Strike King Rage Bug Soft Plastic Magnum Product Review #strikekingragebug #strikekinglures

Lure Review

More Rage from Strike King, This Time in a Bug

Date:	11/7/21
Tackle Type:	Lures
Manufacturer:	Strike King
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.17 - GREAT

Introduction: For the soft plastic aficionado who can't get enough of flipping and pitching Texas rigged plastics into the muck, feeling that "tick," reeling down and swinging back hard enough to make a fish go cross eyed, creature and trailer baits rule. You might say baits like this are all the rage. Strike King recognizes this addiction and have a line of baits that really are justly named. Today, we take a look at one of the favorite flipping and pitching products of professional bass anglers Cody Meyer and Kent Brown. Introducing Strike King's Rage Bug.

Strike King Rage Bug Specifications
Type	Trailer Bait
Material	Soft Plastic
Colors/Patterns	21
Sizes	4" (Magnum = 4.5")
Scent/Plastic Treatment	Coffee Scent
# per package	7 (Magnum = 6)
Resealable Bag?	Yes
MSRP	$5.49

Introducing a favorite bait of Pro Anglers Cody Meyer and Kent Brown - Strike King's Rage Bug

Impressions: In April, of 2019, Strike King came out West to hold a writer's conference at Clear Lake, CA. Each of the outdoor writers invited were afforded the opportunity to spend time with each of the pros attending the camp. One of the questions I posed to each pro was which Strike King product is their favorite, go-to bait. Ultimate Bass Radio Host and West Regional Pro Kent Brown along with Major League Fishing pro, Cody Meyer each gave me the same answer, Strike King's Rage Bug.

The Rage Bug is Strike King's take on the creature trailer

The Rage Bug is a familiar looking trailer/creature bait with a big, thick plastic body defined by backwards facing ridges equipped with arms and legs. Both the arms and legs on this bait feature that ridge at the ends that defines Strike King's Rage products. The Rage Bug is available in its standard four inch (4") size and Strike King recently introduced a magnum version too, but only increases the bait size by half an inch to four and a half inches (4.5").

Difference being the baits appendages feature that rage ridge enhancement for tremendous swimming action

Real World Tests: Spending time on the water with Brown and Meyers, watching them work their presentations was fun, but of course, we have to conduct our own tests in our own time. I fished Strike King's Rage Bug on board iRod's new Air series IRA710PRG-H Bub's Air Punch stick matched with a Lew's Pro-Ti SLP Speed Spool casting reel spooled with 14lb Sunline Shooter.

It is available in standard (right) and magnum (left) sizes

I didn't plan on performing any heavy duty punching, but I did have in mind some docks and rocky shorelines mixed with weeds, so I used a half ounce tungsten weight and tied on a 4/0 Gamakatsu oxymoron (Finesse Heavy Cover) hook.

The Magnum sets up nicely on a 5/0 straight shank worm hook

Strike King's Rage Bug is pretty straight forward to rig Texas style on a hook this size. I believe Kent Brown suggested a 5/0 hook and I think you can go as small as 3/0 depending on your preference. Once in the water, the Rage Bug performs predictably.

The bait's body has reverse ridges for better water displacement

You an bounce this bait up and down off the bottom, or swim it back to you and thanks to those rage tail appendages, both the arms to the side, and claws/legs have a lot of action waving about in the water as the bait moves.

Kent Brown, host of Ultimate Bass Radio Show and seasoned bass pro was very anxious to show us one of his favorite Strike King baits, the Rage Bug

Strike King does an excellent job designing the ridged ends of those appendages to provide that swimming action, but they also make the Rage Bug with a very soft, pliable plastic. This soft consistency lends well to movement, bites, and hook up ratios, but the downside is durability. Some baits will need to be changed out after just one bite or missed strike because the bait is easily torn or appendages go missing.

The bait's two tails and side arms come attached and are easily detached for maximum bait action

Design & Ergonomics: The Rage Bug is available in 21 different colors and now two different sizes. They come in a re-sealable zip lock bag with a hard plastic, clamshell insert to keep the baits in perfect, un-kinked shape for fishing. Each bait is infused with coffee scent more to mask human scents and oils than to attract bites.

A close-up of the top ridges

Price & Applications: Both the standard and magnum versions of the Rage Bug retail for $5.49 per package. The difference is the standard size comes with 7 baits per package while the magnum has 6. This equates to a per bait price of roughly $0.79 per standard sized Rage Bug which makes this bait kind of in line with other trailer baits that feature swimming appendages.

There's a little more depth to the ridges on bottom

Ratings

Strike King Rage Bug Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Nice consistency in material and colors	8.5
Performance	Very good swimming action and easy to rig	8.5
Price	Roughly $0.79 per bait	7.5
Features	It's all about those rage appendages	8
Design (Ergonomics)	Good color selection and packaged to ensure each bait is ready to go	8
Application	Very versatile - can be fished alone or as a trailer	8.5
Total Score		8.17
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Really good action	- Some anglers will want better durability
+ Colors are intricate
+ Packaged to preserve shape ensuring each bait is ready to be fished

Strike King delivers another solid plastic bait in the versatile Rage Bug

Conclusion: I can understand why Strike King's prostaffers Cody Meyer and Kent Brown were so anxious to talk about this bait. The Rage Tail competes in a category that many of us take for granted these days. What Strike King provides to differentiate this bait are those rage-enhanced appendages and a consistency in that soft plastic material that really increases your hook up ratios because fish just seem to hold on a bit longer to the super soft plastics. Add to all of this the fact Strike King packages these baits to ensure they're free from kinks and ready to go from the get go, and you have an attention to detail that's sure to tackle the enthusiasm of bass anglers all around. There is nothing more frustrating, after all, than selecting a fresh, soft plastic bait right out of the package that's all kinked up and unfishable. Thank you Strike King for another solid, quality product.

Looking for Strike King Rage Bugs? Try Tackle Warehouse:

Standard Rage Bug : Magnum Rage Bug