Whenever i go bass fishing i just use my trusty crankbait. If that doesn't work (it almost always catches something) then i switch to a bucktail jig and catch a bass with that. Perhaps its just that i know my neighborhood pond so well that i can pick it apart with any lure or maybe all this talk about using different lures in different situations is just made up or something lol. Anyways do you guys believe in this stuff and if so can you give me some tips on when to use different lures. I do know to use a topwater in clear conditions but thats about all i know...

I do to a point. There's certain conditions that I know certain baits should work better, but I'll still try baits when they aren't suppose to work too. I've had some great days fishing topwater in the middle of a sunny day or using a gaudy colored bait in gin clear water. 

I have found that certain baits are better in certain conditions.

Of course . I use certain lures under certain conditions and different seasons .   . 

There are no rules set in stone.

I think that the best time to use a lure is when you think it might work.

I like topwaters very early. I'll have a buzzbait and a popper or walking lure tied on too. When/if the buzzbait won't work, I'll try the hardbait. If the buzzbait works, but bites trail off, I'll go to the spinnerbait.

 

If the spinnerbait works, I'll keep it up. If it fails, I'll go to other reaction type baits, but keep the SB handy.

 

If other reaction baits fail, I start with the soft plastics. and work them slower into the day.

 

I'll do the reverse late in the day, trying topwaters until dark.

 

But I keep 5 combos in the boat or on the kayak so I can switch between them whenever I see something that makes me want to try another bait. Some days, I'll catch one on every combo.

 

You can fish a Pop-R or other topwater in the middle of the day on occasion if the fish tell you they want it, but generally, it's not going to produce all day. There are always exceptions. I caught them all day on a Torpedo once. Caught over 50 small bass. But it was overcast and even raining part of the day. I was able to paddle the kayak back into the feeder creek amongst the flooded timber and cypresses. 9 time out of 10, that approach would yield fewer bites. 

However, the bass on the reservoir I fish most really like Trick Worms and Rat L Traps. So I'm sure to give those a try almost every time out. In winter, I can pare the list down to Trap and spinnerbait and only fish a few hours in the middle of the day. There's a reason the crank works so well for you. You should stick with it and experiment branching out. There will be times they either won't hit a reaction bait or a different bait will produce better. More bites = more fun.

I've always found that the best time to use a lure is when I'm fishing.