Strike King pro Mark Menendez breaks down what to expect in Zone 3 this January.
Menendez expects the water temperatures to be in the 38 to 45 degree range this month. He reveals his top lure picks to help you stay ahead of the game in these chilly conditions.
If the water is clear, Menendez prefers Summer Sexy Shad. In stained water, he switches to Oyster. For muddy water, Menendez will favor Clown.
Diving up to 11-feet, the KVD J300 Deep has increased castability, 3D eyes, and premium black nickel hooks for lethal action.
Menendez picks up Sexy Shad when fishing in clear conditions and utilizes Pro Bone in stained water. His favorite for muddy water is Strobe Shad.
The new KVD J300 Deep Sinking Jerkbait allows you to fish a jerkbait in depths that no other jerkbait can get to. The jerkbait is weighted perfectly to sink nearly 0.5-feet per second and maintains the amazing erratic action of the standard KVD 300 Deep Jerkbait.
Menendez’s choice for clear water is Chartreuse Sexy Shad, while he opts for Bully if the water is stained. In muddy water, Menendez reaches for Chili Craw.
A small-bodied deep diver, the Series 3 is designed to enhance castability, thus reaching maximum depths.
He opts for Green Tomato in clear water, and switches to Powder Blue Back Chartreuse if the water is stained.
A medium-sized body with a wider wobble and an oversized bill to deflect off cover. The Series 4 is great for medium depth, heavy cover applications and dirty water.
Menendez chooses Bone Craw in clear water, Fire Craw in stained water, and Table Rock Craw in muddy conditions.
Strike King pros Todd Castledine and Kevin VanDam worked diligently to design the Gravel Dawg 8 to create the ideal, “go to” medium-diving crankbait for anglers across the country.
Its companion, the Gravel Dawg 10, builds on that legacy with a bite-sized 1.5 profile and delivers a wide wobble action that excels at grinding through rock, wood, and grass—outperforming other medium-divers in its class.
If the water is clear, he will throw Super White, while more stained water calls for Chartreuse White. When fishing in muddy water, he switches to Bluegill. He pairs the Strike King ½ oz Premier Plus Spinnerbait with a Pearl Rage Grub trailer.
Featuring the Perfect Skirt® that provides an even blooming effect, Strike King’s Premier Plus creates more action in the water than spinnerbaits with traditional skirts.
No matter the water conditions, Menendez sticks with Black and Blue in Zone 3 this time of the year. He pairs this 3/8 oz flipping jig with a matching Black and Blue Rodent trailer.
Designed to be fishing in and around the heaviest cover with high pound line on heavy rods, the Hack Attack Flipping Jig has a heavy weed guard to easily slip through vegetation.
Strike King pro John Garrett shares his tips and tricks for finding success when fishing in Zone 3 during January.
“I expect for water temperatures to be in the 40’s and 50’s near main river and main lake areas,” Garrett says. Garrett encourages anglers to seek out dirty water near current breaks in the range of 2- to 8-feet, and clean water in deep flats near channels in the range of 20- to 25-feet.
“The main factor when fishing in winter – big baitfish,” shares Garrett. “When the water is dirty with a lot of current, most of the fish in the river system will get in or near the current seams and breaks,” he says. But if the water is clean, he expects that most of the bait will hang out around the deep flats near the main/creek channel.
Garrett uses the Blue Gizzard Umbrella Rig in all water conditions but prefers Pro Blue Red Pearl 3.75" Rage Swimmers in clear water. In stained or muddy water, he switches to the Pearl Flash Rage Swimmers.
The stiffer wire on the Tour Grade Titanium Umbrella Rig provides more stability than other umbrella rigs while the five blades flash and swivel to attract fish.
Garrett’s choice for clear water is Fire Craw, while he opts for Gold Black Back if the water is stained. Green Tomato is his go-to in muddy conditions.
The Red Eyed Shad has incredible action and a uniquely-shaped profile for unbeatable performance. The red 3D eyes and wide spectrum of colors make the Red Eyed Shad the perfect crankbait in a variety of fishing situations.
He opts for Fire Craw in clear water, and switches to Delta Red if the water is stained. Garrett goes for the Black Back Chartreuse in muddy conditions.
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 Tip’s Special, while more stained water calls for Tomato Soup. He opts for Baby Carp in low-vis conditions.
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.
The Green Pumpkin Blade Minnow is Garrett’s choice in all water conditions, while he prefers the Falcon Lake Craw Tungsten Thunder Cricket in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw White, while he will switch to Fire Craw if the water is muddy.
Strike King’s Tour Grade Tungsten Thunder Cricket has changed the game for vibrating jigs. Its innovative design provides maximum swimming action, flash, and thump, with a superior hookup ratio.
