Ok i been fishing the same 4 or 5 places over the last 10 years or so. I've noticed what is the hottest bait for this year isn't the next year. Its like were a baseball pitcher and we need to change up what were throwing.

Changing your presentation helps too somewhat. But i believe the fish do learn our baits. I think they also learn the scent were using too. The good old scent could become a warning sign too.

I say this because i have a buddy who won't spend a dime on a new lure and uses the same lure for the past 10 years and complains he doesn't catch fish.

Now don't forget i'm fishing the same spots over and over plus these are heavily pressued spots too.

If your not catching fish change your presentation, then change your lure, then move to another spot and don't waste your time just gun and run. You can do it from shore too.

Its not luck in catching fish its SKILL!!!!!

BigBill

The little 1/8oz silver/white spinnerbait with a double split mister twister trailer seems to work. Again i owe this to Glenn here. But you need to hook the trailer up so the spinnerbait runs perfect there can be no error in the running of the spinnerbait and your smooth presentation. You need to practice turning the crank on your reel too so its even and smooth. The spinnerbait needs to run at the same speed "exactly" like any other moving bait.  I fish a new spot and the smaller bass are killing this spinnerbait.

I haven't found a lure that doesn't catch fish sooner or later.  Its all about your presentation too.

I on the other hand have used many of the same lures scented with the same smell with the same techniques on the same structure for years with excellent success.

I believe is more about location & timing

Bass can be conditioned to different lures and at other times hit anything.

How many times have you been to a weigh in where the top finishers were fishing totally different lure and different locations? the answer should be nearly every tournament.

Various tournaments across the country will have a dominate angler or team in the that region. All the other anglers are trying to learn what secret lure they have and where they are catching the bass.

The secret lure is usually something on the local tackle store shelf and more than often an older lure they have rediscovered that is working and other anglers have forgotten about. The new hot secret lure can be that 5 year old citrus fat free shad with no rattles or green weenie with blue flake spade tail.

Whatever the lure maybe , the successful anglers are fishing what the bass want and  where the bass are located...new or old.

WRB

I have been fishing many years (45 plus), and most of my baits are standards. I think you have to really take a bait and find out just how many ways it can be fished. Yes, timing, location, are a key, but the presentation is the final factor. I always have a Texas rigged worm, Spinnerbait, Topwater/Jerkbait, Carolina rig, Buzzbait and Jig tied on.

Don't forget i'm fishing from the exact samespots from shore at 3 or 4 different bodies of water using the same lures and i noticed it doesn't always catch fish with the same lures each year.

I was already to buy a bass boat and compete when my health gave out. I became disables so i can really only fish close to the car so i'm limited to shore fishing were i don't have to walk so far. I post this so the youngsters can learn to change there baits each year too so there success can continue too. I still throw the older baits but i do use the newer ones too. And what i'm finding out is the newer baits will out perform the older baits in my situation when there used in the exact same spots.

Sometimes lure color matters more too.

I also tested a Combo C Lector too the older one that tells us the PH, the water temp and a combination of lure colors the fish can see at that time.  Its proven correct many times on a tough bite. But thats another post.