Strike King pro Andy Montgomery explains why February is a transitional month in Zone 3 and how bass will react. 

Beginning of February is in winter pattern, while the end of February is beginning of pre-spawn – transitional time of year,” Montgomery begins. This transitional time means that anglers will need to adapt their baits to match. “Early in the month, it's still all about bait. During this time, there's a transition off of dominant bait fish colors to more craw-colored baits. This coincides with the tendency for bass to feed on shallow water forage as they move up to feed before spawning,” he shares. 

When thinking about location, Montgomery has some spots that he highly recommends. “So early in the month, you're basically looking off the end of points or coves in deeper creeks – you're mostly looking for bait fish on the deeper end of points. As they transition to pre-spawn, they typically stay around the same points that they were in during the winter, except in the pre-spawn, they move up the points to the closest piece of shallow cover they can find. This includes docks, laydowns, brush, or any piece of structure they can relate to while the focus on feeding before the spawn is in full swing,” Montgomery advises. 

BAIT 1: Strike King KVD J300

BAIT 2: Strike King Gravel Dawg

Montgomery’s choice for clear water is Phantom Brown Craw, while he opts for Brown Gourd if the water is stained. Demon 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.

BAIT 2: Strike King Tour Grade Titanium Umbrella Rig

He opts for Blue Gizzard in clear, stained, or muddy conditions.

The stiffer wire on the Bladed Tour Grade Titanium Umbrella Rig provides more stability than other umbrella rigs while the five blades flash and swivel to attract fish.

BAIT 4: Strike King 1.5 Hard Knock

If the water is clear, he will throw Phantom Watermelon Red Craw, while more stained water calls for Delta Craw. Hard Knock Fire Craw is a favorite when fishing in muddy conditions. 

Utilizing the same shape as the original, Strike King’s 1.5 Hard Knock Crankbait produces all the same great action as the original with an enhanced knocking sound for attracting intense strikes. 

BAIT 5: Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket with Rage Menace trailer

He opts for Green Pumpkin in clear water.  If the water is stained or muddy, he will throw Fire Craw. Montgomery uses the Crawdaddy Rage Menace in all water conditions. 

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.

BAIT 6: Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig with Rage Bug Midsize trailer

In clear conditions, Montgomery uses Green Pumpkin Craw and utilizes Black Blue in stained or muddy water. The Green Pumpkin Rage Bug Midsize is his choice in all water conditions. 

Designed from scratch by pro angler Andy Montgomery, this performance skipping jig is built around a unique flat-sided head shape that glances lightly off the surface, for smooth, controlled skipping into the tight spaces that hold monster bass.

Strike King pro John Garrett highlights a few key locations that he frequents to get the most bites during February in Zone 3. 

During February, Garrett expects for water temperatures to be in the 45- to 50-degree range. Often times, he will be fishing on main lake/river and finds quite a bit of success near current breaks or seams on flatter banks and shallower bars. There are also times in which he will find bass hiding out in submerged grass, just tucked away from the main current flow. 

If the water is clear, Garrett prefers the Gold Sexy Shad. In stained water, he switches to Fire Craw. For muddy water, he will favor Phantom Watermelon Red Craw.

The Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2-Tap is designed with a unique tungsten sound chamber that emits a double tapping cadence for a unique sound that can trigger even the most finicky fish to bite.

BAIT 2: Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket with Blade Minnow trailer

Garrett’s choice for clear water is Falcon Lake Craw, while he opts for Fire Craw if the water is stained. He opts for Black in muddy conditions. He chooses the Green Pumpkin Blade Minnow trailer in all water conditions.  

Strike King’s Tungsten Thunder Cricket is designed to make longer casts than any finesse-sized bladed jig and features a super-strong long-shank Owner Jungle Hook and a hand-tied skirt for superior swimming action.

BAIT 3: Strike King Series 3

He opts for Delta Red in clear water, and switches to Chili Craw if the water is stained. Denny Brauer Craw is his go-to in muddy conditions. 

A small-bodied deep diver, the Series 3 is designed to enhance castability, thus reaching maximum depths. One of the most popular crankbaits on the market!

BAIT 4: Strike King J300 Deep

If the water is clear, he will throw Clear AYU, while more stained or muddy water calls for Clown.  

The KVD 300 Deep Jerkbait series has the perfect combination of roll, wiggle and flash. The combination of our proprietary weight transfer system for increased castability, with 3D eyes and premium black nickel hooks, result in that lethal action.

BAIT 5: Strike King our Grade Spinnerbait with Swim’n Caffeine Shad trailer

He opts for Olive Shad in clear water.  If the water is stained, he will throw White/Silver, while he will switch to Chartreuse/White if the water is muddy. Garrett goes for the Ghost Shad Swim’n Caffeine Shad trailer in all conditions. 

Strike King’s Tour Grade Spinnerbait features a Gamakatsu® hook and weight forward head design which allows the bait to come through heavy cover with ease. Naturalistic painted willow blade models allow for more flash of color.