How To Grade Water Clarity

[TroutSupport.com]

Yes, as far as visibility and communicating with other fisherman go the 'how far down' can I see my lure is about all we need to do.

I caught some trout one day down in Baffin with winds blowing 30 with gusts to 40... the color change was muddy brown on the edge of muddy black mud. Seeing down into the water as compared to up and or across the water column can be much different. What we consider 'gin clear' where we can see clear water in all directions and can seemingly see the bottom in marsh ponds, may only be a foot to 2ft lateral water clarity for the fish. However when there is only a 4-6 inch clarity from above, fish can see a silhouette a good bit below that.

"we forget that trout and reds eat day in and day out, on windy, turbid (aka muddy) water days, eating almost silent, nearly transparent baitfish and shrimp...even sometimes in the black of night" -troutsupport

[jl8200]

Originally Posted by TroutSupport.com

Yes, as far as visibility and communicating with other fisherman go the 'how far down' can I see my lure is about all we need to do.

I caught some trout one day down in Baffin with winds blowing 30 with gusts to 40... the color change was muddy brown on the edge of muddy black mud. Seeing down into the water as compared to up and or across the water column can be much different. What we consider 'gin clear' where we can see clear water in all directions and can seemingly see the bottom in marsh ponds, may only be a foot to 2ft lateral water clarity for the fish. However when there is only a 4-6 inch clarity from above, fish can see a silhouette a good bit below that.

"we forget that trout and reds eat day in and day out, on windy, turbid (aka muddy) water days, eating almost silent, nearly transparent baitfish and shrimp...even sometimes in the black of night" -troutsupport

So would you still say that bait color plays a fairly large role according to water and cloud conditions or are you saying that it doesn't matter a whole lot?

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by jl8200

So would you still say that bait color plays a fairly large role according to water and cloud conditions or are you saying that it doesn't matter a whole lot?

IMO not always specific colors but dark vs light, clear vs opaque, flake vs no flake

[meaux fishing]

check out this link for bait color selection
http://www.texastacklefactory.com/in...d=5&Itemid=111

[TroutSupport.com]

Originally Posted by meaux fishing

IMO not always specific colors but dark vs light, clear vs opaque, flake vs no flake

I agree with Meaux, it's more a light vs dark. Most fish did not get the memo that said color was important. That said, if you find some colors that you have confidence in stick with that. Fishing confidently and precisely will catch fish over switching colors and wondering wonder color they are eating.

last year I fished the Arroyo area in lower laguna... ha, yes, not LA, but it was windy and MUDDY like a lot of LA. Dark skies too. We caught most of our fish on a Rootbeer color and as it was getting darker we ran out and all I had was pearl and clear glitter. We caught fish on both of those too. clear glitter in muddy (highly turbid) water with clouds and sun hitting horizon and getting darker...

I like to have 2 lights and 2 darks with me that I have confidence in. More important to locate fish and be casting in fish.
t

[jl8200]

Originally Posted by TroutSupport.com

I agree with Meaux, it's more a light vs dark. Most fish did not get the memo that said color was important. That said, if you find some colors that you have confidence in stick with that. Fishing confidently and precisely will catch fish over switching colors and wondering wonder color they are eating.

last year I fished the Arroyo area in lower laguna... ha, yes, not LA, but it was windy and MUDDY like a lot of LA. Dark skies too. We caught most of our fish on a Rootbeer color and as it was getting darker we ran out and all I had was pearl and clear glitter. We caught fish on both of those too. clear glitter in muddy (highly turbid) water with clouds and sun hitting horizon and getting darker...

I like to have 2 lights and 2 darks with me that I have confidence in. More important to locate fish and be casting in fish.



t

Thanks for the information guys. I'm glad to hear that color selection doesn't have to be so complicated.