Strike King pro Greg Hackney describes the best fishing spots in Zone 1 for the month of August.
“In 85 to 92 degree water temperature, find good cover close to deeper water relative to the body of water you’re fishing. If you’re able to, find cover close to current,” shares Hackney.
If the water is clear, Hackney prefers the Hack Attack Pad Perch White Shadow. In stained, muddy, or low-vis water, he switches to Black.
In clear water, Hackney will prefer Green Pumpkin. In stained, muddy, or low-vis water, he switches to Watermelon Red Flake. He uses a drop shot trailer on the filler worm rig.
Hackney’s choice for clear water is the KVD 2.5 Sexy Shad, while he opts for Chartreuse Sexy Shad if the water is stained. In muddy water, he reaches for Cataouatche Special.
Hackney opts for the Rage Cut-R Worm Plum Crazy in clear water, and switches to Junebug if the water is stained or muddy.
If the water is clear, Hackney will throw Magnum Rage Bug Green Pumpkin, while more stained water calls for California Craw.
He reaches for Black Neon when fishing in muddy water with low visibility.
Hackney pairs Thunder Cricket with a Blade Minnow trailer.
He opts for White in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the Chartreuse White, while he will switch to Black Blue if the water is muddy.
In August in Zone 1, Dakota Ebare expects the water temperature to be around low to mid 90’s.
He says this will cause bass to feed very shallow and relate to shade on the bank. These shallow bass will be opportunity feeders, meaning they will eat bream, crawfish, or shad. Dakota will typically target laydowns, docks, creek bends, and moving water/current. Lily pads are another August staple when looking for bass shallow.
Once Dakota gets a few blow ups or bites, he will slow down with a Sexy Frog specifically targeting holes in Lily Pads. He will also throw the Sexy Frog around shade lines, laydowns, and docks.
When the water is clear, he throws a Green Pumpkin Pearl Belly lure. In stained water, he switches to the Leopard Frog pattern. For muddy water, he prefers the Black Sexy Frog.
Dakota will also reach for a Texas rigged Scounbug, with a ¼ ounce weight. He will flip the Scounbug around shallow cover such as stumps, laydowns, docks, and shade lines.
Dakota chooses a Green Pumpkin bait for clear water conditions. In stained water conditions, he throws Bama Craw. In muddy or low visibility water, he relies on a Black and Blue Scounbug.
Another shallow water tactic Dakota employs is a Tour Grade Buzzbait. He will throw the Buzzbait around shade lines and cover on the bank and will normally use a trailer hook on the back for added hook up rate.
In clear water, Dakota throws Sexy Blueback Herring. When fishing stained water, he opts for a White-colored bait. In low-visibility or muddy water, he relies on a solid Black lure for maximum contrast.
Dakota will throw a ¾ ounce Texas rigged Rage Punch Bug around matted vegetation and Lily Pad stems. He expects the Punch Bug to cause reaction bites on the initial fall.
In clear water, Dakota chooses a Green Pumpkin bait. For stained water, he switches to Okeechobee Craw. In low-visibility or muddy water, he goes with a Black and Blue Punch Bug.
