Muddy water cats

[maj330]

I was wondering if extremely turbid or muddy water will affect cat behavior. I was thinking that an upriver dredging, spring melt, or storm runoff could cause silt levels to increase. Do they become less mobile if the water is full of silt or does it improve their ability catch and eat food?

[dudeofpurple]

I've been fishing the mississippi river for years,mostly on shore.We call it a barge bite,A barge will pass by and seconds later we get bit,It must stir things up and get bait fish moving,Got a 50# flathead catfish this way

[ChemE]

I was at the Harriet Island Marina last night. it looks like they are putting in a rip rap bank about where the old boat launch was. The current wasn't as fast as I thought it would be but the water was very silty. Didn't get any cats on cut fatheads but, oddly enough, caught a couple of 10-12 pound carp. Never caught carp on cut bait before. Not sure if any of these events correspond to cat feeding or not. I've also noticed more bites right after a barge passes by too.

[rushing]

Turbid water would affect bait fish which in turn would affect cats feeding but I doubt muddy waters have much effect on them. They feed at night in the muddy Minnesota. Doubt they can see much in those conditions. Cats rely more on their highly sensitive lateral line and thier smell/taste senses which makes them top of the food chain in just about any water they are in.