Bass move tight to shallow cover when Bayou State lakes turn muddy in January. Photo by Chris Ginn.

Our first reaction when the power goes off in our homes at night is to feel blindly for something familiar. Whether it's the closest wall, the bedroom dresser or a kitchen counter, getting next to something provides some sense of comfort, and it allows us to get our bearings. From that point, we can pretty much get around our homes by taking small steps and feeling with our hands.

The same thing happens to largemouth bass when a lake gets muddy. January floodwaters often muddy the water so much that bass must feel as if somebody turned out the lights. Their first reaction is to get next to something familiar.

An old bass fishing adage says that when the water is really muddy, you've got to put your bait between the bark and the tree trunk if you want to get bit. There's a lot of wisdom in that saying, because when it's really muddy, bass often get so close to wood cover that their noses are literally pressed against it. The only thing that they're going to bite is something that hits them on the nose.

Don't let the potential for a tough bite scare you away from the lake when it's muddy, though. Because of their proximity to heavy wood cover, bass can actually be easier to catch in muddy water. Here are a few Louisiana lakes that can get pretty muddy in January, along with some expert tips on how to catch bass when they can't see.

LAKE BISTINEAU
To keep his customers happy, Russ McVey of Southpaw Guide Service has to coax bites during the toughest of times at this venue near Haughton. That's why he actually looks for muddy water during January.

"I would rather fish muddy water when it's cold," said McVey. "Some anglers might not realize it, but muddy water warms faster than clear water. Therefore, there's often an awesome midday bite in shallow water after the sun has had a chance to beat down for a while. Muddy water will also hold its warmth longer."

Cypress trees dominate Lake Bistineau, and McVey expects bass to be as close to their trunks as they can get when the water is muddy. Bass that live around boat docks will also pull closer to the pilings and any cover underneath. McVey has a couple of tricks for catching bass from each type of site.

"Bass won't only get closer to cover when it's muddy," he said, "they'll also move shallower. And since muddy water usually comes with a little current at Bistineau, it sets up perfect for fishing a spinnerbait around the cypress tree clumps and swell-butts (isolated cypress trees with big bottoms). The fish will suspend on the downcurrent side of the trees, and they'll tear up a chartreuse spinnerbait with a big Colorado blade."