Bass Fishing After a Hurricane

There appears to be a general consensus that bass fishing will slow significantly for the first few days after a hurricane comes through an area. However, it then usually starts picking back up a little bit each day as the muddy water begins to dissipate, thus allowing the fish to better locate baits. After all, the fish still are there, and they still need to feed.

How fish adapt to the changed conditions, according to a bass guide I read about, "will depend on the usual clarity on the body of water before the storm. If it was clear, fish may have a tough time adjusting because they aren't used to hunting with senses such as sound and their lateral line. On the other hand, if the water clarity already was murky before the storm, they may not be affected much at all. With the water temperatures likely dropping from the rain, the fish should become more active after things calm down, and many may even start schooling, even in muddy water."

"So how do I fish and tackle the challenges laid before me from a storm?" you may be asking.

According to the guide, "The first thing you do is to look for the least muddy water possible that the fish were holding in before the storm. Those fish will be able to find your baits easier.

"With muddy water, the fish will move shallow and will hold very tight to cover. Think of it as if you were in a room, and the lights are turned off. You're going to feel around for walls and stay close to them, so you know where you're at. Similarly, the bass will move shallow where they can see the bottom and surface, while simultaneously holding tight to cover where possible.

"Higher water levels also will make bass move shallow, and the lower water temperatures will increase bass activity only after the water clarity improves. In most cases, the muddy water should last no more than about a week.

"Once you find an area where you believe there may be bass," noted the guide, "work baits that are big, give off a lot of vibration, and displace a lot of water. Use colors that are easier for bass to see in muddy water, such as a chartreuse or black/blue Colorado-bladed spinnerbait, a dark colored Rat-L-Trap, a chartreuse or black/blue chatterbait, or for topwater, something like a prop bait. Work these lures slowly and as close to cover as you can get, so the bass have a chance to find and hit them.

"Another great bait," said the guide, "is a bulky jig in black/blue, pitched or flipped tight to cover, such as wood, weeds, grass, or bushes. Attach a bulky trailer with big water-catching appendages to slow the fall, and give it a few small subtle twitches after it hits bottom to give the fish a chance to strike."

It's entirely possible we could escape any effects whatsoever from Hurricane Dorian, but in the event we don't, perhaps this guide's advice will help you catch a few more fish than you might otherwise. To borrow his words, "Bass wishes!"