Strike King pro Keith Combs highlights the typical water conditions in Zone 2 during the month of January.
“The water will be cold and stained with temperatures in the mid-50s,” shares Combs. “I recommend fishing in submerged grass or rock to find the most bass this month,” concludes Combs.
If the water is clear, Combs prefers Chartreuse Blue Glimmer. In stained water, he switches to Green Pumpkin. For muddy water, Combs favors Fire Craw.
He also ties on a Blade Minnow Pearl. An ideal choice when fish are chasing baitfish around vegetation. The Blade Minnow trailer allows efficient movement through grass.
His choice for clear water and stained water is TN Shad 2.0, while he opts for Rayburn Red Craw if the water is muddy.
While the Red Eyed Shad is already one of the most popular rattlebaits available, the Tungsten 2-Tap elevated this crankbait to the next level. Emitting more noise and vibration than the original, the Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2-Tap is a guaranteed choice on Combs’ boat deck for cold- weather fishing.
He opts for TN Shad 2.0 in clear water, and switches to Chili Craw if the water is stained. In muddy water, Combs favors Fire Craw.
The KVD 1.5 is perfect for shallow water, power fishing. The squarebill design and unique “hunting” action will constantly emit erratic movement while still running true.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Gizzard, while more stained water calls for Natural Shad. In muddy conditions, Combs chooses Fire Craw.
The Chick Magnet is one of the best options for flat sided crankbaits on the market. The flat size allows for incredible thump while maintaining a tight action. Combs loves that this bait reaches the perfect depth with ease and deflects off of cover to draw reaction bites.
He opts for a Candy Craw Flipping Jig with the Summer Craw Scounbug trailer in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the OkeeChoBee Craw Flipping Jig and Scounbug, while he will switch to a Black and Blue Flipping Jig and Scounbug if the water is muddy.
Designed to be fishing in and around the heaviest cover, the Hack Attack Flipping Jig has a heavy weed guard and is best used on heavy rods with high pound line.
Strike King pro Todd Faircloth lets us in on his favorite places to fish during the coldest month of the year in Zone 2.
“Water temps at this time of year are normally in the upper 40s or lower 50s. This is usually the coldest month of the year for Zone 2,” shares Faircloth. With the colder temperatures, fish are adjusting their feeding patterns. “Most of the fish are in their winter patterns. Focus primarily on main lake points and the mouths of major creeks – in the 20- to 30-foot depth range,” says Faircloth.
In addition to focusing on the 20- to 30-foot depth range, Faircloth also advises that anglers to “look for bait balls around stumps, brush piles, or hard spots – the bass will normally be close by.”
If the water is clear, Faircloth prefers Chrome. In stained water, he switches to Pearl.
The Lil Ledge Spoon is designed to emit a realistic fluttering action and has a built-in swivel to alleviate line twist. The Mustad tripe grip treble hook delivers strong hooksets.
Faircloth goes with Crystal Shad in clear water and switches to Chartreuse Sexy Shad in stained water. Sexy Shad is his choice in muddy conditions.
The KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait allows you to fish a jerkbait in depths that no other jerkbait can get to. It is weighted perfectly to sink nearly 0.5-feet per second and maintains the amazing erratic action of the standard KVD 300 Deep Jerkbait.
Faircloth’s choice for clear water is Peanut Butter & Jelly, while he opts for Blue Craw if the water is stained. In muddy water, Faircloth favors Black and Blue. He pairs this rig with a Green Pumpkin Rage Craw trailer.
Created for deep water fishing, the ¾ oz Tour Grade Football Jig has a wide, football shaped head that helps the bait “stand up” in the water.
He opts for Green Pumpkin Sapphire in clear water, and switches to Pearl Blue if the water is stained.
Faircloth chooses the best soft twitch bait on the market, Caffeine Shad, for a realistic presentation in the water to attract more bites.
Rigged on a Tour Grade Tungsten Swing Football Head, Faircloth throws Electric Shad in clear water. In stained conditions, he switches to Pro Blue Red Pearl, and when visibility is low, he opts for Pearl.
With a unique and exclusive tail design, Rage Swimmer provides anglers with a custom, hi-grade soft bait with superior action. The Rage Swimmer is also ideal on a Strike King Squadron Head.
He opts for Rage Bug Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Watermelon Red Flake, while he will switch to Black and Blue if the water is muddy.
Crafted to be the ultimate flip bait, the unique streamlined shape of the body allows it to easily move through cover with an unmistakable crawfish glide.
