Anglers normally have a favorite lure, and an idea of what they are going to use. There are also those days when it is a new body of water, drastically changed conditions, and so on when it turns it to an “I’m not sure what to use fishing day”.With this sort of day be ready to fish fast at first and make frequent changes. To help with the changes use more than one rod, or a “quick change” snap for crankbait type lures.
My normal arrangement is 8 rod/reel combos. I have had as many as 12 on the deck while doing a television show when we were short on time, and had not pre-fished an area to see “what was hitting on what”.
The first lures I like to have rigged for bass are a Rat-L-Trap, which is a fast moving, rattling lipless crankbait that can cover a lot of water at different depths; two Stanley Vibra/Wedge spinnerbaits – one small single willow and the other larger double willow; two plastic worms – 5.5” Sidewinder and 4” Ribworm; a 1/4-ounce Road Runner with a Havoc Deuce body; and a Stanley 3/8-ounce flipping jig with a Chigger Craw or Y-Not for a trailer. In most cases these may be all I need all day, and one or two will start being the main fish catching pattern producers.
From this point on start alternating, and fishing the various lure in the same location going from fast to slow in each spot. As an example, fish a faster moving lure on the outside edges of any fish holding structures for the more active fish, and then work the slower soft plastics and jigs for any inactive or slower hitting fish.
Anytime you are faced with one of those “not sure what to use” days, then be sure to use several basic types of lures, starting with a Rat-L-Trap, and alternate often within the same area until a fish producing pattern is found.