First off I am fishing from the shore the vast majority of time.

As I begin fishing an area does it matter what lure I start with? My concern is that if I were to start with say a buzzbait or something "noisy" and don't get a reaction that I have now ruined my chance of success with something more subtle like a senko or other soft plastic.

Do you guys have a pattern to your attack? Do you simply start with your confidence bait?

I hope my question makes sense. Thanks for your input.

I am basing this on later in the year when the water and the fish warm up(at least in the upper midwest).  My first lure I will always throw is some sort of reaction bait to try and pick up the aggressive fish, such as a spinnerbait, rattle trap, or buzzbait.  If that does not produce then I will begin to slow down and start throwing some soft plastics or jigs.  Time of day also has alot to do with bait selection but that is my method to my madness.  Search for active fish then slow down.  

I am basing this on later in the year when the water and the fish warm up(at least in the upper midwest). My first lure I will always throw is some sort of reaction bait to try and pick up the aggressive fish, such as a spinnerbait, rattle trap, or buzzbait. If that does not produce then I will begin to slow down and start throwing some soft plastics or jigs. Time of day also has alot to do with bait selection but that is my method to my madness. Search for active fish then slow down.

I agree with Pond Hopper.

I'll start off throwing spinnerbaits and traps,but if I see a spot that looks pretty bassy I'll slow down and fish it with plastic as well.

There's always aggressive fish so go find them!! That's my plan of attack 24/7

You're not always going to win a FLW fishing shallow but you'd be surprised what you will catch year round shallow.

Thanks for all of your input so far. Please keep it coming though I think I see a "pattern" developing.

I fish similar to the other guys. I will usually start out with a crankbait, jerkbait, spinnerbait, or buzzbait (depending on the conditions) to see if the fish are hitting reaction baits. (The one exception is if I am fishing right after a cold front, or in very cold water, then I start with a jig.) If they refuse to bite these lures, than I will slow it down with a jig or soft plastic bait.

I kinda have a "dual" approach (slow-agressive or agressive-slow), depending on bass' seasonal cycle ( prespawn, postspawn,etc.) and weather pattern (stable weather, front just passing through, etc).

If the fish is in a "high metabolism" season:

>If the weather is favorable(stable or dropping barometer) I'll go agressive first, then slow down and try to get a couple more bites in the spots I get bites.

> raising barrometer (blue skies/cold front) , I'll start out slow and throw a reaction bait only after I don't get bit anymore in a certain spot.

In "slow metabolism season", I'm  slow/finess with a couple casts of a reaction bait in every spot

When I fish a pond from shore:

AM - Topwater, like a buzzbait or a Pop-R or a Puppy Spook.

After that - Wacky rigged Senkos and finesse worms.

After that - Spinnerbaits and crankbaits, depending on the bottom.

After that - Jigs

Then go back to Wacky or Texas rigged Senkos.

PM - Buzzbaits.

However, with said, if they are hitting the Senkos then keep with the Senkos.  Or whatever they are hitting until the bite stops and go to something else.

You have to know your pond or lake and what structure, cover and bottom composition are in the area you are fishing.