Strike King and Lew’s pro Bill Lowen articulates his strategy for finding bass in Zone 4 during the month of May.
Lowen shares than an important factor when tracking down bass in the month of May – pay attention to the moon phases. “This to me is the most important time of the year to pay attention to the moon phases. This will have a major effect on the spawn, typically around the full/new moons,” offers Lowen.
He also suggests that anglers start concentrating on shallow spawning pockets and places with shallow water cover because bass will be in all three stages during May in Zone 4 – pre-spawn, spawning, and post spawn. Lowen reminds anglers to “concentrate on the shallow water cover and just remember you can't go shallow enough!”
If the water is clear, Lowen prefers the Green Pumpkin. In stained water, he switches between the Green Pumpkin, California Craw, and Black/Blue. For muddy water, Lowen will favor a Black/Blue.
Lowen fishes the Game Hawg on a Lew’s 7’6” Magnum Heavy Custom Speed Stick, pairing it with a Lew’s custom SLP 7.5:1 baitcast reel. He fishes the Game Hawg rig on 17-20 lb fluorocarbon line.
Lowen’s choice for clear water is the Green Pumpkin or White, while he opts for Green Pumpkin, California Craw, and Black/Blue if the water is stained.
He keeps it consistent with the Lew’s 7’6” magnum heavy custom speed stick and the Lew’s Custom SLP 7.5:1 baitcast reel using 17-20 lb fluorocarbon line.
The Thunder Cricket is Lowen‘s top choice when fishing in shallow cover, laydowns, docks, and grass flats. He opts for the Green Pumpkin in clear water, and switches to a Black/Blue or White if the water is stained.
Lowen throws the Thunder Cricket on a Lew’s 7’ Signature Series Rod and a Team Lew’s Light 6.5:1 baitcast reel He spools the combo with 20 lb fluorocarbon line.
If Lowen is looking to change it up around shallow cover, rock, and laydowns, he uses the KVD 1.5. If the water is clear, he will throw a Sexy Shad, while more stained water calls for a Chartreuse/Black.
He throws the KVD 1.5 on a Lew’s 7’ David Frits cranking rod, paired with a BBI 6.5:1 baitcast reel. Lowen spools his combo with 15 lb fluorocarbon line.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the Black/Blue, Black Neon, or White. He will switch to a Black/Blue or Black Neon if the water is muddy.
Lowen fishes the 4.5 Flip-N-Tube on a Lew’s 7’6” Magnum Heavy Custom Speed Stick rod, paired with a Custom SLP 7.5:1 baitcast reel. He spools this with 15 lb fluorocarbon line.
Strike King pro Greg Bohannan shares his favorite lures to utilize during May in Zone 4.
“With water temperatures between the 60’s and low 70’s, May is the time that we will have both spawning and post spawn,” shares Bohannan. Bohannan expects that most action will happen on the flats. “Wood cover or bushes on spawning flats or coves will be a major factor. There will be several fish still spawning and several fry guarders protecting the beds,” Bohannan says.
As the month progresses, Bohannan predicts that other lake areas may become more prominent. “Main lake points will start becoming a major player for spotted bass and smallmouth with bottom baits and topwaters,” he says. Best lures and techniques for May? “Flipping shallow cover, topwater, spinnerbaits, and finesse fishing will all come into play,” Bohannan advises.
If the water is clear, Bohannan prefers Blue Glimmer Tour Grade Spinnerbait. In stained water, he switches to Chartreuse White. For muddy water, he will favor Cole Slaw. He usually pairs it with a Pearl Rage Swimmer trailer.
Naturalistic painted willow blade models allow for more flash of color on the Tour Grade Spinnerbait. The light wire frame helps produce maximum vibration, paired with a pro-designed, hand-tied skirt.
Bohannan’s choice for clear water is Blue Glimmer, while he opts for Black if the water is stained. Green Pumpkin Chartreuse is his first choice in muddy conditions.
The combination of a surface-splitting, wire-form buzzbait and Strike King's hard-kicking KVD Perfect Plastics Gurgle Toad come together to make up the Toad Buzz. Featuring an internal head with bait keeper barbs that grip the toad body tightly, the Toad Buzz is likely to be the best high action, topwater bass killer in your line up.
He opts for Bubblegum in clear or stained water, and switches to Black if the water is muddy.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Finesse Worm is the softest, saltiest plastic ever produced, and even better, features Strike King's exclusive Coffee Scent technology. Extremely versatile, the KVD Perfect Plastics Finesse Worm is deadly on a shakey head and dances enticingly on a drop shot rig.
If the water is clear, he will throw Blue Craw, while more stained water calls for Bama Bug. Bohannan opts for Black Neon in muddy conditions.
Strike King’s Rage Craw features an exclusive design with two realistic pincers and a long, slender body engineered to create lots of turbulence. For best results, fish Texas-rigged, Carolina-rigged, or as a jig trailer.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Amistad Special, while he will switch to June Bug if the water is muddy.
Like a faceted bead vs. a round bead, the Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho's smooth beveled sides reflect light in different directions, creating a flash effect unlike that of any other softbait.
Strike King pro Scott Suggs shares the main places he likes to frequent and his favorite baits to use during May in Zone 4.
During May, Suggs is targeting lay downs and shallower areas in hopes of finding huge bass guarding fry postspawn. Because bass are at the end of spawn or in postspawn page, Suggs expects for them to be grouped near grassy flats and channel swings. Suggs says, “If you found one, you’ve probably found a few.”
He uses the Rage Swimmer to offer bass a different option when the bite gets tough. Overall, Suggs knows bass are grouping up and feeding up in preparation for summertime and encourages anglers to pay attention and adapt based on “what the fish tell you to do.”
If the water is clear, Suggs prefers Green Gizzard Shad. In stained water, he switches to Chartreuse Sexy Shad. For muddy water, he will favor Black Lab.
Strike King’s Sexy Dawg Hard Knock maintains all of the premium “walk the dog” action of the original with an added rattle chamber for a deeper knocking sound to grab attention and entice strikes.
His choice for clear water is Pro Blue, while he opts for Crystal Shad if the water is stained. Strobe Shad is his choice in muddy conditions.
Known to have the perfect combination of roll, wiggle, and flash, the KVD J300 has increased castability, 3D eyes, and premium black nickel hooks, resulting in lethal action.
He opts for The Shizzle in clear water, and switches to TN Shade 2.0 if the water is stained. Suggs goes for Sexy Shad in low-vis water.
The Strike King KVD Squarebill 4.0 Magnum Crankbait employs erratic wandering action that was specially developed by the Bassmaster Elite Series all-time money winner, Kevin VanDam. Aimed at catching those extra-hungry kicker fish, the KVD 4.0 delivers excellent deflections and reaches its desired depth quickly.
If the water is clear, he will throw Blue Craw, while more stained or muddy water calls for Green Pumpkin. Suggs utilizes the Rage Scounbug in Pearl Flash in all conditions.
Strike King’s Tungsten Thunder Cricket features a super-dense and compact tungsten head that allows for the same legendary tight vibration of the original Thunder Cricket in a smaller size. The Tungsten Thunder Cricket is designed to make longer casts than any finesse-sized bladed jig and features a super-strong long-shank Owner Jungle Hook.
He opts for KVD Magic in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Pro Blue Red Pearl, while he will switch to Pearl Flash if the water is muddy.
Designed to provoke an immediate reaction, the Strike King® Rage Swimmer looks great out of the water, and even better below the surface. Its sleek nose cone and softly ribbed body closely replicate the contours found in nature, and its thin, pancake-like tail pumps out frantic vibrations at any speed.
