Todd is right about patents, it is extremely difficult to get one on a fishing lure if not impossible.

Several years ago I was in Islamorada, Florida and went to see a tackle shop that had the hot new leadhead jig.

When I saw the display, the leadhead was a knock-off of a one ounce Sebastes jig that they had dressed with bucktail. Obviously they had leadheads that they had a mold made from an original Sebastes jig.

Since I was the designer of the entire line of Sebastes jigs from 1/4 to 32 ounces and had hand carved the prototypes, there was no question in my mind about a rip-off. A small company like Sebastes couldn't afford litigation so it wasn't worth pursuing.

Actually the original jigheads we sold were from standard molds of traditional leadheads we purchased before I designed the custom leadheads.

I wish I still had those molds, but I sold my half of the business to my partner Fred Vander Werrf and he eventually sold the company to another party who ran it for a few years before he passed away.

Anyway, ifyou knowit is a rip-off,refrain from buying it and tell your buddies.

Thanks Sky-Guy.