Strike King ’ s new Tungsten Thunder Cricket gives fish a junior-sized look at a senior bait well known for fooling the big ones time and time again . Designed with a dense tungsten head , premium hook , durable powder coat finish and other topnotch components , Strike King ’ s new bladed jig delivers a signature subtle thump and enticing action in a smaller package without sacrificing a sliver of casting weight provided by the original model . First Impression
Noticeably smaller in size than the original Thunder Cricket , the tungsten version is equipped with a stout 4 / 0 flipping hook , downsized blade , hand-tied silicone
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skirt and a wire trailer keeper that gets some help from a ribbed shank at the base of the head . The line connects to sturdy blade snap , while the blade itself pivots on an eye pin that shifts up and down in the grooved head . Finishes are above average and some blades are powder coated to match color schemes .
In Action
So , how does the smaller Tungsten Thunder Cricket perform in comparison to its lead-headed bigger brother ? To find out , I tied a pair 3 / 8- ounce baits – one tungsten and one lead – to identical rod / reel / line setups and went fishing . Both baits were outfitted with 3 1 / 2-inch Lake Fork Magic Shad trailers to keep things even .
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The first thing I noticed is how well the tungsten model casts . With minimal effort , it reached or surpassed the distance achieved with the original . It did particularly well when launched into big wind .
Secondly , the Tungsten Thunder Cricket felt super sensitive when it bumped into stuff . It also tended to ride a little deeper the water column at the same retrieve speed . It almost seemed like I was throwing something heavier than 3 / 8 ounce .
What gives ? The tungsten model is physically smaller than the original , yet it weighs the same . The smaller head , blade and hook means less resistance as the bait cuts the wind and slices the water column , thus resulting in easy casting and increased depth .
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The junior model comes though grass pretty well . As is the case with most bladed jigs , it ’ s a good idea to pay attention when throwing it around wood . Adding a bigger , bulkier trailer will help the bait run a little higher in the water column ; smaller or more streamlined trailers allow it to run deeper .
The Thunder Cricket isn ’ t known for overly obnoxious vibration and wobble , mainly because of its unique blade shape . It ’ s a little more subtle than other leading models , and that ’ s not a bad thing . Strike King maintained the same blade shape on the tungsten model but shaved off a little size to keep things in proportion . The result is a nifty little bait that brings its own style of finesse to the bladed jig arena .
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