If 90% of the charters and regular weekend warrior boats are using the same bait, then 90% of the walleye will be caught on that bait.

When someone gets a "program" going with Bandits, and shares the program, and then 10 other guys all try it and limit out and announce it, then pretty soon everyone on the Lake is using Bandits. I don't happen to buy into the idea that if Bandits are hitting, and I am able to run a Hot-n-tot through the same water column and through the same school of fish, that they will turn their head away from me and hit the Bandit. The issue is that when someone says, Bandits 65 back @ 1.7 MPH, I have no idea how that converts to a Hot-n-tot. It is easier for me to simply run Bandits 65 back @ 1.7 MPH than to figure exactly what depth they are at, and then how to get my Hot-n-tots to be at the exact same depth.

Also, many times the "program" changes. Early this season the fish where on fire on Bandits 85' back in the morning, then they shut down... nothing hitting... then someone came across the trusty channel 79 and said they where hitting at 50-55 back on Bandits. We changed to 50-55' back, and took the last 8 fish we needed to finish in about 45 min.

My point is that when you are running the same lure as what the charters and guys catching fish are running then you can duplicate the program that you hear on the radio. Everyone in the area is able to share info and you benefit from it. When you run lures that no one else is doing, you are kinda on your own. Usually on any given weekend we will be talking on the radio and say something to the effect of, "We are hitting them good 60 back on Nascar Stinger on a 40 TruTrip."

People will acknowledge that it is working for them too... and pretty soon the radio has guys asking this, "How does that convert to a dipsy-diver?" or "How does that convert to a tadpole?"... or a 50 Jet, or an older 40 jet... or a Walker? (you get the point)

There will be a conversation about how to convert it, with 3 guys giving different opinions. 2 weeks ago someone said how to convert it, then another guy got on the radio and said, "I don't know what dive chart you are using, but my book says...." They where 8' different on opinion of how it converted.

I assume that by now you are getting the point. Sure! Lures matter... size, color, wobble, presentation... it all matters! But a DHJ12 vs a Reef Runner vs Bandit is not as important as being able to find a program that works, and then being able to duplicate what is working. You could be out there running Hot-n-tots at 20' next to a charter running Reef Runners at 15' and they will limit out and you catch nothing because you are 3' below the fish all day.

Cranks will work and produce fish, but you'll probably hurt yourself trying to figure out how to present them they way they want. Vs Buying 10-12 lures for $75-80 at the bait store in the morning that everyone else is using, and has a program for and can be productive when you hit the water, or shortly thereafter.