May Zone 3

 

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Zone 3 – May

Strike King and Lew’s pro Andy Montgomery shares his insight on fishing in Zone 3 during the month of May.

“I like to break this month into two categories—shallow water forage and deep forage,” says Montgomery. Early in May, he focuses on bass feeding on shad or bluegill in shallow, shaded areas. By late May, it becomes bluegill “revenge time” as these fish begin preying on newly hatched bass fry, so anglers should still use bluegill-imitating baits but target fingerling bass.

When the bass move deeper to chase shad later in the month, Montgomery says you can get more aggressive with lures like 6XD crankbaits and jigging spoons. “Long points, ledges, or deep drop-offs are key target areas,” he advises, noting that the fish haven’t yet become conditioned to power fishing techniques.

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If the water is clear, Montgomery prefers Green Pumpkin. For stained or muddy water, he will favor Morning Dawn. He usually pairs it with a Drop Shot bait.

The key feature of the Filler Worm is the vibrant action of the simplistic, yet enticing tail of the worm, causing it to quiver and move at the slightest flicker of the rod tip.


 

Montgomery’s choice for clear water is Sexy Shad, while he opts for Neon Shad if the water is stained. In muddy water, he throws Chartreuse Shad.

He switches to a Lew’s Signature Series Mark Rose Swimbait 7’6” medium heavy rod and pairs it with a HyperMag 8.3:1 baitcast reel.

When fishing this set up, Montgomery uses 15 lb fluorocarbon.


 

This Skip’N Buzz is Montgomery’s top choice when fish are in shaded areas in shallow water. He usually pairs it with a Rage Swimmer bait.

He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear and stained water, and switches to Black if the water is muddy.

Montgomery throws the Skip’N Buzz on a Lew’s Signature Series Andy Montgomery 7’3” medium heavy rod and a Pro SP reel. He spools the combo with 20 lb fluorocarbon.


 

Montgomery usually pairs the Skipping Jig with a Rage Bug bait. If the water is clear or stained, he will throw Green Pumpkin, while muddy water calls for Black and Blue.

He uses the Skipping Jig on a Lew’s Signature Series Andy Montgomery 7’1” heavy rod, paired with a Lew’s Pro SP reel. Montgomery spools his combo with 20 lb fluorocarbon line.


 

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Zone 3 – May

Strike King pro Andy Morgan shares how the shad spawn can affect where bass are found during May in Zone 3.

With warmer than usual temperatures in May, Morgan says bass can be found in both shallower and deeper waters in Zone 3. “It is typical for the fish to creep out to where they are actually coming to the main lake. Once they start out, the only thing that slows them down is the shad spawn,” says Morgan.

There are a few key locations that Morgan encourages anglers to check out. “The shad spawn will be on rock, boat docks, grass, and wood. Also, maybe any type of vegetation that is near the surface,” he shares. Based on their interest in spawning shad, bass may be found in the shallows on the hunt for food. “Of course, [the shad spawn] holds the bass up and that is the only thing that will keep them in the bays and the shallows. Once that shad spawn ends, typically – it’s a ledge thing,” Morgan advises.

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If the water is clear, Morgan prefers Olive Shad. In stained or muddy water, he switches to White.

Strike King’s Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig features a jungle-style flipping hook and an ultra-thin, ultra-stiff stainless-steel blade with Strike King’s new Panther Hide Paint finish. Its innovative design provides maximum swimming action, flash, and thump, with a superior hookup ratio.


 

Morgan’s choice for clear water is White Silver, while he opts for Chartreuse White if the water is stained or muddy.

Featuring a Gamakatsu hook and weight forward head design, Strike King’s Tour Grade Spinnerbait enables swift movement through heavy cover. The light wire frame helps produce maximum vibration, paired with a pro-designed, hand-tied skirt.


 
 
 

He opts for Natural Shad in clear water, and switches to Olive Shad if the water is stained. In muddy water, Morgan prefers Citrus Shad.

Able to dive up to 15 feet, the Pro Model 5XD features a newly designed bill and specifically chosen colors to target deep fish.


 

 

If the water is clear, he will throw Natural Shad, while more stained water calls for Olive Shad. Citrus Shad is his go-to in muddy water.

With the ability to reach depths of up to 20 feet, Strike King’s Pro Model 6XD has the perfect combination of shimmy and wiggle to get the attention of picky bass to trigger more bites.


 

He opts for Natural Shad in clear water. If the water is stained or muddy, he will throw Bone.

The best premium “walk the dog” topwater lure available in the market today, Strike King’s Sexy Dawg features a unique design and a walking action unlike any other topwater lure.  


 

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Zone 3 – May

Strike King pro Mark Menendez shares why May is one of the coolest times to fish in Zone 3.

May in Zone 3 transitions from early May spawning to late May summer patterns, and Menendez advises anglers to look for the first structure element in front of spawning areas—like long points or creek channel bends—where fish will stage. “When you find a school of fish, they tend to be similar in size because of their athletic ability,” Menendez explains, noting that while there’s more size variation earlier in the month, groups become more uniform later on.

As May progresses, size classes begin roaming and schooling together, so once you locate a fish on your chosen structure, keep looking for stumps, rocks, hard clay, or shell beds nearby. Menendez emphasizes that multiple fish of the same size are often close by, making it crucial to thoroughly work those areas.

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If the water is clear, Menendez prefers Blue Craw. In stained water, he switches to Junebug. For muddy water, he will favor Black Blue Flake.

The lifelike design of the Rage Craw features two realistic pincers and a long, slender body to create lots of turbulence. Strike King’s Rage Craw can be Texas- rigged, Carolina- rigged, or used as a jig trailer.


 

Menendez’s choice for clear water is Blue Craw Red Flake, while he opts for Bama Bug if the water is stained. Black Blue Flake is his first choice when fishing in muddy conditions.

Created to efficiently move through cover without getting hung up, Strike King’s Game Hawg is supple and its totally natural build allows it to slither cleanly through vegetation with no loss of action


 

He opts for Ox Blood in clear water, and switches to Hard Candy if the water is stained. Menendez opts for Black in muddy conditions.

Extremely versatile, the KVD Perfect Plastics Finesse Worm is deadly on a shakey head, dances enticingly on a drop shot rig, and has Strike King’s exclusive Coffee Scent technology.


 

If the water is clear, he will throw Chartreuse Sexy Shad, while more stained water calls for Gizzard Shad. He chooses Blue Back Chartreuse when fishing in muddy conditions.

A medium-sized body with a medium wobble and medium buoyancy, the Series 5 has a two degree diving plane to allow for lengthened casts and deeper depths!