Interesting article on walleyes and water clarity. Thought you might find it interesting:

 

http://www.fishingclub.com/Projects...?id=138146

 

It’s always fascinating to see the different water colors on different rivers, and how different the water color can be even on the same river at different stretches.

 

Any tips on favorite baits/tactics for walleyes in dark, dirty rivers?

 

Tony

The river that I fish in for walleye can be very clear when the weather is dry, but when we start to get a lot of rain it gets so muddy that you can't see more than a couple inches into the water.  I fish mostly with live bait (mostly nightcrawlers) and when the water becomes very dirty and churned up I have found that a hammer silver spinner works very well.
~Nightcrawler

You might find a pattern in the previous posts.Dirty (nutrient enriched) off colored water fish need assistance in finding your offering.The 1st  post the fisherman prefers to use a hammered blade which throws off vibrations & extra flash, as well as scent delivered from live bait.The 2nd post you find a preferance to useing a larger crankbait with a rattle,again in assisting or helping fish find your offerings.                                                                                                  Another choice would be to go with a brighter colored lure so fish will be able too see your lure as well.There are so many options that catch fish under dirty water conditions the combinations are countless.Finding one that best suits your style of fishing & you have confidence in will help you bring more fish to the net.                                                                                                                  If you prefer to jig fish, try brighter colors or a jig with a rattle.With countless number of plastic bodies out there,each with a different vibrating or pulsating action,you can see options become countless.Bigger & brighter offerings can be better under dirty or low light conditions.Larger lure = more water displaced + more vibration in turn becomes easier for fish to locate.Some sort of scent might help you bring catch rates up as well.                                                                  Some fisherman may prefer live bait rigging,maybe add a couple brightly colored beads (some have rattles) or adding a colored pill float & spinner for vibration.You can also find colored sinkers & sinkers that rattle that can aid fish in finding your lure in this arsenal .                                                                      I think the most overlooked area which I use the most would be crankbaits.These tools in your tacklebox can & do catch fish year round.From 34 Deg.F. water to 80 + Deg.F.There is so many different presentation manners & color options the list of them in your arsenal can be countless.They can run from 1' to 30'+  without the aid of added weight.With added weight,from leadcore to 3-ways,snap weights,downriggers or various diving attachments,depths acheived can be almost endless in the quest for fish.Water temps & time of year tend to dictate speed, size & action of lure to be presented.                                                                                                   Here in West central WI from about mid.Oct. -  mid.Apr. around 50 Deg. water temps.& under I tend to target walleye in the stained or dirty debris ridden rivers with a 3 -way rig & brightly colored narrow bodied shallow running crankbait or neutral/natural colored lure with a rattle.Plying waters from 6'-25' for Walleye & catching Sauger in depths of 20'-40' useing this combination.                         This setup for me generally consists of 14-20 lb main line with 6-8 lb12"-18" dropper from 3-way swivel,with 2 oz bell style sinker(to keep lure near bottom) adding  weight with higher water flow & useing a 2'-4' leader 10-12lb test.Dropper length & leader length depend on how tight to bottom fish are hugging.Keeping your line at a 45 deg.angle to the water for best performance.The 3-way rig works well with livebait as well.Just usually not my offering of choice because I dont have as many color or rattling/vibrating options as I do with a good selection of crankbaits.                                                 Hope this gives a few people a little insight on a new approach to stained or high nutrient enriched (dirty)waters right out their backdoor. Best of luck fishing all ! WHITETIP                                                        

I fish a river that is next to a dam every Wednesday night, it is a little murky as well. I fish for walleyes. Some of the people I fish with use floating jigs with a weight and others use just a jig. We all use leeches... I was wondering what anyone else thought of the floating jigs? I guess the reason they are being used is so we do not get snaged as much but it does not seem to be helping. Is there anything that you would suggest? Lindsey

Shea: when fishing for Walleye, I like either a Lindy rig with a float(on the rig, not on top of the water) or a floating jighead. This teamed with a sinker or bottom bouncer seems to keep my leech or minnow up off the bottom and in the strike zone. Watch your leader length, you want the weight no more than 24" above the bait and many times less. Hope this was some help. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois