Cold Water Jerks
Going Super Shallow
Protecting Your Boat
Rippin' Lipless Crankbaits and Buzzin' in January?
Ledge Fishing
Spinnerbaits are known for being excellent lures in stained and muddy water, but they are also excellent lures for clear water if you know which bait to choose and how to fish it.
Several things help you catch fish in clear water -- speed, action, color and weather conditions. Assuming the water is warm 55+ you want to have a fast erratic retrieve with a natural looking bait presented above the fish. You don't want the fish to get a good look at the bait. By using a realistic heads and skirts, you can minimize the risk of the bass turning away.
You can achieve speed two ways -- smaller blades or heavier weight. Try varying your retrieve and give it twitches with the rod, also bang it into the cover you're fishing anything to generate a reaction from the bass. Use translucent colors with double or triple willow blades. One trick to try is to remove strands (significant amounts) from the skirt to make it harder to see for the fish. Removing strands also reduces resistance which allows you to reel it faster. In nasty weather -- wind and rain -- you can get by with more visible colors like white and a slightly slower retrieve. The whole key in clear water is to not let the fish have time to make a decision -- you need to get a reaction bite.
