Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - mud in the holes!

I have dug the holes for my footings for my deck. The holes are now filled with water and 6 inches of mud (thanks to a wet fall). I can easily get the water out but how do I get the mud out? The holes are not deep enough with the mud and I also want to put some stone under the footing to help with heaving (I live in the Northeast) so I need even a little more depth. I can not shovel it because the hole is 4 ft deep. Is there some kind of pump I can rent? Or some other method?

Thanks!!!

You are not going to pump the mud!

Options are the little Army shovels, the ones that you can lock the blade down at 90 degrees, and scoop it out, or use a garden hoe. The drawback to the hoe is that they are flat -- won't pick up as much in a scoop.

Have yet to find another way. Sorry about that!

I had same issue. I dug my holes with a power auger I rented. I found that I had to use a posthole digger to get the last of the dirt out, so I bought one at HD. After digging my 4 foot deep holes and waiting for the building inspector, it rained. I had plenty of mud to remove. I just used the posthole diggers to get down in there. Wasn't easy, but it worked. After draining the water out, you may want to give the holes a couple days to dry out. Will make the digging much easier.

The clam shell post hole digger that ChipJ mentioned will work too. Dig the footings 6" to a foot deeper with them, then add the Gravel or crushed rock for drainage under the footings. If it rains again before you get the concrete put in the holes, the water will drain through the rocks.