Strike King pro Kevin VanDam is 100% focused on one area of the lake during May in Zone 6 – flats.
“During May in Zone 6, most of the fish are pre-spawn or starting to spawn. Water temperatures should be in the upper 50’s to mid-60’s. During this time of the year, I’m focused 100% on the large flats that you’ll find in natural lakes,” shares VanDam. With pre-spawn fish feeding aggressively, KVD chooses baits that replicate dominate forage in the area. “Gobies, crawfish, perch, and bluegill will be some of the dominant forage that aggressive pre-spawners will be targeting. My initial approach to breaking down flats is starting with three of my favorite search baits... The Red Eyed Shad, J300 Elite Jerkbait, and Tungsten Thunder Cricket,” says KVD.
When fishing on flats with any type of structure or vegetation, KVD switches up his baits to match. “If I’m covering flats with good vegetation; reeds, lily pads, etc., I’ll opt for the Tour Grade Tungsten Thunder Cricket and a Tour Grade Swim jig… especially if the water is stained or dirty,” he says.
One last tip that KVD recommends for anglers in Zone 6? “I’m telling you, there’s something really neat going on right now with red craw colors on clear, northern lakes. If the fish are pre-spawn in Zone 6, don’t leave home without your favorite craw options,” insists KVD.
If the water is clear, VanDam prefers Orange Belly Craw. In stained water, he switches to Chartreuse Perch. For muddy water, he will favor Fire Craw.
Created by our national pro staff, Strike King’s Red Eyed Shad is the lipless crankbait you need on your boat deck. Premium 3D eyes, exclusive color schemes, and a free-floating rattle place the Red Eyed Shad a step ahead of other lipless crankbaits.
KVD’s choice for clear water is TN Shad 2.0, while he opts for Pro Gold if the water is stained. In muddy conditions, he will choose Siren.
Taking performance to the next level, Strike King’s KVD J300 Elite Jerkbait has a proprietary weight transfer system to maximize casting distance and three premium black nickel hooks to deliver lethal action every time.
While he maintains Fire Craw Blade Minnow trailer for each water condition, he opts for Blue Craw Tungsten Thunder Cricket in clear water, and switches to Bruiser if the water is stained. In muddy water, he chooses to match his trailer and uses the Fire Craw Tungsten Thunder Cricket.
With the finest quality tour grade tungsten head, anglers finally have a small profile Strike King bladed jig without compromising Thunder Cricket’s most important features. The Tungsten Thunder Cricket also features the same long shank, super tough jungle-style hook as the original.
If the water is clear, he will throw Blue Craw with Fire Craw trailer, while more stained water calls for Bluegill with Fire Craw trailer. The Black N Blue Swim Jig with California Craw Rage Craw trailer.
Designed with a streamlined, balanced head for better swimming action, the Tour Grade Swim Jig features an ultra-sharp wire hook and soft plastic keeper to keep your trailer in place and a Perfect Skirt in a variety of colors to match your current fishing situation.
KVD likes to pair the Coffee Tube with a 3/16-1/4 oz. tube head.
He opts for Melon Purple in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the Dark Melon, while he will switch to a Black Neon if the water is muddy.
Strike King’s Coffee Tubes are scented with real coffee granules and coffee bean oil for a strong natural scent that bass cannot resist, resulting in a higher number of aggressive strikes on your line.
May is a month of transition in Zone 6 and Strike King pro Jay Przekurat highlights some of the best areas to catch spawning bass.
With water temperatures expecting to range from the upper 40’s to 60’s, Przekurat expects May to be a month of transition in Zone 6. “May in Zone 6 is the month there will be some spawning fish, especially later in the month, but in the early part of the month most everything will still be pre-spawn,” shares Przekurat. Fishing shallow is a favorite for Przekurat during May. “Shallow flats with boulders or good weed growth are my favorite. I like to do a lot if sight fishing as well if the water is clear enough,” he says.
If the water is clear, Przekurat prefers the Green Pumpkin Purple. In stained or muddy water, he switches to the Triple Magic.
Designed to excel with lighter tackle, the finesse design of the KVD Perfect Plastics Half Shell delivers a unique glide and coffee scent that fish can’t resist.
Przekurat’s choice for clear water is the Electric Shad, while he opts for Green Gizzard Shad if the water is stained. Carolina Chrome is his go-to in muddy conditions.
If fish are not chasing a fast-moving bait, the Rage Swimmer will often trigger fish to respond. The beauty of the Rage Swimmer is that the legendary tail maintains its swimming action whether burned through a school of feeding fish, or slowly crawled across the bottom or through cover.
He opts for the Arkansas Shiner in clear water, and switches to The Deal if the water is stained. Przekurat picks up a Pearl if fishing in muddy water.
This legendary drop shot bait fishes more like a traditional soft plastic jerkbait. When Przekurat needs to slow his presentation for lethargic fish, he will turn to the Baby Z-Too.
If the water is clear, Przekurat will throw a Green Pumpkin, while more stained water calls for a Triple Magic. He chooses a Bold Blue Gill in muddy water.
Extremely lifelike feel and action – a deadly choice for any dropshot rig, the KVD Dream Shot softbait gives you the dropshotter's version of the popular Strike King Caffeine Shad.
He opts for Crazy Craw in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw Green Pumpkin, while he will switch to Roadkill if the water is muddy.
The coffee scent causes fish to hold onto the 3.5" Coffee Tube longer while masking human and plastic scents. The small tails of the Coffee Tube replicate falling baitfish/prey in the water, attracting more strikes in the spring and summer months.
Przekurat loves to use Green Phantom in clear water and picks up Phantom Brown Craw in stained water. Chartreuse Spring Craw is his top choice in muddy conditions.
Delivering a wide wobble action in a bite-sized, 1.5 profile, Strike King's Gravel Dawg 8 grinds through rock, wood, and grass better than any medium-diving crank bait in its class. Strike King pros Todd Castledine and Kevin VanDam worked diligently to design the ideal, “go to” crankbait for anglers across the country.
Green Pumpkin is Przekurat’s choice in clear water while he chooses Blue Craw for stained conditions. In low-vis conditions, he finds Pearl to be most efficient.
Rage Hawk is 2.75” and features a super compact profile, with two Rage arms extending from the side of the bait. It is able to fit up to a 5/0 flipping hook in its smaller body style, increasing hook up ratios and presenting fish with the perfect, snack-sized bite for finicky bass.
