Once again it’s time for ICAST 2010.  When all the fishing tackle companies come together to exhibit their latest and greatest lures available to anglers.  Before ICAST 2010 in Las Vegas, these companies spent the past year developing new products to be release at the show.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at some of them.  Some are hard plastic lures while others are soft plastic infused with the ultimate fish attracting formula.  Here is a quick preview of some.

It’s not often a professional angler encounters any one lure that changes their approach to fishing certain lakes or cover.  Sure some lures gain popularity overnight on certain lakes, but rarely is that recognition carried over to other regions.  For example, a number of oversized swimbaits have become popular lures on the west coast, but rarely are any of these sold in the southeast region.  One lure that is making a big splash, not only in the southeast, but everywhere across the United States is a swim jig.  For professional bass angler Chris McCall from Jasper, Texas, the swim jig is changing how he approaches fishing for fun and in bass tournaments.  While McCall in the past had fished swim jigs, these jigs were not well designed and results were okay, but not overwhelming.  This all changed when independent lure designer and consultant Brian Branum encouraged McCall to fish with a proto type swim jig he had designed.  Giving into Branum’s insistence, McCall began using the proto swim bait with overwhelming positive results including success on Sam Rayburn Lake and in regional bass tournaments on other impounds.  Knowing the swim jig craze was about to erupt, McCall called his sponsor Santone Lures and explained the potential for a custom built swim jig built and designed by Branum with McCall’s suggested specification.  Santone Lures agreed and work began on completing the final touches on the new Santone Lures Sam Rayburn Swim Jig.

Forget about it.  That’s right; forget about everything you have learned about drop shotting.  Put it in your mental and physical recycle bin and delete it.  Do not forget to delete the memory on your backup either.  Oh, you can also leave all your drop shot hooks and fancy hand poured finesse worms at home.  The only lure and hook you will need is the Trendsetter Drop Shot Jig. 

Before I go any farther, let me explain, the Drop Shot Jig by Trendsetter Tackle brings a new dimension to drop shotting.  Unlike your normal drop shot rig that consists of a bare drop shot hook rigged with a soft plastic lure and drop shot weight, a Trendsetter Drop Shot Jig does not require any soft plastic or any lure added to it; that’s because a Trendsetter Drop Shot Jig like most fishing jigs has a skirt.  The skirt is made from chenille and marabou with a StandOUT hook.  To rig a Drop Shot Jig, tie a knot on the top eye leaving whatever length of line you want between your drop shot weight and Drop Shot Jig then run your tag end through the bottom eye and tie on your drop shot weight.