Entry 273-1
Randy Dearman Tells How to Fish Strike King’s Lures
Editor’s Note: Randy Dearman of Onalaska, Texas, a Strike King Pro since 1978, fishes the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) and several BASS tour events. When asked about his performance in the 2008 tournament circuit, Dearman replies, “It hasn’t been my best year or my worst, but as long as I’m fishing, I’m having fun.”
Part 1: The Rage Shad Walks on Water and Cuts through Grass
Question: Randy, one of the lures not widely-known, but with which I know you’ve been successful is the Rage Shad. Tell me how and where you’re fishing this lure.
Dearman: The Rage Shad is a soft-plastic top-water bait that I can rig and swim on top of the water or through any type of cover without getting hung-up. The Rage Shad walks on water like the Zara Spook. When the tail flops to one side, the bait’s head moves to the opposite side. I like this bait because I can fish it in any type of vegetation, including bushes, brush, downed trees and any cover where you may not be able to use another lure.
Question: How do you rig the Rage Shad?
Dearman: I rig it Texas-style, bring the hook out of the top and then lay it down flat on the back of the bait. 
I’ll stick the point of the hook into the back of the bait to make the lure completely weightless. I prefer to rig the Rage Shad with a No. 5/0 wide-gap hook and cast it into the thickest lily pads, grass or other aquatic growth. Too, I like to fish the Rage Shad over the tops of logs and brush piles. For me, the Rage Shad has nearly replaced the buzzbait. It has a quieter presentation than the buzzbait and will create as much surface commotion as a buzzbait.
Question: What’s your favorite color?
Dearman: I like the shad color with pearl sides and a black back. I’ve caught bass using the solid-black and watermelon colors as well.
Question: On what line do you fish the Rage Shad?
Dearman: I fish it on 65-pound-test braided line because it doesn’t interfere with the lure’s action. Too, I need that heavy line to get big bass out of cover.
Question: What rod and reel do you use?
Dearman: I’ll use a Quantum heavy-action rod and a Quantum 6:1 gear-ratio Tour Edition PT reel. The Rage Shad is an overlooked lure, but it catches numbers of fish for me.
