Todd Faircloth shares his secrets to success when fishing in Zone 2 during the month of May.
From California through the Carolinas, it will be post-spawn season during the month of May for most fish, encouraging Faircloth to find 1-10 ft cover when headed out to fish. “I like to fish secondary and main lake points – grass or wood in 1-10 ft.,” shares Faircloth. Finding docks is also a key to catching fish during May in Zone 2. “If the body of water you are fishing has docks, check them early in the morning for shad spawn.”
If the water is clear, Faircloth prefers Clear Sexy Shad. In stained water, he switches to Chrome Sexy Shad.
Faircloth fishes the KVD Splash on a Lew’s Signature Series 7’ medium rod, pairing it with a Lew’s HyperMag 8.3:1 baitcast reel. He fishes the KVD Splash rig on 16 lb monofilament line.
Faircloth's color choice for a 7.5" Zeus Worm in clear water is Plum, while he opts for Junebug if the water is stained. Red Shad is his selection in muddy conditions.
He Texas rigs the worm with a 1/4oz. weight and targets the outside edges of submerged grass lines on large flats in major creeks.
Faircloth pairs the Tour Grade Spinnerbait with a ½ oz double willow trailer. Faircloth’s choice for clear water is Blue Glimmer, while he opts for White Chrome if the water is stained.
He switches to a Lew’s Signature Series 7’1” heavy rod and pairs it with a Lew’s HyperMag 7.5:1 baitcast reel. Faircloth uses 18 lb fluorocarbon when fishing with the Strike King Tour Grade Spinnerbait
This is Faircloth’s top choice when fish are in cover such as grass, wood, or rock. He opts for Sexy Ghost Minnow in clear water, and switches to Crystal Shad if the water is stained.
Faircloth throws the KVD Jerkbait on a Lew’s Signature Series 6’10” medium heavy rod and keeps it consistent with the Team Lew’s Lew’s HyperMag 7.5:1 baitcast reel. He spools the combo with 12 lb fluorocarbon.
If the water is clear, he will throw Pearl Flash, while more stained water calls for Pearl Blue. In muddy water, he will switch to Pearl.
He throws Caffeine Shad on a Lew’s Signature Series 7’1” heavy rod, paired with a Lew’s HyperMag 7.5:1 baitcast reel. Faircloth spools his combo with 16 lb fluorocarbon line.
Faircloth typically pairs his 3/8 oz. Hack Attack Swim Jig with a 3.5” Rage Menace Grub for the ideal swimming action. He opts for Blue Craw in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Black and Blue, while he will switch to White if the water is muddy.
Faircloth fishes the Hack Attack® Heavy Cover Swim Jig on a Lew’s Signature Series 7’2” heavy rod, paired with a Lew’s HyperMag 8.3:1 baitcast reel. He spools this with 40 lb braided line.
Strike King pro Dakota Ebare shares his insights on fishing in Zone 2 during May.
He predicts that water temperatures will be near 75 and bass will be transitioning into summer patterns. When targeting larger bass, he says the bluegill spawn plays a major role in their location.
If the water is clear, Ebare prefers Natural Shad. In stained water, he switches to Bluegill. For muddy water, he will favor Black Shadow.
Known for being a super lively hollow-body topwater bait, Strike King’s Popping Perch imitates a wounded baitfish and walks, twitches, skips, pops, and crawls for a realistic presentation every time.
Ebare’s choice for clear water is Natural Shad, while he opts for The Shizzle if the water is stained. Chartreuse Powder Blue is his choice in muddy conditions.
Strike King’s KVD Squarebill 4.0 Magnum employs erratic wandering action that was specially developed by 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.
He opts for Blue Glimmer in clear water, and switches to Bruiser if the water is stained. In all water conditions, he will rig with a Green Pumpkin Rage Scounbug trailer.
Designed with a premium vibrating blade, recessed head design, numerous skirt colors, and a wire bait keeper, Strike King’s Thunder Cricket Vibrating Swimming Jig’s erratic movement and lifelike presentation will definitely earn this jig a top spot in your line up.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Gizzard, while more stained water calls for The Shizzle. Chartreuse Powder Blue is Ebare’s choice for low-vis conditions.
Deep diving crankbaits are common, but the unique curved bills of the XD series allow the bait to dive deeper and faster, changing the deep diving crankbait game forever. The 5XD dives up to 15-feet.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Bama Bug, while he will switch to Black and Blue if the water is muddy.
Designed as the ideal flip bait, Strike King’s Rage Bug moves swiftly through cover and the realistic ribbing produces a crawfish glide that bass love. The Rage Bug features Strike King’s exclusive coffee scent to drive bass wild.
