Strike King
Strike King – The Tournament Dominator
Strike King Lures was founded in 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee, by a group of dedicated bass anglers. From the very beginning, the company's sole focus was to create high-performance lures designed to give competitive fishermen an edge. Unlike brands that target general anglers, Strike King's innovations have always been driven by the demands of tournament fishing, where consistent action and durability are paramount.
Over the decades, Strike King transitioned from a regional spinnerbait manufacturer to a globally recognized tackle giant, largely due to its commitment to working directly with the world’s top professional anglers (its Pro Staff) to develop and refine its product line.
From Spinners to Deep Cranking
Strike King's success is rooted in several key product areas that revolutionized the way bass are caught:
Spinnerbaits: Strike King built its initial reputation on innovative and effective spinnerbaits, which quickly became a staple in tackle boxes across the US.
Soft Plastics (Rage Tail): The company expanded its dominance into the soft plastic market, notably with its Rage Tail series of worms and creature baits. These baits feature unique, patent-pending tail designs that create massive water displacement and vibration, proving highly effective on wary fish.
Deep-Diving Crankbaits: A major turning point came with the development of its deep-diving crankbaits (such as the 6XD and 10XD models). Designed in collaboration with legendary pro angler Kevin VanDam (KVD), these lures allowed anglers to consistently reach and fish deep, offshore structure, drastically changing tournament strategy.
Modern Status
Today, Strike King is synonymous with competitive success and remains at the forefront of the bass fishing industry. The brand is part of the larger Rather Outdoors portfolio (alongside Lew's Fishing), but it maintains its focus on innovation, driven by its large team of professional anglers who test and endorse every new product.
