There is something just as important as a lures size, sound and color that determines whether you catch fish with it. The anglers confidence in a lure is one of the keys to using it successfully. How many times have you bought a new lure because a "buddy" told you that they had slain the fish on that particular gizmo the previous weekend, but the first time you use it, you have little or no luck? The lure gets retired to the back of the tackle box never to be seen again and you break out your never fail fish getter.

Did your friend deceive you? Did the fish change their minds? Well, sometimes, but often it is a matter of being confident in what you are using. Being comfortable in the presentation and knowing that fish will eat it.

If you are anything like me, your fishing time is limited and very precious. I tend to squeeze a few hours in after work or between commitments on the weekends. For that reason, I rarely have time experiment with something new that Im not entirely comfortable with the subtleties of making quality presentations. I stick with what Im confident will maximize my chances to catch fish in my limited time frame.

I have three or four lures that I never leave home without, and Im sure you do too. These are our favorites because we know that if the fish are there- these will catch em. We have the confidence to be patient and stick with what we know will work even when things are slow.

The interesting part is that my favorites and your favorites may be completely different. Different lures for different folks. So, next time you have a little extra fishing time, dig to the back of your tackle box and try something different. Who knows, you may have to add something new to your list of favorites.