Baits get hot in the fishing world overnight. It happens all of the time. Someone catches a giant bass on this, or someone wins a tournament on that. It is so common that we don’t even think about the progression of how the lure came to be, or what characteristics make it different from similar offerings. We just know that it’s hot now. It doesn’t matter if it’s brand new or older than dirt. All we know is that for some strange reason, the fish just found out about this bait and that’s all they will eat.
Here is the reality behind this scenario. Baits get hot for a couple of logical reasons. One is that it is a niche deal that is mega-dialed in when the stars line up. This type of instance is very situational and is typically short-lived. Possibility numero dos is what all lure manufacturers strive for. It is what anglers look for. It is what propels a particular lure to household status. It is the fact that every now and then a bait comes out that is inherently better than its competition. It is well-rounded in its genre. It catches fish in multiple situations. It is a proven winner.
These baits are popular for a reason, and honestly, every lure company has at least one of these that it hangs its hat on. Some are fortunate enough to have several (I won’t name who I’m referring to, but their initials are Strike King).
The lure that prompted this goofy train of thought, as well as several recent trips to the bank (think “bank” in the sense of “cha-ching!”, not “bank” in the sense of gravel, rip-rap, etc.) by tournament anglers, is the Strike King 6XD.
The 6XD is the “Mac Daddy” of the Strike King crankbait line. It has been out for about 2 years and was prototyped extensively prior to that. KVD, crankenstein extraordinaire, used it during its initial phases to win an Elite Series event on Kentucky Lake that was a crank-fest. Since that time, the 6XD has gained notoriety nationwide as a go-to deep water dredger that catches fish and cashes checks.
A recent string of victories that include the use of the 6XD has accounted for some pretty major titles and some serious dinero. Think about this: Brandon Palaniuk included the 6XD in his arsenal during his recent Elite Series victory at Bull Shoals. Casey Scanlon cast the 6XD to a Bassmaster Open win on Table Rock. The recent Elite Series event found the winner, Jeremy Starks, as well as the runnerup, Britt Meyers, “strolling” a 6XD into the abyss of Douglas Lake in East Tennessee. Lastly, the Everstart Series on Kentucky Lake was recently won by Randy Haynes. Second place was taken by Sam Lashlee and third was filled by Jason Lambert. All three were quoted as using a 6XD.
To my knowledge, that is four of the most prolific bass tournaments in the country in the last month. It is also somewhere around $334,220 in winnings that have been at least in part attributed to the 6XD. Plus, it goes without saying that several others who finished high in each of these events were slinging the 6XD as well.
Think about how truly monumental that really is. How many other lures do you recall hearing about that have significantly impacted a string of successes? How many other lures do you know of that have been openly proclaimed as a tool in this many victories by anglers who aren’t sponsored by that company?
First off, I would like to say that it is refreshing to see the honesty that this sport has reached. Once upon a time, if someone wasn’t being paid by a lure company, then they wouldn’t even mention them. I’d like to say a quick “thank you” to modern technology and media as they have substantially reduced the BS factor.
Now, let’s take a look at why this bait is so hot right now. There are several components that are making the 6XD popular, but these are the most important.
First off, the thing flat out runs good. It runs deep. It runs true. It is easily tuned. It gets deep fast. It comes through cover very well. All of those are critical aspects of a deep diver. Each of those mean that you can get the bait where you need it and where the fish are. That’s not to mention that comprehensive assortment of color or sound offerings. From clear to stained, from rattling to silent, the 6XD has got a version for you.
Click Here to read the rest of the story.
