Strike King pro Mark Rose highlights some of the best places to find bass during the hottest summertime month in Zone 4.
Rose expects the water temperatures to be in the high 70’s and 80’s, nearing 90-degrees on some days, with most lakes at full pool and average to good clarity. “In lakes and rivers, definitely get on the deepest drop off – anything that breaks really hard. If fishing shallow, find the hardest breaks or drop offs,” advises Rose. With the water temperatures being so high, shad are hiding out as deep as possible for cooler water.
“When fishing in cover, stay in the thickest cover and punch it. The fish are going to go where there is the most oxygen and the water is the coolest,” shares Rose. Rose likes to use a Football Jig with Rage Craw trailer or a Carolina rigged Game Hawg when right on the toe of the drop to fish the deepest points. Rose advises that anglers keep their baits moving in water with a strong current or on days with low atmospheric pressure to get the attention of large bass.
If the water is clear, Rose prefers Dark Green Pumpkin. In stained water, he switches to Dark Whiskey. For muddy water, Rose will favor Junebug.
The body of the KVD Zeus Worm is sectioned, so that anglers can easily downsize to a 7-inch worm without losing any of the life-like action of the tail. It’s developed with the advanced Perfect Plastics pouring system to create vivid, strike-enticing colors and features an unmistakable tail action that mimics swimming baitfish, driving bass wild.
Rose’s choice for clear water is Green Gizzard Shad, while he opts for Bone if the water is stained or muddy.
Rose chooses the KVD Sexy Dawg Hard Knock because it’s a premium, “walk-the-dog” topwater lure with great action.
He opts for Sexy Shad in clear, stained, or low-vis conditions.
Made to emulate dying bait fish, the flutter and fall of the Sexy Spoon is incredible. Best when fished around submerged brush, muscle beds, or deep grass and vegetation.
If the water is clear or stained, he will throw Green Pumpkin Craw Football Jig and Green Pumpkin Scounbug while more muddy water calls for Black and Blue Football Jig and matching Rage Scounbug trailer.
The ultimate jig for deep water fishing – the Tour Grade Football Jig has a football-shaped head that gives a better feel of terrain and helps the bait stand on the bottom
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Moon Juice, while he will switch to Black and Blue if the water is muddy.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Game Hawg has a lithe, supple, totally natural build that allows it to slither cleanly through vegetation with no loss of action.
Strike King pro Brent Chapman highlights the typical bass patterns in Zone 4 during the month of August.
In August, bass are chasing schools of shad and will navigate to the deepest depths they’ll be for the year. “August is one of those times of year where if you're on a deeper lake with clear water, the fish are really starting to get as deep as they will all year – they’re chasing schools of shad,” starts Chapman.
Chapman capitalizes on the bite in the morning or early evening by targeting fish up shallow. “If the baitfish are found in shallow water, you can certainly pick off a few bass looking for a quick meal,” Chapman offers. “A topwater strategy is my go-to chasing these early morning, shallow fish.”
If the water is clear, Chapman prefers Natural Shad. In stained water, he switches to The Shizzle. For muddy water, Chapman will favor Black Lab.
Chapman’s choice for clear or stained water is Green Pumpkin, while he opts for the Black Skip'N Buzz if the water is muddy.
Chapman opts for the Green Gizzard Shad in clear water, and switches to Olive Shad if the water is stained.
He pairs the Thunder Cricket Vibrating Swimming Jig with a Scounbug trailer.
If the water is clear, Chapman will throw Olive Shad, while more stained water calls for a Black and Blue jig.
Chapman prefers to fish the Coffee Flip- N-Tube Texas rigged.
He opts for Crazy Craw in clear water. If the water is stained, Chapman will throw Green Pumpkin or White Illusion Purple and Gold Flake, while he will switch to Black Neon if the water is muddy.
