Strike King pro Bill Lowen offers advice for fishing in Zone 4 during June.
Bill acknowledges that weather can impact how long fish stay on the
spawn. Most will be fully in a post-spawn phase in June, but Lowen does not completely sidestep the opportunity.
He concentrates his time on shallow cover and pays special attention to cover adjacent to deeper water. His primary reason he stays shallow in June is the forage spawn that keeps bass prowling the shallows for prey.
If the water is clear or stained, Lowen prefers White and Silver. For muddy water, he will favor White and Chartreuse.
Lowen pitches a spinnerbait around shallow cover looking for bass that are keyed on the shad spawn. Lowen pairs a Lew's HyperMag 7.5:1 reel on a 7'2" Team Lew's Signature Series Rod. His primary line is 20 lb fluorocarbon.
Lowen's choice for clear water is Bone, while he opts for Bluegill if the water is stained or muddy.
This is an ideal topwater for Lowen to prowl shallow cover looking for bass feeding on bluegill. Lowen turns to a 7-foot KVD Signature Series Top Water Rod by Lew’s with one of his favorite reels, the Lew's Custom SLP 7.5:1. He will typically use 30 lb braid to keep the Sexy Dawg walking.
Lowen turns to the KVD Toad Buzz with a Gurgle Toad trailer to fish shallow brush, grass, and laydowns when he needs to cover water quickly. He opts for Black in all water conditions.
Lowen’s ideal rod for the Toad Buzz is a Lew’s 7-foot Worm Rod paired with a Custom SLP 7.5:1 reel. Like the Sexy Dawg rig, he keeps it spooled with 30 lb.
His choice for clear water is Green Pumpkin. Black and Blue is his favorite in stained of muddy water.
Lowen pitches the Game Hawg on a 1/4 oz weight with a 4/0 straight shank hook. It is a phenomenal bait for a slower presentation around shallow cover. For the Game Hawg to work its magic in heavy cover, Lowen turns to a 7’6” magnum heavy Custom Speed Stick by Lew’s, paired with a Custom SLP 7.5:1. He keeps it spooled with 17 lb fluorocarbon.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Watermelon Red, while he will switch to Black and Blue if the water is muddy.
If he really needs to slow his presentation in shallow cover, Lowen will pitch a Shim-E-Stick weightless on a 1/0 wacky hook. For the Shim-E-Stick, Lowen throws a 7’3” magnum hammer Custom Speed Stick paired with a Custom SLP 7.5:1 reel. 15 lb fluorocarbon gives him the ideal fall rate for this weightless worm.
Strike King pro Greg Bohannan shares why June is one of his favorite months for topwater fishing.
With water temperatures expected to be in the low 70’s and 80’s, Bohannan believes that “June is an excellent topwater month!” Bohannan continues, “There will be a good mix of both shallow and deep fish. Long tapering main lake points are a great starting location.”
Once you’ve found your spot, keep an eye out for schooling fish. “There will be schooling activity, especially early and a late day offshore bite,” says Bohannan. “Topwaters, Carolina rigs, football jigs, and wake baits are all great choices in June,” shares Bohannan.
Bohannan’s choice for clear water is Natural Shad, while he opts for Sexy Shad if the water is stained. Bohannan prefers Chartreuse Blue Back in muddy or low-vis conditions.
Strike King’s KVD 2.5 Wake Bait emits a unique “clacking” sound that can be fished on top of the water at higher speeds than other wake baits.
He opts for Candy Craw in clear water, and switches to Peanut Butter Jelly if the water is stained. Bama Craw with a Rage Craw trailer is Bohannan’s go-to when fishing in muddy water.
The ultimate jig for deep water fishing – the Tour Grade Football Jig has a football-shaped head that gives a better feel of terrain and helps the bait stand on the bottom.
If the water is clear, he will throw Smokey Shad, while more stained water calls for Pearl. He chooses Siren for low-vis conditions.
Crafted with the world's best plastics, the 5" Caffeine Shad is extremely soft and pliable, loaded with heavy salt, and strongly laced with real coffee scent. This deadly combination maximizes the Strike King Caffeine Shad's appeal, resulting in a healthy increase in positive hook-ups.
He opts for Candy Craw in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw California Craw, while he will switch to Pearl Flash if the water is muddy.
Designed to slip in and out of cover easily, the Rage Scounbug is perfect for Texas-rigging, flipping, or being used as a jig trailer. The Rage Tail technology used to create the Scounbug causes heavy vibration and increased water displacement to attract more bites
Strike King pro Scott Suggs shares why he loves fishing in Zone 4 during June.
During the month of June in Zone 4, the spawn occurs later than it does in more southern states. The late spawn causes June to be really fun to fish in these areas. He loves to use the Tungsten Thunder Cricket because of its incredible versatility and the reactivity it causes from fish.
The smaller size of the tungsten is also really successful in Zone 4 also, Suggs notes. Another favorite for Suggs is the Rage Swimmer. “It’s not just this month, it’s anytime I am fishing in Zone 4,” Suggs says. “I HAVE to have it tied on. Anything I can throw like that and cover more water with is always tied on,” he emphasizes.
If the water is clear, Suggs prefers Green Pumpkin. In stained water, he switches to Bruiser. For muddy water, he will favor Black/Blue. Suggs uses the Green Pumpkin Midsize Rage Bug trailer in all water conditions.
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.
Suggs choice for the Coffee Tube with a 3/8oz Crackin’ Tube Jig Head in clear water is Green Pumpkin, while he opts for Crazy Craw if the water is stained. Smoke Red Black Flake is his favorite in muddy water.
The coffee scent causes fish to hold onto the tube longer while masking human and plastic scents. The small tails of the Coffee Tube replicate falling baitfish/prey in the water, attracting more strikes in the spring and summer months.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water, and switches to Blue Craw if the water is stained. Suggs will pick up Black Blue if fishing in low-vis conditions.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho has smooth, beveled sides to reflect light in different directions, creating a flash unlike any other soft bait. Ocho also has a slow sink rate and is versatile, but ideal for jerkbaiting and wacky rigging.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Pumpkin, while more stained water calls for Candy Craw. In muddy conditions, he will often reach for Magic.
Molded from super-soft plastic, the KVD Dream Shot features a hinged tail section that quivers and shakes at the slightest movement of your rod tip. Extremely lifelike feel and action – a deadly choice for any dropshot rig.
He opts for KVD Magic in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Ayu, while he will switch to Pearl Flash if the water is muddy.
Designed to provoke an immediate reaction, the Rage Swimmer has a sleek nose cone and softly ribbed body closely replicating the contours found in nature, and its thin, pancake-like tail pumps out frantic vibrations at any speed.
