Are there any adjustments I should make if I’m fishing in stained water rather than clear water when Crappie fishing?

Of course there are different tactics to use in clear water versus stained water.  In clear water, you are probably trying to match the appearance of natural food items because the fish have clear visibility of the lure, and you’ll be using natural colors (smoke, gray, silver, or brown and green near vegetation or on the bottom).

With dark or stained water, you’ll have to switch gears completely.  Night fishing is not nearly as productive, since the crappie have low visibility without light penetration, which is already minimized by the murky waters.  Even fishing in early morning and late evening can make your task difficult, so if you are targeting stained waters, plan on mid-day success.

Instead of using natural colors, you’ll want to use bright and brilliant colors that will catch what little light there is and attract the fish.  Try chartreuse, hot pink, yellow, and other fluorescent colors or even sparklers to glint in the crappie’s eyes.

Another important tactic is vibration.  Since visibility will be more limited, the vibrations that imitate natural food are necessary to first interest your target.  Grubs, spinners, and jigs can all be great lures to create vibrations that will help the crappie forage through the darker waters.  Bottom bouncing and swimming your jigs will win you a nice catch for the day, although trolling may not be the best option, as your boat is likely to stir up more mud and silt, creating an even murkier environment.

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