Clear or murky water?

[waligators]

What do you guys prefer?

1. Crystal clear water so you can see to the bottom?

2. Murky but still able to see around 3-4 feet?

3. Or so dirty you can only see you lure about a foot in the water?

[Matt Johnson]

Good topic!

I would probably choose number 2.

Very clear water can be tough to fish because you generally have to fish deeper and mostly during the twilight and after dark hours. Fish also have a tendency to be more "spooked" in clearer lakes as well.

Really dark lakes can have their moments, but you have to rely more on sense of vibration and noise rather then appeal and other triggering senses. Although fish are active and easier to catch throughout the day and in the shallows.

The water clarity that's smack dab in the middle kind of incorporates a little of both. You have your outstanding twilight bites, but you can also have consistant success during the hours when the sun is high as well as when it's dark. Some of these lakes also see a nice span of weed growth and can produce a wide variety of species. You can also get away with being not so color orientated and you can expect more reaction strikes then you would when fishing clear lakes. A good majority of the lakes I fish fall into category 2.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm going to go with ~Whatever~ I think whats most important is that you modify your fishing to the conditions. In murky water you will probably have to use larger lures and lures that have more action... In ultra clear water I think its really important to downsize your lure and even more important to downsize your line and maybe use a florocarbon line that has similar reflective qualities as water. Personally I would say that most of my fishing is done in clear to slightly stained. Just because most of the lakes in my area are like that.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'd say #2 is mostly what I fish. One of the lakes near my house is crystal clear, especially on the north side. It's a real good walleye and perch lake, but they are difficult to catch early ice with no snow cover. You can see the fish under the ice and if you shift in your chair, cough, whatever, they scatter.

[Bob Horn]

I`d say #2 if I could pick. I have fished gin clear lakes and done good but prefer to fish a little murky water. On murkier lakes the fish seem a little less(depends on the lake) spooky.