![strike king strike king](https://i.tackledirect.com/images/imgfull/strike-king-kvd-1-5-deep-crankbait-hckvds1-5d-538.jpg)
Since the blade on the Thunder Cricket appears to have less surface area compared to a ChatterBait I assumed the bait would ride lower in the water column and have a different action. Lastly, the Thunder Cricket is available in 10 colors to match pretty much any baitfish you’re trying to imitate or water color you’re dealt with. So, while it isn’t the fanciest hook keeper on the market, it certainly does its job. I ran a Yamamoto Zako as my trailer most of the time with no super glue and could easily catch six to 10 fish before the Zako would start to slip. To keep your trailer attached, the Thunder Cricket has a ribbed lead section on the hook shank with a single wire keeper. The skirt and band stayed together, though a few northern pike helped shred the skirt to the point replacement was necessary. I never had a snap bend or open in the 80 or so fish I caught on it. The bait keeper, skirt and snap on the blade all seem to be made from high-quality components. I also never had any issue with rolling a hook point or bending a hook out. That’s because Owner uses Zo-Wire construction on their hook which gives you a smaller diameter wire that is ridiculously strong. Strike King actually put an Owner Jungle Flipping Hook in the Thunder Cricket for a durable hook that can easily handle boat-flipping 5-pounders. The hook stands out as it is beefy and sharp. The paint helps the bait look really good, and it holds up well. The blades are made of stainless steel for durability and also painted to match the bait. It is noticeably more rounded and appears to be a bit smaller than one found a ChatterBait. One of the first things you notice on the Thunder Cricket is the blade shape. So, I picked a few up and put them through the paces to see how they rate in a very lopsided market. And while they are a few dollars less than a Jack Hammer, they are still in the upper end of the price range at $13.99. This year, Strike King launched their Thunder Cricket and I was immediately curious to see what it could do. With the launch of the Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer a few years ago and the instant buzz surrounding it, the bar was set high for any other vibrating jigs entering the market.
![strike king strike king](https://www.tournamenttackle.com/image/cache/Website%20images/Product%20Images/Strike%20King/XD%20Packs/Deep%20Pack%20652-800x800.jpg)
Ever since Z-Man released the ChatterBait anglers haven’t really had the need to broaden their vibrating jig horizon – and not for lack of options, but simply because the ChatterBait is so good that you don’t really need anything else.