Why learn a new lure or technique?

[Slayem9]

Easy - versatility!

An analogy would be someone who uses tools. Learn the proper function and uses of many tools, and any job become easier and more efficient. Same for fishing.

You don't hammer a nail with a drill bit; you don't use a streamer without weight in 35' of water or as a bottom scouring lure.

It pays to know the water you fish by finding out bottom composition, depth ranges that hold fish, structure types, temperature, clarity and anything else that makes lure choices limited to a select few. Versatility means having a clue as to which lure categories (in general) will do the job.

As Mike said, you learn quicker by comparing notes with someone who has gotten past the stage of, "can this lure really catch fish?" and "where can this lure catch fish?" For example, you've read about the topwater strike and something called walk-the-dog. You may have never seen a topwater strike, but enough people have posted about it that you know it is a real possibilty that it may work where you fish.
So, you buy a Zara Spook, practice walking it and ask questions as to the temperature and depth range of topwaters, types of retrieves, is color important, Â*line type, and all the areas to work the lure that people have caught bass or pike in. Once you've gotten hit once by a savage head-&-mouth blur, the flashbulb memory is yours forever and you've just increased your versatility by a 1000 fish potential.

(note: I rate a lure by it's potential to catch the most fish in one's lifetime.
i.e. a grub has a 1 million fish potential and a crankbait a 50,000 fish potential - based on average use duing normal warm water season, considering weeds and depth considerations. A plastic worm, I would rate at one million fish potential! But remember, no one lure is more important than any other unless it has more potential than other lures during an hour, a day or a season.)

So, if you known how to catch fish on a jig and a plastic worm, you've mastered two lures with a two million fish potential in your lifetime. Master a spinnerbait, add another 75,000; master a large spoon - add 1500 fish; master an in-line, add 3000 fish, etc. This is the top potential of each lure based on the best anglers in the world and their average need to cast them. (Potentials will vary based on how skillfull one is and the waters one fishes, of course.)

If you want to only cast a Rapala or popper, be happy with a 2000 fish lifetime potential. Â* Â*Your choice ... as usual. If not, always be tuned into what can work and where it (or they) can work, given a specific set of conditions. You will never cease to be amazed.

Sam