Strike King pro Andy Montgomery highlights some of the top spots to find bass in Zone 3 during April.
“During the first half of April, I'm 100% focusing on the spawn, which means some type of soft plastic,” Andy offers. “Conditions will dictate which tools I'll need to utilize. Flat, calm conditions mean I'm picking up a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho, as the bass are likely to be holding tighter to cover... If the wind is blowing or if the water is a little dirty, I'll opt for the Texas-rigged Game Hawg, as it provides a bigger presentation.” Andy often turns the Strike King Skip N’ Buzz in April as well. “Anytime you get a dark, cloudy day in April, the buzzbait is a deadly weapon. When they first start biting during the spawn, that's when I typically catch the biggest ones on a buzzbait. If they are spawning, the only way I'm catching them is if it's dark and cloudy, which means I'm using one color – Black.”
Transitioning to late April, Andy will start looking for the shad spawn. "Shad will always spawn around some sort of cover. Every lake is different, so just make sure you're around the best cover that your lake has to offer, which will in most cases include docks, slick logs, willow trees, shallow rocks, or grass.” Opt for moving baits to attract aggressive fish feeding on the shad. "No matter where you're fishing in Zone 3, if you're able to key in on spawning fish or shad, you'll be able to pattern them based on the conditions and cover that a particular lake presents.”
Andy wacky-rigs this soft plastic to fish around docs, hard cover and
vegetation during the spawn. He fishes the wacky-rig on a Lew’s
Signature Series 6’10” Spinning Rod, pairing it with a Lew’s HyperMag
200 series reel. Andy opts for 12 lb flurocarbon line.
When the water is clear, Montgomery opts for Green Pumpkin. In stained conditions, he switches to Red Bug, and for muddy water, he favors Junebug.
Andy Texas-rigs the Game Hawg and fishes it with a 5/16 oz. weight around cover. Andy’s choice to throw the Game Hawg is a Team Lew’s Signature Series 7’2” Heavy Rod with a Pro SP reel which he spools with 17 lb fluorocarbon line.
When the water is clear, he prefers Green Pumpkin. For stained or muddy water, he switches to Black Blue Flake for better visibility.
This is one of Andy’s top choices for skipping around heavy cover in
April, particularly when bass are chasing bait and responding to faster
moving lures. He pairs the buzzbait with a Strike King Rage
Swimmer for even more vibration and action.
Andy throws the buzzbait on a Team Lew’s 7’3” Signature Series Rod, paired with a Pro SP reel. He beefs up the line to 20 lb fluorocarbon to deal with the heavier cover. His go-to color selection for the buzzbait is black.
Ideal for anglers dealing with short strikes or looking to offer something different, Andy recommends Green Pumpkin for clear or stained water, and Bama Craw for muddy conditions.
The Strike King Rage Hawk features a unique design with two Rage arms that create exaggerated movement, making it irresistible to bass. Its compact body fits up to a 5/0 hook, increasing hook-up ratios while effortlessly gliding through cover.
Andy typically threads his skipping jig with the 3.38” Rage Bug, as
the flat sides allow for exceptional skipping. Andy uses the Team
Lew’s 7’1” Signature Series Skipping Rod for this application, with a
Pro SP reel.
He spools the combo with 20 lb. fluorocarbon to
negotiate heavy cover. His go-to pick is white for clear water and Green Pumpkin for stained or muddy water.
Strike King pro Andy Morgan identifies some of the key areas to find bass in Zone 3 during April.
“Bass are typically pulling shallow as it gets closer to the spawn,” says Morgan. The water clarity is also a factor when fishing in Zone 3, he mentions. “There is a quite a bit of rain during April, causing the water to be off colored, or maybe even muddy,” shares Morgan. With water temperatures in the 55- to 65-degree range, Morgan anticipates bass holding in creek channels, flats, grass, wood, and rocks.
If the water is clear, Morgan prefers the Natural Shad. In stained water, he switches to the Sexy Shad 2.0. For muddy water, Morgan will favor a Fire Craw.
Designed with the help of Andy Morgan himself, Strike King’s Chick Magnet is known for giving off an incredible “thump” with a tight wiggling action. Perfect for diving in up to 5- feet of water, the Chick Magnet defects off of cover and attracts aggressive bites.
