This review dives into the effectiveness of the Strike King Thunder Cricket lure, specifically in challenging, murky water conditions. A seasoned angler documents their experience, detailing a frustrating morning of fruitless attempts with various lures, including popular choices like a Tokyo rig, Super Spook Jr., Cotton Cordell Super Spot, and a spinnerbait. The consistently dirty water significantly hampered visibility, making it difficult to attract bites. The narrative follows the angler's evolving strategies to overcome this obstacle, highlighting the critical role of lure selection and presentation in low-visibility fishing.The turning point arrives with the introduction of the Strike King Thunder Cricket. This seemingly simple change completely transformed the fishing trip, yielding multiple aggressive strikes and showcasing the lure's exceptional performance in murky water. This review examines the specific reasons behind the Thunder Cricket's success, including its color, action, and its suitability for fishing around submerged vegetation. Discover if this lure truly lived up to the hype and proved to be a game-changer for bass fishing in less-than-ideal conditions.
Pros And Cons
- Caught multiple fish
- Effective in dirty water
- Caught at least one fish
- Effective in calmer water
Read more: 5 Killer Spinnerbait Fishing Lures You Need
Initial Setup and Tackle
The fishing trip started with a focus on shallow water techniques. The initial lure choice was a Tokyo rig with chartreuse accents, suitable for slightly murky conditions. The angler noted the water was quite dirty, limiting visibility. Early attempts yielded no bites.
Unexpectedly, an old Super Spook Jr. lure was discovered, sparking a moment of intrigue. Although its condition was questionable, the angler briefly considered using it before moving on to other options.
A change in tactic involved switching to a more visually prominent lure, testing the water's responsiveness to a larger, brighter presentation. This would help to attract fish in the less-than-ideal visibility.
Testing Different Lures
Despite the wind and challenging conditions, the angler persisted, trying a variety of lures, including a Cotton Cordell Super Spot in gold. The murky water presented a challenge to lure visibility, so the bright gold was a strategic choice. The gold color proved ineffective.
A spinnerbait was introduced next, hoping its flash and vibration would attract fish. However, this too failed to produce a bite initially. The difficulty of maneuvering the boat due to the strong wind is also highlighted.
Frustration mounted as the angler attempted a ChatterBait and other lures. The persistent lack of bites led to a shift in strategy, as no consistent pattern emerged.
The Thunder Cricket Breakthrough
The turning point came with the introduction of the Strike King Thunder Cricket. This lure, in a black and green pumpkin color, immediately proved effective. The first bite came quickly, followed by several more, suggesting the lure matched the existing fish preferences.
The angler notes that the Thunder Cricket's action and color combination were more enticing to the fish in the dirty water. The lure proved consistently successful in specific areas.
The video clearly shows the fish striking the Thunder Cricket aggressively. The angler describes the fish's behavior as ‘smacking’ the lure.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
The fishing trip ultimately highlighted the effectiveness of the Strike King Thunder Cricket in dirty water conditions. The angler emphasizes that the lure's ability to generate the right vibration in those conditions helped produce consistent results. Specific areas with vegetation near drop-offs yielded the best results.
While other lures were initially tried without success, the Thunder Cricket's performance surpassed expectations. This success was attributed to a combination of color, action, and the angler’s ability to fish the lure effectively around submerged vegetation.
The Strike King Thunder Cricket is highly recommended for bass fishing in dirty water. Its effectiveness was demonstrated multiple times, showcasing its value as a go-to lure. The angler concludes that finding and exploiting specific vegetation-related areas was crucial for success.