Ranked first by total unique selections of individual lure by pros. First tie breaker is based on lure type determined by ranking of total lures selected by pros. Second tie breaker is alphabetized by product name. Color choice was determined by the most chosen color of the individual lure by pros.

# 1 – LUCKY CRAFT POINTER 100

This 5/8 oz jerk/stick bait will “walk the dog” under water and is designed to suspend about 4 or 5 feet deep.  It has a low center of gravity which makes it very stable and provides its own unique action.  Fish it on 8 to 12 lb line and vary the retrieve from very slow in cold water to a ripping action when fish are more active in warmer water.  The Pointer 100 is an ideal choice for areas where shad are holding.  Chartreuse Shad is the color of choice for the pros but the Lucky Craft Pointer comes in a large variety of colors and is also available in different sizes to fit the occasion.

# 2 – ZOOM FINESSE WORM

The Zoom Finesse Worm is widely accepted as the standard for “shakey head/shakey worming”.  Green Pumpkin is the pro preferred color but it is also available in a variety of other colors.  The Zoom Finesse Worm can be fished at any water depth, and is often used with a shakey head weighted hook or a ball shaped hook.  This lure is very forgiving in terms of presentation but is better suited for a slower presentation versus trying to fish is fast. In dirty water, try coloring the tip of the tail chartreuse with dippin’ dye.

# 3 – STORM WIGGLEWART

The Storm Wigglewart is the most widely fished crank bait for pre spawn bass in the spring.  Fish any of the crawfish patterns.  The most productive areas are 45 degree sloped banks with chunk rock that are located in close proximity to spawning areas.  Fish this lure on 10 to 17 lb line with a limber 7’ cranking rod.  Because you will most likely be fishing in water temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees, you will usually need to fish the lure fairly slowly, allowing it to bump along the bottom.

# 4 – WAR EAGLE DOUBLE WILLOW SPINNERBAIT

The War Eagle Spinnerbait is a high quality spinnerbait that is designed and used by pros.  It is available in a variety of sizes and comes in two models.  White/Chartreuse is the color most chosen by pros.  If you are just beginning, purchase the regular ½ oz and also the Screamin’ Eagle ½ oz and match the color of the skirt to the color of the water and sky.  War Eagle spinner baits come with a skirt that is designed with different skirt-tail lengths, which have their own distinctive look in the water.

# 5 – YAMAMOTO SENKO

If you haven’t fished a Senko, you are missing out.  This bait is incredibly easy to fish.  Just put it on a 4/0 or 5/0 wide gap hook, with about 12 lb line, cast it out and hold on.  The mistake many people make in fishing this lure is trying to impart too much action to the lure.  It has its own unique action built into the design of the lure.  Just cast it out, let it sink, and then slowly work it through the strike zone.  Green Pumpkin is the color most selected by pros, and you might find that a lighter color works better on bright still days.

# 6 – BERKLEY FOOTBALL JIG

The football jig is an amazing crawdad imitation lure.  It will work in clear as well as dirty water.  Most pros will fish the lure on 100% fluorocarbon line.  You need to experiment with the way you work this lure.  Sometimes just dragging it and letting it plow along the bottom or bump the rocks is the way to entice the most strikes.  At other times you will do better ‘stroking’ the lure by raising your rod tip as much as 3 feet and just allowing the lure to drop back to the bottom.  Hold on because the strikes can sometimes be fast and furious.

# 7 – HEDDON ZARA SPOOK

Charlie Campbell made this lure popular 30 years ago.  It became the gold standard for catching huge fish on top water.  You need to learn to fish the lure…  you must fish with a rod that will allow you to “walk the dog”.  Most beginners will need to use a 6’ or 6-1/2’ medium action rod.  Cast the lure, let the ripples die and then begin short twitches to make the lure walk side to side.  Pause the action and find the cadence that the fish want.  As you get good with this action, you will find that you can vary the length/timing of the jerks so that you can actually walk the lure sideways.  It was said that Charlie could walk the dog all the way around a cedar tree – and he could!

# 8 – JEWEL EAKINS JIG

This jig is a finesse jig that will catch large fish as well as help you get a limit.  Fish it on fluorocarbon line.  You can fish this lure successfully on open banks as well as bumping the bottom around docks, fishing it in brush piles or swimming the jig.  It is versatile and you can experiment with the plastic trailer that you use, such as the Zoom Critter Craw or small Guido Bug.

# 9 – ZOOM SUPER FLUKE

The Zoom Super Fluke is a minnow imitation lure.  It should be fished on a wide gap hook to allow for the best hook set.  Albino is a great color to start with but pros throw this lure in many colors.  It can be fished on a Carolina rig as well as small weight Texas rig.  Like the Senko, this lure should be fished slowly.  Use a 7’ medium action rod and 100% fluorocarbon line and remember to fish it slowly.

# 10 – BILL LEWIS LURES RATTLE TRAP

This is the standard for flat sided crank baits of this style.  The rattle trap should be fished on a 7’ medium or medium/heavy action rod and about 17 lb line.  You will find this lure especially productive around the time of the spawn and in flat land areas, especially with grass.  If you find grass, just tick the top of the grass and jerk it off of the grass as it gets stuck.  Many strikes come as you impart erratic action to the lure.  Many tournaments have been won with the assistance of this lure.

Features

• The new 200’s are smaller than 100’s with the capacity of a 200
• Aluminum Frame
• Lightweight Graphite Sideplates (Aluminum Handle Side on 300 sizes)
• Recessed Reel Foot
• High Efficiency Gearing (HEG)
• Super Free Bearing Supported Pinion Gear System (SF)
• A7075 Aluminum Magnumlite Spool
• Dartainium Drag
• 7 Bearings • 1 S A-RB BB • 5 Shielded Stainless Steel BB • 1 A-RB Roller Clutch Bearing
• Variable Brake System (VBS) with Reduced Mass Hub
• Super Stopper II
• Assist Stopper
• Drilled Handle Shank
• Septon PV Power Grips (SV on 300 sizes)
• Cold Forged AL Drag Star with Clicking Adjustment
• Titanium IP Line Guide
• 1/8 Turn Easy Access Attached Sideplate
• Metal Cast Control Knob
• Double Anodized Spool and Handle
• Disengaging Levelwind System
• QuickFire II Clutch Bar
• Made in Japan

The new Shimano Curado Baitcasting Reelare nothing like the old ones. The new curado sports an enlarged gear and now sports an aluminum build. When I say all aluminum, I am talking about sideplates as well as the frame. Last years had plastic side plates. All the plastic on last years reel is now gone. The star drag is even alluminum. These are awesome reels.

Well guys, I was so pleased with this reel that I had to go out and purchase two of them. I started out with one and was trying to decide which other reel to get and came to the conclusion that there is not another reel in the price range or within 100 that is just as good. I did buy a chronarch but took it back, the chronarch was a little bit smaller(didnt hold as much line) and for the money, the curado is just a little bit better.

The stakes are high, the chips are set, and Shimano responds to the competition with a one two combination with the new meaner and greener Curado E, and the much enhanced Citica E. Shimano has always been known for their smooth and reliable reels but this season the company has also focused on refinement, weight reduction, and improved ergonomics. These new reels boast equal line capacities, drags, and HEG gearing of their predecessors, yet weigh in at over 2oz. less. Perhaps most exciting for anglers is that while Shimano has  increased the feature set of these two reels the price has remained the same or even been reduced in the case of the Curado 200E. We look forward to what else Shimano has in store at ICAST next month, but for now the 2009 season is shaping up to be a baitcaster brawl.