just have to understand the dynamics and positives and use them to pick your places to fish. First of all let抯 make sure we are rigged correctly to fish clear water; I like using Vicious fluorocarbon line in the winter, it blends into the clear water very well and is a great line for fishing crank baits or shakey heads as it is strong enough to put that big bite in the boat. Secondly what-ever your bait, fishing subtle colors like whites, or root beers or just shad type shades are some of the keys to working your bait in the clear water.


Let抯 also not forget that clear water helps the sun warm the water especially around docks, rip-rap, lay downs or deep structure; so choosing an area to fish that can be used as a warming blanket that attracts fish and helps you find that big winter bag. It is also a fact that bass are very lethargic during the winter and many times that clear water helps you put your bait exactly where you need for it to be to get bit, as proximity to structure and accuracy can be a key to winter fishing. The pure fact that fish don抰 like the bright sun in clear water can actually help you find fish as many times the shady part of structure especially deep structure allows you to eliminate some of the angles that you have to use when the water is more stained.


The key is not to let the clear water intimidate you during the winter, take what the good lord has given you and make it work for you by lure choices, presentations and fish the areas that make sense to fish in these clear water conditions.