Strike King pro Keith Combs shares the best places to find bass in Zone 2 during the month of February.
Bass patterns are changing at about this time, Combs expresses. “Bass are in early spawn patterns. Expect stained water in the high 50s,” states Combs. Keep an eye out for vegetation as well, Combs advises. “Bass are looking for warm, protected areas with grass,” Combs says.
If the water is clear, Combs prefers Chartreuse Blue Glimmer. In stained water, he switches to White. For muddy water, Combs favors Green Pumpkin. He pairs the Strike King 3/8 oz Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig with a Pearl Blade Minnow trailer.
Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig is an ideal choice when fish are chasing baitfish around vegetation. The Blade Minnow trailer allows efficient movement through grass.
Combs chooses Blue Glimmer for clear water, while he opts for Chartreuse White if the water is stained. In muddy water, Combs prefers Green Glimmer.
One of the first baits created by Strike King, the spinnerbait is a tried-and-true choice for bass fishermen for nearly 100 years.
Replicating the flash of a passing baitfish, Tour Grade Spinnerbait attracts the attention of predatory fish.
Combs consistently chooses Black whether he is fishing in clear, stained, or muddy water.
The Tour Grade Buzzbait is made with premium components, such as a sculpted quick-planing head and an exclusive Gamakatsu® hook, making it a go-to in his lineup.
If the water is clear, he will throw Baby Bass, while more stained water calls for Green Pumpkin. In muddy water, Combs chooses Black and Blue.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics 5" Ocho has smooth, beveled sides to reflect light in different directions, creating a flash unlike any other soft bait. Ocho also has a slow sink rate and is versatile, but ideal for jerkbaiting and wacky rigging.
In clear water, he goes with a Candy Craw Hack Attack Flipping Jig paired with a Green Pumpkin Scounbug. For stained water, he switches to an Okeechobee Craw Jig with a matching Scounbug. In muddy conditions, he throws a Black and Blue Jig with a Pearl Flash Scounbug or Rage Craw trailer.
Designed to be fished through the nastiest underwater jungles, both shallow and deep, the Hack Attack Flipping Jig features an exclusive no-flex Extreme Gamakatsu® black nickel heavy wire hook for extra bite, and a 30-degree line tie to increase hook-up percentages.
Strike King pro Todd Faircloth divulges the best places for anglers to fish during February in Zone 2.
“Water temperatures should be in the lower 50s,” says Faircloth. "February is one of the best months to fish in Zone 2," shares Faircloth. “The fish will be prespawn and this is probably the best month of the year to catch a giant in Zone 2. Most of the lakes in Zone 2 will have hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail grass in them and this is where I prefer to fish,” Faircloth explains.
Where are the best places to find the giants in Zone 2? “Target your northwest banks fishing the outside edge or inside edge of the grass, depending on the lake level in 5- to 10-feet,” advises Faircloth.
If the water is clear, Faircloth prefers Delta Red. In stained water, he switches to Fire Craw. For muddy water, Faircloth favors Chartreuse Baitfish.
The Red Eyed Shad has incredible action and features some awesome paint jobs, premium hooks, 3D eyes, and free-floating rattles to give you the best action and sound of any lipless crankbait.
Faircloth opts for Pro Blue Flash in clear water and Pro Oyster in stained conditions. He picks up Sexy Shad in muddy water.
Strike King’s KVD J300 Elite Jerkbait effortlessly takes performance to the next level. The proprietary weight transfer system maximizes casting distance and ultra-sharp black nickel hooks promise secure hooksets every time.
Faircloth’s choice for clear water is Clearwater Minnow, while he opts for Fire Craw if the water is stained. In muddy water, Faircloth opts for Chartreuse Perch.
Taking the country by storm, Hybrid Hunter is crafted for catching fish that traditional crankbaits miss. The Hybrid Hunter creates a hard-thumping, exaggerated hunting action and has an extremely loud rattle that causes fish to strike with vengeance.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water, and switches to Chartreuse White if the water is stained. Faircloth chooses White when fishing in muddy or low-vis conditions. He pairs the Strike King Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig with a Green Pumpkin Blade Minnow trailer.
When fish are hunting baitfish in and around vegetation, the Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig is the ideal choice. The Blade Minnow trailer efficiently moves through grass.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Gizzard Shad, while more stained water calls for Delta Red. In muddy conditions, Faircloth goes for Chartreuse Blue Back Splatterback.
A medium-sized body with a medium wobble and medium buoyancy, The Series 5 has a 2-degree diving plane to allow for lengthened casts and deeper depths.
He opts for Spot Remover in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Chartreuse White, while he will switch to White Silver if the water is muddy.
A proven go-to bait in the early spring. The Tour Grade Spinnerbait can be fished at virtually any depth and any speed. Faircloth will let the fish dictate exactly what retrieval speed he needs to employ.
