How we go about lure fishing in dirty water
Lure Fishing For Bass in Dirty Water. First off, it depends on how dirty the water is for lure fishing. Coming from Kent (probably some of the worst clarity in the country), we really have to draw the line regarding fishing dirty water. Before we get into lures and tactics, stuff like that, I want to make a few things clear.
Can Bass Sea In Dirty Water?
Amazingly, this seems like a stupid question. However, the fishing never seems to be the same when the water is like mud. Incidentally, could this be down to our lures choice? Of course, the bass still hunts when the water is dirty, they must do so. They would starve around our way if they couldn’t. Fish have a sense of smell. We know this from sharks when fishermen use chum to attract them to their boats or wherever they’re fishing. Freshwater angler uses ground bait to attract fish to a certain area. But really, can you still see if the water is dirty to feed?
How DO fish feed in dirty water?
Firstly, I’m no marine biologist by any means. I have just done some research and put it into words because I am interested in it and DO NOT KNOW the answers.
Realistically, we all know that fish have an amazing vision in clear water; that’s how they spot our lures. Fish can see up to 100 feet, which sounds great, but how do scientists know? Besides, there are thousands upon thousands of different fish species in the ocean; they all must have different fields of vision.
Different vision
Our beloved fish have a different vision to the likes of us animal things that live on the dry land. This is because some light waves act differently in the water where our fish live. Some light like red and orange are taken in and absorbed in 30 feet of water.
However, the distance between blue and green is up to 200 feet. Therefore, a vast amount of deep-sea fish appeared red. Meaning they would look black. This would make them less visible to their prey or predators.
This is why there are not that many blue animals in the mid-water depths of the ocean because they would stand out like a sore thumb. Therefore, blue creatures would be visible because of the blue light that would reflect on their bodies.
In the visible spectrum, sunlight has all the colours. Out of all the light colours, red has the longest wavelength but the least energy in the visible spectrum. However, violet has the most energy at the other end of the scale to the colour red. The order is; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. So this means wavelength reduces from red to violet.
When the red to blue decreases, the ability of light also decreases to penetrate water. Interestingly enough, this must be why some headlights have a red light. Therefore the red light must be harder for our bass to see. Lol, I knew there must be a logical explanation for that somewhere. I have a red light on one of my headlights. Still, better keep your lights away from that water when fishing for bass. IMO.
Different lenses, although similar to the human eye
Fish’s eyes are quite similar to our own eyes in the way they are made up. However, the fish’s lenses are much more rounded and thicker than the likes of us human beings. What this means is that the fish’s more rounded lenses give them better peripheral vision. Fish have better vision in low light because they can focus light on their retinas because of the more rounded lens.
Interestingly enough, fish can not see very well in dirty water. For a fish, it’s a bit like us driving our car around in the thick fog. Ultimately, a fish’s vision is only a couple of inches in dirty water. Amazing right, how do they eat? Is this why lure fishing is so crap when the water is like mud. However, we still catch fish bait fishing on rod and line, so the answer must be down to scent. But surely crabs and fish don’t smell when they are alive, so there must be something else.
Fish have a unique way of dealing with ‘lack of light’, meaning they do not always rely on vision; they rely on their lateral line, sound and sense of smell. The lateral line can detect all sorts of activity in the water. For instance: pressure, vibration and movement.
What makes the water murky?
Some major factors determine the clarity of our water. Some of those factors are wind, rain, and algae; this also depends on what time of year it is. The winter months are in particular known for the dirty water all around the UK. However, around our way, Kent, it can be dirty nearly all the time. Conditions for clear water can be tales of two cities.
Great Conditions
When the condition seems pretty good, one side of the coast can have clear water. For example: If the wind is blowing in a northerly direction, the water is normally dirty around the north side of the coast. However, the water around the south side can be clearer. So ideally, the best wind for us would be a south-westerly or the wind blowing from the land out to sea.
Do lures work in dirty water?
Generally, I would say that reading through what I have researched; I would say it’s a definite no. Furthermore, in my experience, I haven’t had any success. But some will still argue this until they are blue in the face. Maybe lures that rattle may make a difference, but I can’t say they do because I haven’t had any luck. Incidentally, I had checked what people were saying on some of the forums, and they are adamant they catch on lures in dirty water.