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By Kevin VanDam

KVD with the Strike King Red Eye ShadKVD with the Strike King Red Eye ShadWhile this is the season for fishing blade baits like Silver Buddies or working suspending jerkbaits, don’t overlook the lipless crankbait for triggering reactionary strikes on Michiana lakes.

It’s really effective during these warming trends like we’ve been having recently and works when the water temperature is in the 50s and upper 40s.

I’ll get on outer edge of bigger flats of natural lakes with some vegetation and work a Red Eye Shad from Strike King Lure Company.

While other types of lipless lures may work, the Red Eye Shad has inherent qualities that allow it to flutter and wobble when you kill the bait. Most lipless lures fall to their side and lose action.

You probably won’t catch many fish burning the bait, but you can trigger the strikes by “pumping” it along the drop-offs. I will hold the boat off the weedy drop off and cast parallel to it and begin yo-yoing it back to the boat. It’s very similar to how some guys fish blade baits except I like to do it with this type of lure, keeping the bait just above the grass that still grows near the break.

It’s a really good technique on those slick calm days when you have a little drizzle or cloud cover. The bluegills can be seen suspending and the bass aren’t on the bottom; they’ll hang just under the gills.

I like to pull-and-stop the lure, sweeping the rod to the side. Hesitate only briefly when you stop the lure before pumping it again.

I also fish this technique with a little heavier line (17 pound) so I can control the fall of the lure.

For colors, I like the ½-ounce Red Eye in bluegill imitating patterns, although gold, black and gold, or gold sexy shad are good colors, too.

You may also catch some pike along with the bass, but who cares? You’re catching fish at a time when most guys have given up!