We’ve looked at the standard Strike King 6XD so we decided to give its cousin, the Strike King KVD Silent Stalker 6XD a go as something different for when the fish shut down on the standard version. What are the mechanical differences between the two? Obviously, the silent stalker is SILENT! Okay, that’s just the biggest one but certainly the most important. The fact of the matters is that fish can get used to and turned off by a bait. That’s when a difference like this can really shine!
Another difference is the fact that this bait is a bit heavier than its cousin. The Silent Stalker weights in at an even 1 ounce which is 1/4 ounce heavier than its nosier sibling. Yes, this does make a difference when you are casting both in distance and the ability to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. The lures that we acquired all ran true out of the box, had sharp hooks and by all appearances, a finish as robust as its cousins.
The rated depth on the silent version is one foot less or 17 feet plus. I didn’t quite know what to make of this when we first got this crank and was curious to see what would happen when we got it on the water. The reality of this little discrepancy is that it is almost imperceptible when you are using the bait. One little difference that we noticed was that it seems as though the Silent Stalker gets to its maximum depth a tiny bit sooner and therefore, stays in the strike zone a bit longer. I was actually pleased with this disparity between the two cranks.
There are also some differences in the patterns available between the two. However, there are enough offerings in the palette to be confident that you will be able to find one that will work in your area.
We used the Silent Stalker in the same situations as the standard 6XD, on the same equipment and with the same line. Were there any surprises between the two? No, there weren’t. We wound up throwing the two at random times just to see how the fish would react. We really didn’t give the fish a chance to turn off to one or the other and were able to pick up fish with both versions pretty consistently. The interesting part of our experimenting with these cranks is that given you pull up to a spot with both tied on, you can pick up fish on both and thoroughly fish that spot.
The two baits can be used interchangeably to accomplish the same goal. You will want to use a brighter color for stained water in the silent version but other than that, they really do perform so much like each other that there is no adjustment needed when switching.
Overall, we feel as though the Silent Stalker fits what it was designed to do to a “T”. It has an action that is almost identical to the standard XD, which has proven itself a very effective tool for catching fish, without the rattles. This makes for a more natural presentation and will certainly pick up some fish that might otherwise be left behind by baits with rattles.
The KVD Silent Stalker costs about a buck and a half more than the standard version but is still reasonable for the quality of bait that you’re getting for your money.
| Strike King KVD Silent Stalker | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| An excellent addition to your crankbait box | |
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