Fishing High Muddy Water

If I have learned anything about North Alabama in the winter I have realized that in the winter we get a lot of rain causing the lake to get really muddy; causing water to over-run many docks and putting TVA in a position where they spill most of the winter from one dam to another. The challenge is what you can do to overcome these natural occurrences so when you get on the water, it抯 safe and you find the fish.


Putting safety first the high water always moves into the banks and edges that have been out of water most of the year causing the banks to be overrun and pulling the debris that has settled on the bank to float out to the main lake. This can be a real problem as windy days with high water cause these big stumps and logs to float down the river and can really become a disaster for the average fisherman that is not really focused on the problem; I have seen the lower unit of many bass boats destroyed mine included from this problem. So fishermen should all be aware, be safe and understand this nice day of fishing can turn into a disaster.


One other thing that has always been true is that the lake may be muddy but somewhere there is mud lines and if you find the mud lines and fish the change from muddy to not so muddy areas you will find the fish. Many times this is easy the mud lines are very prevalent and sometimes they become difficult to find. When the muddy water is everywhere there is always change as you go down the depth ranges; you can detect the mud lines below with a temperature gauge. Generally speaking muddy water is warmer than clear water so you can detect the clearer area just by dropping a temperature gauge to some different depths to find the clearer water.


Lastly is fishing, as is the case bass are more active in the current than not, but the current being pulled at high rates change what the fish do; bass move to the shallow water when it抯 high water and move to the non-current side of structure like stumps below or as the case in Guntersville most of the year they move to the grass. Be safe fish where the fish are and don抰 let the elements deter you!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service