Choosing the right bait is a subjective topic. I suggest 3 main things
when considering what baits to use: confidence baits, rules of thumb,
and basslog history.
Confidence is extremely important. It doesn't matter how much you read
or watch on TV, until you actually catch a fish on a lure you won't
have confidence in it. Our tendencies are to throw the baits that we
have the most confidence in - and there is nothing wrong with that.
However, might I suggest that when your confidence baits are working
their best, that is when you should try other baits and locations. Don't
wait until you can't catch anything on your go-to baits in you favorite
honey holes before trying new lures and spots.
Rules of thumb are good guides, but sometimes just the opposite works
even better. It is good to be mindful of the rules of thumb and apply
them when necessary (see the article on rules of thumb).
Fishing log history is probably the most useful guide to what baits
to throw. A good fishing log can tell us exactly what caught fish under
the same conditions. For example, say you are fishing Lake Fork in October.
You just checked the weather forecast and it is supposed to be sunny.
According to all the fishing reports, the water is clear. You know 4
bits of information you can search on. Go to the option to search the
Fisherman's
log on Bassmasters' Insider section, then choose for the lake: Lake
Fork, month: October, sky condition: sunny, and water clarity: clear.
Next, you choose what results you want and whether you prefer numbers
or quality fish. Then, start catching more fish by applying the same
tactics that have been catching fish under those circumstances.
