I know for a lot of us the season has just begun but thought this might be a fun post to start. What do you think is the "IT" lure of 2016 and let's add a twist, how about we separate it into geographic locations (i.e.-Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Northwest)?

The Whopper Plopper.  It's been getting a lot of chatter on forums but really got a boost when Chris Lane fished it on BassMaster Live.

Ned rig, seems to me.

I agree the Ned Rig is "IT" this year,
so far, and probably everywhere.

Personally, my "IT" lure is the same
every year. The Senko  

Worms...Same as every year, always was and always will be.

Each year has its new and improved, gimmick or designer lure or a new presentation or style of fishing catches on. Some work great for some people, while some just work for others. 2016 is no different.

 

Mike 

Ned rig.

I have no idea, but after watching FLW this year, I can't wait to try oversized spoons on offshore structure. It just looks fun as heck.

The Ned rig. Phenomenal.

everyone keeps talking about this ned rig contraption and i havnt caught a single fish on it yet.  for me its the usually deep diving cranks and jerks around deep structure and nice breaks.

5 hours ago, Mike L said:

Worms...Same as every year, always was and always will be.

Each year has its new and improved, gimmick or designer lure or a new presentation or style of fishing catches on. Some work great for some people, while some just work for others. 2016 is no different.

 

Mike 

 

Ain't that the truth.

 

Strike King 1.5 square bill has been good this year. Ned rig had a decent start this year but really is not getting it done right now. It's been a strange year with our weather and bait selection, my confidence bait isn't producing and a bait I had no confidence in is hot right now. Just when you think you have it figured out you get thrown a curveball. 

I saw more Ned rig chatter last year. Thus year it's been all about the rage swimmer and savage gear duck. Last year was Ned rig and Kietech. 

If your talking about most talked about and buzzworthy or my own personal opinion? This year for your region seperation, in CT it's been keitech fat 3.8, SK structure bug, and rapala BX minnow for my own most productive.

i would have to say the whopper plopper.  have ok success! only one really good day. 2.5,3.2,4.4 5.5 and 6.9 smallie first time using it after 12 hours of the good ole skunk

i see the live target floating bluegill everywhere.

21 hours ago, Mike L said:

Worms...Same as every year, always was and always will be.

Each year has its new and improved, gimmick or designer lure or a new presentation or style of fishing catches on. Some work great for some people, while some just work for others. 2016 is no different.

 

Mike 

I'll add creature baits to that short and very effective list you have there sir but other than that, ditto!!

Same thing as every other year and that is jigs and plastics. 

Haven't tried the ned rig, whopper plopper, or Live target floating blue gill yet so looks like I got alot of work to do. 

i like the live target bluegill! it walks really nice in the pads!  havent got anything big on em yet this year but they will come. 
also the molix beetle its the same action of a jitterbug but as weedless as a frog. this bait also walks well to! lost a good fish on it the other day 

Definitely the Ned rig. 

If we're touting specific name brand lures, the two that have outshined all others this year have been the diminutive Havoc Speed Shad and the Rapala Shadow Shad Rap (specifically in orange/copper).  It's difficult to know how well substitutions might have performed BUT they have done a bang up job.

If we're talking about the biggest "buzz" I'd have to go with the Whopper Plopper. 

Jig and craw. 

Whopper plopper and the Spro rat. The whopper plopper is easily my top producing topwater and has become the first one I'm throwing on any given day. The rat has become my top producing numbers wake bait. Bomber shallow a still has it beat on size though. (Kind of surprised by that personally since the rat is a much bigger and bulkier bait).

Ned rig is soooo last year... 

 

This year would have to be the Keitech copy cats. 

I guess I took the OPs post the wrong way, based on my first answer. 

Based on forum chatter, I would say Ned and Whopper plopper. Based on what I see on the river, they don't read the forums and use the same old tackle they always use. I did show a guy the Ned rig and he caught an 18" Smallie in a matter of minutes, so I guess he has been converted to the school of Ned.