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Strike King pro Mark Zona loves fishing Zone 5 in October as its historically one of the best months to land the biggest smallmouth of the year. The clear and sunny days aren’t the ones you need for huge bites in October, Zona explains. “The two best times of year to catch the biggest smallmouth in your life is pre-spawn in April and then in the month of October. Generally, the nastiest weather days in October are some of the best,” shares Zona. Zona focuses on flats and various types of cover to target huge smallmouth. “Whenever I'm smallmouth fishing, I'm looking for a combination of cover. Grass meets rock, rock meets sand, sand meets gravel. Any combination of two kinds of cover. The best areas are places where two kinds of cover come together. Smallies use these as ‘stop signs’ to feed. Generally, in the month of October, I will always try to locate fish near some sort of flat. You do NOT want a vertical drop. Flats are where you'll find schools roaming around and hunting,” advises Zona. |
If the water is clear, Zona prefers Sugar Daddy. In stained water, he switches to Bone.
“October is one of my absolute favorite months for topwater. The KVD Sexy Dawg is my go-to lure because I can absolutely launch it, which is critical as I’m using this bait not only to generate some of the most aggressive topwater strikes you’ll ever experience, but also making fish show themselves. Even if they miss it, you’ll be able to dial in the location of the school. I’m fishing it anywhere from 0- to 20-feet of water,” Zona says.
When using the Tour Grade Titanium Umbrella Rig, it's important to chose the right trailer color. Zona’s choice for clear water is Pro Blue Red Pearl Rage Swimmer, while he opts for AYU if the water is stained. Pearl Flash is his go-to in muddy water.
“One of the common misconceptions about an umbrella rig is that it's exclusively a deep-water technique. I'm literally fishing this in 0- to 40-feet. It's incredibly powerful throwing it shallower in the areas where you'd also throw a bladed jig or a spinnerbait. I’m tying up 3/16 oz. jig heads when fishing shallower. When fishing deeper, I throw 3/16 oz. on all but the bottom wire, where I use a 1/4 oz. to balance things out. October is also when smallmouth tend to group up together the tightest, so you'll have opportunities to repeatedly catch multiples on a single cast. Try to resist from setting the hook on the first fish that hits - wait and the other will come get it. I'm burning it in 0-15 and slow rolling it just above the bottom in 15- to 40-feet,” shares Zona.
Zona carefully chooses which trailer color to use when fishing the Thunder Cricket. He opts for Green Pumpkin with a matching Green Pumpkin Blade Minnow in clear water, and switches to Blue Craw with matching Blue Craw trailer if the water is stained. For low-vis conditions, Zona prefers the White with Pearl Flash trailer.
“Generally, I'm fishing this on 20 lb. line, and unlike largemouth fishing with a Thunder Cricket, I'm speed reeling this under the surface as fast as possible anywhere from 0- to 10-feet. I'm using a Blade Minnow as a trailer here because it's cuts the water fast and allows me to burn it quickly,” shares Zona.
If the water is clear, he will throw Crystal Shad KVD J300 Elite Jerkbait, while more stained water calls for AYU. Zona picks up Oyster in muddy water.
“The key with fishing a jerkbait in October is being aggressive with your retrieve. I’m twitching this bait as fast as I can in 5- to 20-feet. Keying in on locations where two different types of cover come together,” Zona advises.
For the 3.5" Coffee Tube, he opts for KVD Kick in clear water. If the water is stained or muddy, he will throw Green Pumpkin Purple Flake.
“Once I locate them with the first four lures, I'm slowing it down and cleaning up with a tube. My go-to size is a 3/8 oz Crackin' Tube Head in 5- to 20-feet of water. Biggest thing in October, when you've found one, you've found a load of them, because they are grouped up tighter right now than any other time of year,” Zona says.
October is Strike King pro Kevin VanDam’s favorite time to fish in Zone 5. He shares his tactics for fishing Zone 5 in October.
With the changing temperatures, fish adjust behavior as they prepare for the changing seasons. “Fish start getting a lot more aggressive stocking up before winter,” says KVD. He suggests paying close attention to retrieve rate. “Fast retrieve in shallow water and slow retrieve in stained water,” VanDam shares.
The best place to target your catch of the day? “Shallow water over grass and rocks – fish push up as shallow as possible,” advises KVD.
If the water is clear, KVD prefers the Blue Glimmer with a Trailer Hook. In stained water, he switches to the Chartreuse/White. For muddy water, VanDam will favor a Super Chartreuse.
The Raz-R-Blade™ high RPM blades on The Burner allow the bait to be burned right under the surface to prevent blow out.
VanDam’s choice for clear water is the Bluegill, while he opts for Chartreuse Perch if the water is stained. In muddy water, KVD with reach for a Chartreuse Baitfish.
KVD favors the Red Eyed Shad because of its efficiency in covering shallow flats while also being great around rocks.
He opts for the Clear Ayu in clear water, and switches to The Shizzle if the water is stained.
KVD J200 is a lethal choice when fish are suspended over cover.
If the water is clear, he will throw the Light Melon Purple Coffee Tube with a Crackin' Tube Head. In more stained water calls for a Green Pumpkin Purple and Gold Flake. If the water is muddy, KVD prefers the Dark Melon.
He opts for Green Pumpkin with Scounbug Trailer in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw the Bruiser, while he will switch to a Black Blue if the water is muddy.
Changing the game for vibrating jigs, Thunder Cricket has a Jungle-style flipping hook and ultra-stiff, stainless steel blade for unmistakable movement in the water.
