Anglers are always looking for lures and brands that will catch fish, save money, and build confidence when you are on the lake. When it comes to quality for what you spend, few brands stand out as prominently as Strike King. Renowned for their range of fishing lures, they are a go-to choice for both seasoned anglers and novices. Strike King lures are widely available at almost any retailer, and perform just as well as any other brand you could fish. Today, we’re going to go into the some of the four best Strike King lures that deserve a spot in your tackle bag: the Rage Swimmer, Strike King Tubes, the KVD 1.5 Crankbait, and the Bitsy Bug jig.
1. Strike King Rage Swimmer
Why Use the Strike King Rage Swimmer?
The Rage Swimmer is a soft plastic lure, designed to mimic the movements of small fish. Here’s why it should be your first choice:
- Lifelike Movement: One of the most important things about a lure is its ability to mimic the real thing. With its unique tail design, the Rage Swimmer creates a nice fluttering motion, while not being too dramatic. I have found it is a nice alternative to more active lures, like the Keitech Impact.
- Versatility: You can rig this lure in multiple ways – be it weighted, unweighted, on an umbrella rig, or as a trailer to a bladed jig or spinnerbait. It is adaptable to various fishing conditions, whether you’re fishing deep or just below the surface.
- If you are looking for other swimbait trailers and how to pair them on your chatterbaits, check out this guide.
- Color Variety: Strike King offers the Rage Swimmer in a range of colors, ensuring there’s a perfect match for every water condition. For colors, I have had great luck with Pearl Flash (white) and Electric Shad. As always, Green Pumpkin Rage Swimmers can pair well with almost anything, and are always great to carry in your bag.
- Cheaper Option: While the Strike King Rage Swimmer may or may not be the best swimbait on the market, it is definitely cheaper than a variety of options and can be found on sale on a consistent basis. For some anglers, that slight performance difference can pay dividends. For the Average Joe angler like me, I am content with possibly missing out on a fish or two if it saves me several dollars.
2. Strike King Tubes
Why Opt for the Strike King Tubes?
Tube baits have always been popular, and Strike King’s version is no exception. Here’s why you should consider adding them to your collection:
- Irresistible Fall: The tube’s hollow body gives it an enticing fall, simulating vulnerable prey. Predators, especially bass, find it hard to resist. I have tried a lot of tubes on the market, and I still find myself picking up Strike King’s Bitsy Tubes on a regular basis. They are heavily salted, and seem to produce a slightly different action that seems to really produce bites.
- Versatility: Much like the Rage Swimmer, these tubes can be rigged in various ways. Be it Texas-rigged, Carolina-rigged, or even drop shot, you can trust this lure to deliver. As a hot tip, try larger tubes on a chatterbait as a trailer. You would be surprised how well this works!
- Multiple Sizes & Colors: Strike King tubes come in different sizes, allowing you to switch based on your target species or current fishing conditions. Much like the Rage Swimmer, Strike King Tubes come in a variety of awesome colors and you should be able to find the perfect combination for your body of water.
In general, if you aren’t fishing tubes. You need to be! They are a lure that is forgotten about in most of the United States, and they flat out catch smallmouth and largemouth alike. Look up a few videos if you aren’t sure how to fish them, and get after it.
3. Strike King KVD 1.5 Crankbait
The Strike King 1.5 Crankbait – A tried and true classic
Squarebill Crankbaits are a favorite among many, and Strike King’s KVD 1.5 is a standout. Here’s why:
- Shallow Diving Ability: The 1.5 Crankbait is designed for shallow waters, diving between 3 to 5 feet. It’s perfect for those situations where you’re targeting fish positioned near the surface or in shallow covers. While most squarebills should be able to deflect off cover easily, I have found the KVD 1.5 squarebill crankbait to excel above a lot of competitors squarebills.
- Wobble Action: Its distinctive wobble is different from many other squarebills. It does a fantastic job at cutting through brush, and it’s wider wobble seems to really get the attention of bass.
- Durable Build: Strike King lures are known for their durability, and the 1.5 Crankbait is no different. It can withstand the rigorous conditions of fishing and last multiple trips. Truly, I have fished squarebills 2-3x more expensive than the KVD 1.5 and the durability in their paint, hooks, and bill are not even close to the Strike King KVD 1.5.
- Cost: Much like other Strike King baits, they are often much cheaper than other crankbait options offered from Rapala, 6th Sense, Lucky Craft, and others. You can often get two KVD 1.5s for the price of one Rapala lure. I will take that ratio any day of the week.
I have caught probably 80% of my squarebill bass on a Strike King KVD 1.5. They never fail, are cheaper than most, and catch big fish on a regular basis. What more could a fella need? For any of you folks in the Midwest, my favorite early spring color squarebill is a KVD 1.5 Hard Knocker in the color Brown Craw.
4. Strike King Bitsy Bug
The Forgotten Bitsy Bug – and why you should be using one:
Last but by no means least, the Bitsy Bug is a compact jig lure perfect for various situations. Here’s why:
- Compact Profile: Its smaller size allows for a more subtle approach, perfect for situations where fish are wary or the waters are heavily pressured. The Bitsy Bug is perfect for cold water in both the early spring and late fall, or lakes where the bass only see 1/2 oz jigs all day.
- Great for BFS or Spinning Gear: The Bitsy Bug comes is a great option for anglers looking to throw a jig on Bait Finesse System (BFS) reels or spinning gear. I think the reason a lot of guys don’t throw smaller bass jigs like the Bitsy Bug is because it almost impossible to throw it on your average baitcasting gear without a horrific backlash. Instead, throw a Strike King Bitsy Bug on your spinning setup and get to sticking fish.
- Simple Skirt: The fluttering skirt adds another layer of subtle attraction, as it is not bulky and great for finicky bass.
- Cost: No surprise here, the Bitsy Bug is dirt cheap. You can pick these up for between $2-3. You can buy 20 jigs for under $50 and have yourself covered for any situation and water clarity.
Much like the tube, fishing smaller finesse bass jigs seems to be an under utilized way of catching fish. Baits like the Bitsy Bug fill that niche, and will do a great job on your pressured lakes.
Strike King Wrap Up
Every angler has their favorites, but when it comes to reliability and versatility, few lures can match those from Strike King. Whether you’re targeting farm bass in a murky pond, smallmouth on Lake St. Clair, or 10 pound bass in Lake Okeechobee, these four Strike King lures – the Rage Swimmer, Tubes, 1.5 Crankbait, and Bitsy Bug – are a must-have in your arsenal.
Links to Buy
Tight Lines,
Dawson