Let’s talk about fishing in May, and I’ve got four of my absolute favorite baits to throw this time of year. We’re splitting it up like always, two baits for the North (let’s say Virginia and above), and two for the South (North Carolina and below). Let’s get to it!
What’s Up With May?
Before we get into the baits, we’ve gotta talk about what’s happening underwater. May is a month of change—a transition. In the South, it’s late spring. Those fish have already spawned and now they’re sliding out, looking to feed and recover. In the North, fish are moving up shallow to spawn, guard fry, or just cruise around.
The good news? Fish are still shallow! They’re targetable. You don’t have to fish in 40 feet of water to catch them. We can still catch ’em in 20 feet or less, and that’s great news.
Northern Baits (Virginia and Up)
1. Swim Jig
First up, the Swim jig. Oh man, I love a swim jig in May. Fish up North are moving shallow, heading into flats, backs of creeks, shallow pockets…they’re getting ready to spawn. That means you need a bait that covers water fast but still gets bites.
I use the Missile Baits Mini Swim Jig. It’s compact, it’s got a flat head, and it swims great. Pair it with a swimbait trailer, a chunk, or even a twin-tail grub depending on how shallow or deep you want to run it.
Colors? Keep it simple:
- White when there’s shad
- Black/blue in stained water
- Green pumpkin or bluegill when fish are chasing panfish
I throw it down the banks, shake it a little on the retrieve (I call it the Alabama shake), and I’m watching the water too. Beds, cruisers, fry—I’m using this bait to locate fish and get reaction bites.
2. Ned Rig
Now, once I’ve located the fish with that swim jig, I’m slowing down. That’s where the Ned Rig comes in. This thing’s a cleanup tool. Fish on beds? Post-spawn fish? Fry guarders? It’ll catch all of ‘em.
I like a light head; 1/16 to 1/8 oz. The Berkley Fusion Half Head is my go-to. Make sure that line tie is 90 degrees, it helps the bait track right.
As for plastics? You can use anything small and finesse-y, but I like a 4″ stick worm, like the Berkley General. I usually bite about half an inch off to make it more compact.
Throw it in the area where you found fish with the swim jig. It’s not fast, it’s not flashy but it gets bites.
Southern Baits (North Carolina and Down)
3. Topwater
Oh baby, now we’re talking! Down South in May, it’s topwater time. These fish have spawned and now they’re hungry. There might be a shad spawn, herring spawn, or even bluegill spawning—and these fish are feeding up.
Here are my top 3 topwater picks:
- Walking bait – For open water, secondary points, or riprap. I like the Berkley J-Walker 100. Twitch-pause-twitch—it walks great and draws big strikes.
- Buzzbait – For covering water fast, especially around cover like laydowns or docks. I love the Molix Lover Buzz SS with the big blade. I’ll run it with a skirt or a toad trailer and always add a trailer hook.
- Hollow-body Frog – Got heavy grass? Thick wood? Docks stacked with cables? That’s when you pull out the frog. Nothing like a blow-up in May on a frog. Skip it, pop it, pause, it’s deadly.
May is one of the best months for topwater in the South, hands down.
4. Mid-Depth Crankbait
Last but not least, we’ve got to talk about crankbaits. After the spawn, fish group up on little pieces of cover; rock piles, shell beds, brush, grass patches; and they feed hard before moving deep for summer.
I’m talking about crankbaits that run 6 to 15 feet. I use the Berkley Dime Series—Dime 6, 10, or 15, depending on the depth.
As far as colors, here are my suggestions:
- Citrus shad for dirty water
- Chartreuse/blue for bright days or shad eaters
- Pearl white for clear water or herring situations
Here’s the key: Hit the bottom or cover. Don’t just swim it over their heads. Get that crankbait banging into the bottom, deflecting off stuff. That’s when they strike—and often, more than one fish will be loaded on that spot.
There you have it, my top four baits for May:
- North: Swim Jig + Ned Rig
- South: Topwater (Walking/Buzzbait/Frog) + Mid-Depth Crankbait
Fish are shallow, they’re active, and they’re accessible. Whether you’re up North or down South, give these baits a shot and you’re gonna get more bites!
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