What colors to use in dirty water. In the Camp Barstow area of the Little River.

Ok, I live three tenths of a mile from the ramp at Camp Barstow on Lake Murray. I have been waiting for the water to clear up a bit to go try and catch a Crappie. Every time it get close it rains and we are back to muddy water, so I guess that I am going to have to get used to it. What colors do you guys like in jigs this time of year in muddy water and do you tip the jigs with tuffies? I am trying to catch some fish long lining jigs and it hasn't worked out so good yet. Another question is what speed to do troll this time of year. Thanks in advance for any input.

I like to use orange and red heads in muddy water but as far as body/tail colors it will surprise you at the colors that may work. I have had good luck from any color you can think of from white to black and all between. You really just have to try different color jigs until you find the color range they want for the day. I would start using black/chart, chart/white, white/chart, black/black, blue/chart & red/yellow. All these are colors that I know will catch fish in muddy water and they are others I have caught fish on in muddy water but this is a good starting point. As you can see it is a big color range, but you did ask :)

Ronnie mentioned all good colors. I tend to stick with black/chart, blue/chart, green/black/chart, blue/black/chart, red/black/chart. And of course...there's ALWAYS an Electric Chicken out there.:) For wintertime I'd stick around .8 mph and fish my jigs from @ 8'-13' deep depending on where the depth finder says the fish are at. Dont lock up in one area just because youre seeing fish on the graph if they aint biting. Keep moving looking for biting fish.

For wintertime I'd stick around .8 mph and fish my jigs from @ 8'-13' deep depending on where the depth finder says the fish are at. Dont lock up in one area just because youre seeing fish on the graph if they aint biting. Keep moving looking for biting fish

Bowman is right:
I believe the color's matter more to the fisherman than the fish. What I mean is you have to make sure there are fish where you are fishing and then they have to want to bite, I don't put out a rod unless I see fish on the Depth finder, it may not be crappie but I know there fish there. You do this by graphing all over the creek before setting out your poles, after cruising around the creek once I see fish holding at a certain depth (grouped up or scatter but see multiple marks then I start pulling). Another thing is to have a idea how deep you are fishing with the jigs I believe speed is more for the depth of our bait than the lure, the lure has to work (action right) but I've used curly tails and caught fish running .5 up to 1.5 depending on where they are in the water column, in the same depth say 25', the fish are just scattered up and down the water column. In muddy water most time the more action the tail has the more the fish seem to hit it I mainly stick with thumper tails or triple tail jigs in muddy water; but sliders will work also, this time of year I tip most if not all my jigs I'm pulling.

Any color will catch fish in muddy water. What depth the fish are at and getting the lure to them is the important part. If fish are below 12 to 15 foot pull 1/8 jigs and if deeper add split shot to go deeper. The fish do not quit feeding when the water gets muddy they are still active. Do not just fish the Boy Scout area follow the river all the way from clouds creek to the next bridge. Those areas are just as good. Don

You are fishing in Derek's(CrappieBuster) back yard. Maybe he can offer more advice, but check his post for how he fishes. I know he single pole jigs a lot, but he also fishes other methods.

I grew up on Wateree and it's basically always muddy. I like darker solid colors, but also think contrast is important. So maybe a pink, orange, or chartreuse head, then chartreuse, black, pink, browns, orange bodies. Tail color I usually wind up with chartreuse anyway. :biggrin

I avoid transparent blues, clears, even chartreuse in favor of a solid color.

A lot of the time I don't mind an unpainted head but I do like bright, contrasting colors in mud.

But it's a crappie and when you think you know what they want they'll go bite that ugly jig that you've never fished that your kid had on last trip and nothing else.

Find the fish, and you'll catch them!

Thanks for all of the good advice it is windy as all get out up here now. As soon as we get a decent day I'll go give it another try, I know that there is a learning curve and I appreciate the head start.

I think everyone's summed it pretty good. SeaRay is right! That's my neck of the woods for sure. We have a place on up the river above you. I've fished just about all the lakes in SC and we have some great fisheries, but I'm more at home from Big Mans to as far as I can get a boat up in the rivers!

To me, I like black/chart., black/blue, pinks, oranges, and reds in muddy water. I too stick with opaque colors in the mud. The fish will bite, but you have to nail down the depth and speed they want it. Long lining is great way to catch lots of fish and big ones and there's times where it'll out produce any other method out there. But, it is a science with speed and depth control. I prefer to tightline or push out the front because I am more confident in that method. I know exactly how deep my baits are running and I can add weight and troll with more speed it they want it moving. Like I said, trolling is def. a great method to catch them but if you're struggling and looking to try something else try tightlining.

And don't rule out that jig pole ;)