Strike King pro Keith Combs recommends a few key tips for anglers in Zone 2 during March.
“This month, bass are spawning or in post spawn,” shares Combs. With stained water in the 60s, Combs urges anglers to adjust their fishing spot. “Look for shallow cover just off the main lake,” advises Combs.
He opts for Smokey Shad Tour Grade Swimming Jig with Pearl Flash Rage Scounbug in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the White Swimming Jig and Pearl Scounbug, while he will switch to Black Blue Swimming Jig with matching Black Blue Scounbug trailer if the water is muddy.
The streamlined, balanced head of the Tour Grade Swimming Jig allows a better swimming action while the Rage Flange pincers of the Rage Scounbug offer a life-like crawfish appearance for more bites.
His choice for clear water is Pearl White, while he opts for Black if the water is stained or muddy.
The KVD Sexy Frog is the best of its kind because of its sealed nose and free-floating rattle. It also has strong hooks and an easily collapsible, hollow body for better hookups.
He opts for Baby Bass in clear water, and switches to Green Pumpkin if the water is stained. Black Blue Flake is his go-to if the water is muddy.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho has beveled sides for heightened reflectivity, 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 Pearl, while more stained water calls for Green Pumpkin. Combs opts for Black Blue Flake in low-vis conditions.
Known as one of the most versatile baits ever, the Rage Bug can put a fish in the boat in so many different situations. This bait has unbeatable action and is perfect for pitching around cover and punching mats.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water with Blade Minnow trailer. If the water is stained, he will throw Bruiser, while he will switch to White if the water is muddy.
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.
Strike King pro Todd Faircloth has a few key factors that he recommends paying attention to in March in Zone 2.
“Water temps are usually in the mid to upper 50’s. Most of the fish will be spawning or thinking about it,” shares Faircloth. There are certain areas that Faircloth frequents during this time of the year, and protected pockets are one of them. “I like to fish protected pockets inside the major creek arms at this time. Target bushes, willow trees, and cypress trees in 1- to 5-feet of water,” Faircloth advises. Beyond location, there are three conditions that Faircloth encourages anglers to monitor. “Pay close attention to moon phase, water temperature, and lake level. When these three line up, and can be a lot of fun,” concludes Faircloth.
If the water is clear, Faircloth prefers Green Pumpkin. In stained water, he switches to Watermelon Red Flake. For muddy water, Faircloth will favor Black Blue Flake.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho has a slow sink rate and is versatile, but ideal for jerkbaiting and wacky rigging. The beveled sides produce increased reflectivity, creating a flash unlike any other soft bait.
Faircloth’s choice for clear water is Green Pumpkin, while he opts for Black Blue Swirl if the water is stained. Black Neon is a sure choice for Faircloth in muddy conditions.
Designed to slip in and out of tiny holes and through cover, the Rage Bug produces a traditional crawfish glide that other baits simply cannot replicate.
He opts for Blue Craw in clear water, and switches to Black Blue if the water is stained or muddy.
Strike King’s Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig is perfect if fish are looking for a faster presentation and is designed with a strong and durable weed guard that will help you navigate through the thickest of cover and cut through the grass to find the big ones.
If the water is clear, he will throw Green Pumpkin, while more stained water calls for Bama Bug. Black Blue Swirl is a go-to when fishing in muddy water.
The Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Game Hawg has a lithe, supple, totally natural build that allows it to slither cleanly through vegetation with no loss of action.
He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Black, while he will switch to Bottoms Up if the water is muddy.
The KVD Sexy Frog has strong hooks and an easily collapsible, hollow body for better hookups. The best of its kind, the Sexy Frog has a sealed nose and free-floating rattle for superior performance.
In clear conditions, Faircloth uses Blue Craw and switches to Watermelon Red Flake in stained water. Blue Bug is his go-to in muddy conditions.
The Rage Scounbug is built with two Rage Flange pincers that wiggle and swim, imparting a life-like, natural action and six legs for a realistic crawfish appearance. It has enough attitude and versatile action, perfect for being used as a jig trailer, on a jighead, Texas rigged, or Carolina rigged.
