Is there any reason to steer clear of these?

 

 

I'm leery of the Arkie, because of the low price. Strike king of course has the name, but what says yall?

I absolutely love the Strike King jigs. Especially the finesse jigs.

Are you asking if they'll catch fish, or if there's something physically wrong about them?

Like any lure, if you put it in the right place at the right time, yes they will catch fish.

There isn't really wrong with the Arkie. The skirt is on the thin side and the hook is far from the best, but if you're tossing you jig into the rip-rap, or wood cover, you'll be loosing more than a few and the purchase price can make that pill a bit easier to swallow.

I'm ignorant of jigs and the price points vs quality. So I supposed I'd be looking for folks that have used those specific jigs and comparisons to higher priced/quality jigs.

2 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I'm leery of the Arkie, because of the low price. Strike king of course has the name, but what says yall?

They will catch fish....but ALWAYS sharpen the hooks before use.

I use SK Bitsy Bugs all the time, they’re my main jig. I bass fish rivers and don’t run much weight. The hook isn’t great, but isn’t terrible either. I haven’t had much issue at all with them for $1.76 and their overall quality is solid imo. I like the smaller hook as well; why companies think a 1/4oz jig needs a 4/0 hook is goofy

Not at all.  I’ve caught some very nice river smallies on the Arkie jig.  And they are surprisingly painless to lose to hangups in rocks.  
And don’t overlook the bargain spinnerbaits on the bottom shelf.  They are undoubtedly made to the standards of a bargain bait,  but they too work and are equally painless to lose to rocks or submerged trees.  Over the years these have caught 3 of my personal best smallmouth for length, and over the past July 4th weekend one caught my first 5lber!  

If you buy very many jigs with a silicone band holding the skirt, it’s a good idea to either thread or wire tie them because the bands will rot and fall off.

i've caught plenty on those strike king jigs, the 2 trailers make it an even better buy. 

Can't go wrong with the Stike King.

Good Fishing

3 hours ago, Jig Man said:

If you buy very many jigs with a silicone band holding the skirt, it’s a good idea to either thread or wire tie them because the bands will rot and fall off.

For sure.  I’ve got a kitchen drawer full of bread bag ties that work perfectly, and are so easy to use.  

I appreciate all the replies. I have tied several skirts on with braided line where the rubberband had gotten old. I check them before using them normally.

A jig is only as good as the hook the most important component!

Owner, Gamakatsu and Tokar are premium jig hooks. 
Cheap jigs have cheap hooks that needs to resharpened constantly because the metal used.

You are better off buying jigs from Siebert Outdoors than wasting your money  on bargain jigs.

Tom

I wouldn’t waste the money. Like said above. Get a quality jig with a quality hook. Siebert outdoors is the place to go. 

Siebert looks good... until you get to the shipping part - $8.00 shipping. I can't buy enough gear at once right now to spread the shipping out.

A great way to save money and support small builders and get high quality jigs is to buy untied jig heads and then to tie your own skirts from scratch with braid or something like that! 

 

I do it all the time!

8 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

A jig is only as good as the hook the most important component!

Owner, Gamakatsu and Tokar are premium jig hooks. 
Cheap jigs have cheap hooks that needs to resharpened constantly because the metal used.

You are better off buying jigs from Siebert Outdoors than wasting your money  on bargain jigs.

Tom

@WRB-2.0 Tom I respectfully disagree with this statement about the hooks, I’m using the exact same pro finesse jig for at least 3 seasons and have caught many a bass on it and have never once sharpened the hook. Granted I don’t fish nearly as much as many of you and I’m certainly not fishing in rocky rivers such as @Bazoo is but to Pooh Pooh on a bargain jig hook that can be sharpened when needed which I don’t think is as often as you’re making it sound is not really fair advice in my opinion. 

River Smallies love SK Bitsy bug jigs ,So do I 

10 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

…Cheap jigs have cheap hooks that needs to resharpened constantly because the metal used…

 

Cheaper hooks may not withstand as much abuse as premium hooks, but to claim they need to be resharpened “constantly” is a gross exaggeration.
And anyone who doesn’t periodically touch up the point on their hooks, even premium hooks, is likely losing fish.

I have only been fishing jigs since the late 50’s and very familiar with jig hooks made from case hardened wire vs state of the art heat treated hooks that 1st appeared from Japan in the 80’s. Mustard, Eagleclaw* were the only jig hooks until the Japanese hooks were available. Mustard has tried to improve the jig hooks and better now than before the 80’s.

You need a diamond hone to resharpen Japanese hooks the metal is very hard. When a case hardened hook is resharpened the metal is now soft and dulls very quickly; the need to constantly resharpen vs periodically checking the hook point.

Tom

* EagleClaw now make Tokar hooks.

 

Mustad went down hill.  Lots of builders have quit using them in favor of Eagle Claw, VMC and Victory.   I haven’t bought any Mustad for several years.

This is an interesting discussion. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences. 

Todays hooks are a lot better than when I first started fishing jigs. I bought them by the dozen stapled to a strip of card board for 79 cents a piece. Didnt have any issues with them. Didnt know any better. I sharpened the hooks before use , touched them up as needed. Dont remember ever having a hook fail or straighten out. But I dont catch double digit bass either.

On 7/19/2025 at 11:22 PM, Pat Brown said:

A great way to save money and support small builders and get high quality jigs is to buy untied jig heads and then to tie your own skirts from scratch with braid or something like that! 

 

I do it all the time!

Even cheaper is unpainted. Powder painting is practically brainless and really just requires a toaster oven. (you needed a new for the kitchen anyways) It is inexpensive, fairly safe, and the results you get are as good or better than what you buy in a tackle shop. 

I don't remember the name of the technique, but I've taken jig heads and heated them with a torch then dipped them in powdercoat. No toaster oven needed.