Zone 4 – October
Strike King pro Scott Suggs discusses all things thermocline and how it can influence angling success all over the country, but especially in Zone 4.
“To set yourself up to have the most success during the fall in Zone 4, or anywhere else in the country for that matter, it essentially comes down to understanding one critical indicator of fish location – the thermocline,” Suggs begins.
The most defining feature of a thermocline is the abrupt change in temperature as you move deeper into the water. “On almost any reservoir in the U.S., the thermocline typically establishes itself around mid-May to early June. You can expect to find it in 12- to 14-foot range using sonar on a fish finder. From that point on, the thermocline will continue to drop deeper and deeper into the water column as the water temperature above it continues to rise,” he says.
If the water is clear, Suggs prefers Morning Dawn. In stained water, he switches to Magic. For muddy water, he will favor Tequila Sunrise Orange Flake.
“This is a big deal in October with any lake that has standing timber. I’m using to a 3/16 oz. to a ¼ oz. weight in 25-to 30-feet of water. I cast past the timber and essentially swim the dropshot slowly through the timber. It’s truly an incredible bite,” says Suggs.
His choice for clear water is the Ned Ocho in Green Pumpkin while he opts for Summer Craw if the water is stained. Black and Blue Swirl is his favorite when fishing in low-vis conditions.
“This time of year, I’m fishing a lot of creek ditches, especially those with a lot of rock around them. On a high-pressure day, the fish will be right on the edge or at the deepest part of the ditch. Make sure you’re only fishing areas above the thermocline. By this time of year, the fish have likely received a lot of pressure. Going down to a finesse presentation can be the difference in a bad day on the water and one of the best days you’ll ever have,” shares Suggs
He opts for KVD Magic in clear water, and switches to Pro Blue Red Pearl if the water is stained. Suggs opts for Pearl in muddy conditions.
“The Rage Swimmer is a year-around bait for me in Zone 4. Fish tend to set up around brush on creek ditches. I’m targeting brush in 20- to 25-feet using a ¼ oz. to 3/8 oz. jig head. I wind it 1- to 2-feet over the top of the brush pile. I also use this whenever fish are schooling near the surface, except for in this situation, I’m burning it over the top of the school,” Suggs advises.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Pumpkin and Redbug, while more stained water calls for Candy Craw. In muddy water, Suggs prefers Blue Flake.
“I’ll use a Finesse Worm on either a Texas rig or a shakey head. For creek turns and ditches with timber, I Texas rig it so I can easily work it through potential hang-ups. For creek turns/ditches with no timber, I’m putting it on a shakey head. If you have any hydrilla in your lake, make sure you’re fishing this around the outside edge,” Suggs suggests.
He opts for Olive Shad with a Pearl Flash Scounbug trailer in clear water. If the water is stained, he throws Falcon Lake Craw with a Green Pumpkin trailer, and in muddy water, he switches to Black and Blue with a matching Scounbug trailer.
“The Thunder Cricket is such an incredible search bait. We get a lot of fall rains this time of year. When the water starts coming in, I’ll target the fresh water that coming into the lake. This will likely occur at the backs of creeks after the thermocline is no longer a factor,” shares Suggs.
Zone 4 – October
Strike King pro Mark Rose gives anglers a heads-up as to what is expected in Zone 4 for the month of October.
Anglers should expect a change in water temperature as colder weather starts to make its way into Zone 4. “Water temps will start cooling off due to colder nights and some cold fronts starting to creep in. Many lake evils will start to fall as winter drawdowns start to occur,” warns Rose.
The one thing that Rose says to look for? Cover. “Let me explain – shad start to move up in the water column and migrate around in schools. Bass will use these schools of bait for food, shade, oxygen…essentially, cover,” shares Rose.
If the water is clear or stained, Rose prefers Chrome Black. For muddy water, Rose will favor Sexy Shad.
The Red Eyed Shad has incredible action, premium hooks, 3D eyes, and free-floating rattles.
Rose picks up Mouse for clear water while he opts for Spot Remover if the water is stained. Chartreuse White is Rose’s go-to when fishing in muddy or low-vis water.
The Tour Grade Spinnerbait with a Swin-N-Shiner trailer is a top choice this time of year, particularly when there is a little chop on the water.
Rose opts for a White Buzzbait when fishing in clear, stained, or muddy water.
This is a must when chasing active fish in shallow water with a prevalence of vegetation and cover. And a powerful strike on a Strike King Mini Pro-Buzz will have you hooked on topwater action.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Gizzard Shad, while more stained water calls for Gizzard Shad. In muddy or low-vis water, Rose reaches for Sexy Shad.
A small, shallow diver with high buoyancy, the Series 1 is designed to be thrown around heavy cover. The square lip design makes it excellent for deflecting off cover and triggering reaction strikes.
He pairs the Strike King Tour Grade Swimming Jig with a Sexy Shad 4" Swim'N Caffeine Shad trailer. He opts for Sexy Shad in clear and stained water, while he will switch to Black and Blue if the water is muddy.
The streamlined, balanced head provides excellent swimming action and is complete with a medium wire ultra-sharp hook.