September Zone 4

Zone 4 – September

Strike King pro Mark Rose advises anglers of typical water patterns for Zone 4 in the month of September.

“Water temperatures are still warm early September; however, we’ll usually start getting some cooler nights starting mid-September,” shares Rose. When fishing top water, the shift in temperature can often be beneficial. “The cooler water temperatures create some good early morning and late evening top water bites,” says Rose. Keep an eye on the radar when fishing in Zone 4 because “water clarity varies based on summer rains,” Rose offers.

As late-September approaches in Zone 4, there are some other changes anglers can expect. “Some lakes will start to see water levels fall as the winter drawdowns begin in late-September,” Rose concludes.

Sexy Dawg
Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg

 

BAIT 1: Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg

If the water is clear, Rose prefers Black Lab. In stained water, he switches to Green Gizzard Shad. For muddy water, Rose will favor Chartreuse Sexy Shad.

The Sexy Dawg was designed to be an easy to work, far casting, premium “walk-the-dog” topwater lure with great action.

Tour Grade Swim Jig
Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig

 

BAIT 2: Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig with Scounbug Trailer

A top choice for Rose in clear water is Blue Craw, while he opts for White if the water is stained. In low-vis or muddy water, Rose picks up Black Blue.

The Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig design is perfect for moving through cover, emulating a swimming bait fish or darting crawfish. Rose keeps his rod tip low to keep the bait near cover, letting the fish determine retrieval speed.

Football Jig
Strike King Tour Grade Football Jig

 

BAIT 3: STRIKE KING TOUR GRADE FOOTBALL JIG

Rose opts for Green Pumpkin Tour Grade Football Jig in clear and stained water. In muddy water, he picks up Junebug.

This fantastic jig head is great around rock cover and excels in deeper water for fish that will not chase a fast-moving bait. The football head design helps the bait stand up.

Series 3
Strike King Promodel Crankbait S3

 

BAIT 4: STRIKE KING PRO MODEL SERIES 3 CRANKBAIT

If the water is clear, Rose will throw  Green Gizzard Shad, while more stained water calls for Wicked Firetiger. When the water is muddy, Rose grabs Chartreuse Blue Black Splatterback.

The Pro Model Series 3 is a proven crankbait in the 6  to 8 foot range, depending on how light the line is.

Tour Grade Spinnerbait
Strike King Tour Grade Spinnerbait

 

BAIT 5: STRIKE KING TOUR GRADE SPINNERBAIT WITH CAFFEINE SHAD JR. TRAILER

Rose opts for Blue Glimmer in clear water. If the water is stained or muddy, he will throw White/Silver.

The Tour Grade Spinnerbait features a hand-tied skirt and a double willow leaf blade for maximum disturbance in the water.

 

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SHOP ZONE 4 BAITS

Zone 4 – September

Strike King pro Scott Suggs discusses how the thermocline impacts fishing in Zone 4 during September.

During September in Zone 4, the thermocline is starting to rise and forcing anglers to be intentional about the depths they are focusing on for their next catch. “The thermocline is so hard that you can see it in the daytime. When it gets really hard like that, it is building up for a turnover. When that happens, everything changes,” shares Suggs. Based on the rising thermocline, the available fishing area is drastically reduced with suspended fish hovering above the line, usually above 30-feet. “What is so amazing, I can take a bait and pitch it to ‘em, if they don’t get to it before it gets to the thermocline, they stop in their tracks. When it flips over, you’ll be able to catch them at all depths,” Suggs says. Suggs expects that the thermocline will flip toward the end of September, opening up the lake and allowing for the full acreage of the lake to be fished. One piece of advice that Suggs lends to anglers is that there is no thermocline in moving bodies of water, like the Arkansas or Mississippi Rivers, so the fishing depths are not impacted by the thermocline.

Scott find most success with the KVD Splash, Skip’N Buzz, Red Eyed Shad, KVD 2.5, and KVD Sexy Frog in Zone 4 during September.

Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg
Strike King KVD Splash

 

BAIT 1: Strike King KVD Splash

If the water is clear, Suggs prefers Chrome Blue. In stained water, he switches to TN Shad 2.0. For muddy water, he will favor Black Lab.

The special design of the KVD Splash allows this bait to deliver the perfect balance of spitting, chugging, and walking to entire topwater strikes. KVD Splash includes premium components such as a feather-enhanced rear treble hook, 3D eyes, and an ultra-realistic paint job.

Tour Grade Swim Jig
Strike King Skip’N Buzz

 

BAIT 2: Strike King Skip’N Buzz with Toad trailer

His choice for clear water is Green Pumpkin, while he opts for White if the water is stained. Suggs will utilize Black when fishing in muddy water.

Strike King’s Skip’N Buzz is specifically built to help anglers target out-of-reach fish in places where few baits will go. The Skip'N Buzz features a 4/0 hook positioned perfectly to not hinder the baits skipping ability while maintaining maximum hook ups.

Strike King Tour Grade Football Jig Head
Strike King Red Eyed Shad

 

Bait 3: Strike King Red Eyed Shad

He opts for Natural Shad in clear water, and switches to Chartreuse Sexy Shad if the water is stained. Bully is his go-to when fishing in low-vis conditions.

The Red Eyed Shad has incredible action and features some awesome paint jobs, premium hooks, 3D eyes, and free-floating rattles to give you the best action and sound of any lipless crankbait on the market.

Pro Model Series 3 Crankbait
KVD Squarebill 2.5 Crankbait

 

BAIT 4: Strike King KVD Squarebill 2.5 Crankbait

If the water is clear, he will throw The Shizzle, while more stained water calls for Chartreuse Sexy Shad. Suggs will opt for a Chartreuse Black Back in muddy conditions.

The KVD Squarebill 2.5 Crankbait is perfect for shallow water, power fishing. The squarebill design and unique “hunting” action will constantly emit erratic movement while still running true.

 

Strike King Tour Grade Spinnerbait
Strike King KVD Sexy Frog

 

BAIT 5: Strike King KVD Sexy Frog

 

He opts for Bullfrog in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Bone, while he will switch to Green Pumpkin Gill if the water is muddy.

Strike King’s KVD Sexy Frog is the best of its kind – the sealed nose and free-floating rattle make this frog perfect for open water and heavy cover applications.

 

 

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SHOP ZONE 4 BAITS