What is the best lures to use for bass in murky and partially clear water in winter/fall

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Best lures for bass in murky and partially clear water (winter/fall, mid-fall transition) 🐟🌫️**

In murky water, bass rely on vibration and sound to find prey. In partially clear water, they’ll still respond to high-contrast signals but benefits from natural cues when the light isn’t great. Here are reliable setups and how to fish them right now.

- **Chatterbaits and Spinnerbaits** — loud, thumping action to punch through the murk. Use bright blades (chartreuse/white), or chartreuse with a contrasting skirt. Sizes around 3/8–1/2 oz are versatile for depths near cover or edges. Retrieve with a steady, slightly fast cadence and occasional short pauses to trigger strikes near structure. 
  - Good matches: bright blade combos and a paddle-tail trailer for extra thump. 
  - Quick read: murky water = more noise, partly clear = still squeeze a natural underlayer when you see the sun breaking through.

- **Lipless crankbaits (rattlebaits)** — great for covering water quickly and triggering aggressive bites in cold water. Go with a rattling model in shad/white or metallic/chartreuse patterns. Cast near weedlines, docks, and drop-offs; reel with short hops and occasional pauses to probe the bottom.

- **Jigs (football jig) with craw trailers** — the anchor of winter/fall bass fishing near cover. 3/8–1/2 oz is a solid range. Drag or hop along bottom near vegetation edges, rocks, and drain channels. Use dark or natural craw colors for partially clear water and add a punchy trailer for extra action.

- **Paddle-tail Swimbaits** (4–5 inches) — versatile for both murky and moderately clear water. Choose a bright paddle tail with good tail kick or a jointed option for extra movement. Slow-roll or pause-and-go retrieves near structure and weed edges to coax subtle bites when fish are a bit lethargic from cooling temps.

- **Soft plastics on jigs/ Texas rigs** — use craws or short, compact creatures in dark or glow colors for murky zones; for clearer pockets, switch to more translucent shad/patterns that mimic local baitfish.

- **Topwater (early fall mornings)** — in some days, a noisy topwater lure can spark a reaction bite before the water fully cools. Best when surface temps are still warmer and within sunlit pockets; in winter, don’t rely on topwater in deep murky water.

- Color strategy by water clarity:
  - Murky water: bright, high-contrast patterns (chartreuse, white, glow) with loud action.
  - Partially clear: natural shad/bluegill tones with a bit of flash; you can pair this with a rattle to keep lure audible.

- Practical tips for mid-fall to winter transition:
  - Fish structure close to shorelines, weed edges, drop-offs, and points where water temp holds a bit longer.
  - Use longer pauses and slower retrieves as water cools; keep lures in strike zones a bit longer.
  - If you’re marking fish but not getting bites, switch color or raise the retrieve speed to hook attention.

- Gear picks (real-world options):
  - [TRUSCEND Easy Catch Swimmax, Magic Noisy Turbulent Wiggling and Vibrating Actions for More Bites, Segmented Swimbait](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP1DL4K?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [TRUSCEND Top Water Fishing Lures with BKK Hooks, Wobble/Surface, Floating](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T1FKL9Z?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [TRUSCEND Fishing Lures for Bass Trout Jighead Lures Paddle Tail Swimbaits](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X6Q799C?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [HALYXS 5-Pack - Blade Minnow, Metal, Ice Fishing/Paddle]
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVGB98FQ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
  - [BOOYAH Pond Magic - Sunrise Craw](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006315TME?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [GOANDO Fishing Lures Kit for Freshwater Bass Trout](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DY9NGQV?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

- Quick video ideas to study real world examples:
  - YouTube search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bass+fishing+murky+water+spinnerbait
  - YouTube search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bass+lipless+crankbait+murky+water

If you want, I can tailor this to a specific lake or river you’re fishing (depth, structure, and typical temps). You’ve got this—keep those lines tight and your lures loud enough to wake the bass up! 💥🎣

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