Strike King and Lew’s pro Shaw Grigsby shares his approach to competing on the water in Zone 1 during April.
“The spawn is still taking place throughout most of Zone 1, but it's usually over halfway through the month,” offers the Florida tournament veteran. “We're mid to late in the spawn season, so I'm usually expecting a heavy post-spawn approach for the back half of April."
Grigsby notes that soon anglers will be looking for a shad spawn – a great time to catch fish and great for topwater. Water temperatures are typically in the upper 60’s to mid-70’s. However, each lake is different. Vegetation will be key in many lakes, but where grass is absent, rock and wood will be a critical factor for finding fish. “What you can guarantee is that bass spawn on a hard bottom and guard their fry around junk such as hydrilla, bushes, or other hiding areas. In most places, you'll need to base your approach either on the shad spawn or fry-guarding bass,” Shaw says.
Grigsby offers that during April, it is important for anglers to fish visually, watching out for wood, laydowns, docks, and other cover. Shad are usually right on the surface, so anglers will want to keep bait higher in the water. Grigsby instructs that, with shad moving so much this time of the year, it's important not to rely on the same areas day-to-day. He typically moves quick. “While I rely on the Strike King Thunder Cricket on cloudy or windy days where bass are likely to be more active outside of cover, a swim jig is better for penetrating cover when bass seem to be favoring something with less vibration.
“Topwater is king this time of year,” says Grigsby. “I'm telling you, if you want to have an absolute blast catching fish on top, this is one of the best times of year to do this in Zone 1.”
Shaw tips the bladed jig with Blade Minnow or Rage Menace trailer around cover and when quickly covering banks.
If the water is clear, Shaw prefers Olive Shad. In stained water, he switches to Chartreuse Blue Glimmer. For muddy water, he will favor Black Blue Thunder Cricket.
Shaw fishes the Thunder Cricket on a Lew’s KVD Composite Rod, pairing it with a Lew’s HyperMag 7.5:1 reel. He fishes the rig on 17 to 20 lb fluorocarbon line, but will use braid in muddy water.
Grigsby will pair the jig with a Rage Menace or Rage Bug and swim it through grass and wood.
Shaw’s choice for clear water is White, while he opts for Bluegill if the water is stained, and Black Blue in muddy conditions.
He switches to a Team Lew’s Signature Series 7’6” Rod for the swim jig presentation and pairs it with a HyperMag 7.5:1 Reel. Like on his Thunder Cricket rig, he fishes with 17 to 20 lb fluorocarbon line, but will use braid in muddy water.
This is Shaw’s top choice when fish are chasing shad near the surface. It is an exceptional bait with fish near grass edges and rip raps. He also throws it in open water.
Shaw opts for Clearwater Minnow in clear conditions, and switches to Summer Sexy Shad if the water is stained. If he is fishing in muddy conditions, Shaw will throw Black Lab Sexy Dawg.
For this rig, Shaw chooses the Lew’s Signature Series 6’10” Medium Heavy Jerkbait Rod and a HyperMag 7.5:1 reel. He spools the combo with 40 lb braid and a 17-20 lb monofilament leader.
When cover and conditions call for a skipping presentation, Grigsby turns to the Popping Perch.
He keeps the color selection simple. If the water is clear, Grigsby chooses White, while more stained water calls for Black Popping Perch.
He skips the Popping Perch on a Lew’s Custom Pro Medium Heavy Rod, paired with a Custom SLP 7.5:1 reel. Grigsby spools his combo with 65 lb braid to deliver bass from heavy cover.
If fish are holding deeper in cover, or Shaw needs to slow down a bit, he will pitch a Texas-rigged Rage Bug on 5/0 hook and 1/4 oz. tungsten weight.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained he will throw the Falcon Lake Craw, while he will switch to a Black Blue Flake if the water is muddy.
Shaw fishes the Bug on a Lew’s Signature Series 7’6” Pitching Rod, paired with a HyperMag 7.5:1 reel. He spools this with 20 lb fluorocarbon line, but will often use 50 lb braid in conditions and cover warrant.
