I absolutely love a Strike King Thunder Cricket; I have caught so many fish on it and so many big fish that I have a ton of confidence in it. So when Strike King introduced the tungsten version, I was excited to try it and see what the differences were.
Kevin VanDam talks about his favorite bladed jig, the @StrikeKingLure Tour Grade Tungsten Thunder Cricket. Find out the right situation to use it in.
Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket Jig https://bassproshops.vzck.net/g1ky4A
Team Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spool SLP Baitcast Reel https://bassproshops.vzck.net/ba9R0v
Team Lew’s Signature Series Casting Rod https://bassproshops.vzck.net/3erbLM
Key Differences in Design
First and foremost, if you look at the two side by side, the tungsten Thunder Cricket has a smaller blade. It has a bit tighter action, and with that tungsten head, it’s more compact and dense.
They run deeper with that smaller blade and that heavier head size. I became a big fan quickly. It’s a little more compact and works well in a lot of different situations.
New 3/4 Ounce Model
Now, we have a brand-new 3/4 ounce model, which allows me to fish in a lot more depth ranges. I like two different trailers primarily with it. While there are many things you can put on the back of one, I used a Menace for a long time. However, this new Strike King Scown Bug is an incredible trailer on the back of this Thunder Cricket.
Trailer Customization for Performance
Again, I can shorten it to make it a little more compact. In clear water, if I want a more compact package with a smaller profile, I can bite it down a little bit and put it on there. If I want a full-size and a lot of action, just leave it standard as it comes out of the package and put it right on your Thunder Cricket.
Comparing Trailers: Scown Bug vs. Menace vs. Rage Craw
Compared to a Menace or a Rage Craw, the Scown Bug has a narrower profile and just has a ton of action on the back of your Thunder Cricket. It does provide some lift to it, so it’s going to ride a little higher. If I’m trying to fish it shallower, in a lot of cover, that’s typically when I use it. If I want to get this bait down and I’m fishing it more in open water, I love the Blade Minnow.
Using the Blade Minnow
The same thing applies here: the length of that Blade Minnow is really going to determine the overall profile of the bait. I like to bite it down. I’ll just take and bite the head off of that and put it on there. One of my favorite combos right now is the new Sexy Shad with this Carolina Chrome Blade Minnow on there.
It has a really good look in the water, with a lot of flash, and I’ve caught a ton of fish. I’ll put it up there over that barb, making it nice and compact, which looks like a shad in the water with a lot of flash.
Versatile Size Options
These baits come in 3/8 ounce, 1/2 ounce, and 3/4 ounce sizes. I like to fish it on this setup right here. This is a Mark Zona Signature Series jig rod, but it’s a 7’3″ rod. It has the perfect balance of a softer tip but still a lot of backbone, allowing me to fish this around targets with great accuracy. It’s perfect for skipping boat docks.
Ideal Rod and Reel Setup
I’ve got it rigged on a Custom Pro reel. If I am skipping docks, I’m going to put it on a Pro SP. There’s no better reel for skipping than the Pro SP. More often than not, though, I’m fishing around open water, but if I do come to a target, I’ve got the best of both worlds.
With 20 lb test fluorocarbon and a 7.5:1 gear ratio reel, this setup is dynamite for the tungsten Thunder Cricket.
