Better to be a specialist or a generalist? 2025
thinkingredneck reply :
Is it better for a recreational angler to master one type of lure, such as say jigs or worms, or is it better to try to be good enough with many types of lure?
Raul reply :
I know to fish with everything and I catch fish with almost everything ( buzzbaits are my kryptonite ), the "catch" is knowing how to choose which lure/rig/technique will work.
CroakHunter reply :
Specialist. That way you have All the confidence in one bait, all the time. Confidence is 80% of fishing I believe. I feel like I'm a good jig fisherman, and hold my own at everything else. But I'm super confident on any body of water if you put my jig combo and a jig and trailer.
WRB reply :
I learned to bass fishing plugs and spoons. What are plugs you ask? Long before crankbaits, jerk baits and surface lures they were called plugs.
the only jigs were Doll flies and Nick Cremes rubber worms were just becoming available.
It's better to know how, when and where to use a wide variety if bass lures, bass will strike a wide range of lures as long as you can effectively use them.
Tom
KDW96 reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 9:08 AM, WRB said:I learned to bass fishing plugs and spoons. What are plugs you ask? Long before crankbaits, jerk baits and surface lures they were called plugs.
the only jigs were Doll flies and Nick Cremes rubber worms were just becoming available.
It's better to know how, when and where to use a wide variety if bass lures, bass will strike a wide range of lures as long as you can effectively use them.
Tom
Read the last sentence,then read again 
Team9nine reply :
Yes 
I really don't think it matters that much. Both types of anglers can be plenty successful with their chosen approach. It's more a matter of matching the right style to your personality or preference.
fishindad reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 9:27 AM, Team9nine said:Yes
I really don't think it matters that much. Both types of anglers can be plenty successful with their chosen approach. It's more a matter of matching the right style to your personality or preference.
I agree with t9. For a club tournament angler I'd say versatility is more important - bigger bass mentality. But for strictly numbers - i.e. recreational - Charlie Brewer and Ned Kehde are but two examples of "specialists" who catch as many if not more bass per hour than most do-it-all anglers.
That said, it's way more fun to throw topwaters, jigs, worms, cranks, buzzbaits, etc. ???
NHBull reply :
Unless you try everything I don't think you can find your strengths.
Over the years a jig and worms got me through most situations,
This Summer a CB and jerk got my better fish.
Forcing myself to use a technique for a period of time, really facilitates learning
My comfort zone is
Jig,
Worms
CB
Jerks
Surface
Those cover most of what I do and makes up for my uncomfortable techniques.....which I will work on next yr
BigAngus752 reply :
Feeling like you are a "master" at one type of lure is actually detrimental to being a good fisherman. I should know. I very much WANT to become good with all bass techniques but my fallback is spinners. I can always catch something with a spinner. I could pull something out of a puddle with a spinner. And that's my problem. I go out with the intention of practicing another technique and then when I'm not doing well I tie on a spinner. I have never caught anything on a plastic worm. Never. I hate that. I need to focus on soft baits and jigs. If I was smart I would start leaving the spinners at home. Not even put them on the boat.
MassYak85 reply :
Definitely generalist. There are certain techniques you can be successful with year around all around the country. Jigs would be one of them. But if you want to fish a frog in winter when the fish are on a 50 foot piece of structure, or throw 12" glide baits when the fish are feeding on 2" minnows. You are probably going to hurt yourself vs reading the conditions and adapting.
papajoe222 reply :
Being an all around good fisherman AND a specialist at one technique is a whole different ballgame than just being a specialist at one. If one is all you know, you'll be missing a lot of opportunities available to someone that knows a few fairly well.
Russ E reply :
i used to think being a specialist was best.
years ago I used jerkbaits, both soft and hard, almost exclusively. Did well in most circumstances, but came to realize often times there were better ways to catch fish.
i forced myself to learn new techniques to fill the void, where jerkbaits did not work well.
I don't think you have to learn every bait or technique, but it improved my catch rate to learn a few new techniques.
islandbass reply :
Both. I don't like the label of being a one trick pony. What I find interesting and intriguing is most of us try just about every technique, and maybe *** of them tend to be more productive than all the others combined it seems.
Or, if these "comfort" techniques are a strength founded in skill gained or more productive because we use it more.
Example - The drop shot is perhaps my most productive technique. Is it productive because of my skills or because I use it far more than any other technique? Danget, I think too much. ?
Catt reply :
Larry Nixon is known as "Mr Versatility"
The vast majority of anglers assume this means he is a master at wide variety of techniques.
Their assumptions would be incorrect!
What makes Larry "Mr Versatility" is his abilities to read structure, current conditions, & quickly adjust his techniques to match.
No one can master every technique or all lures but one can master a topwater, mid-depth, & bottom technique.
To consistently catch bass one needs to be able to effectively cover the entire water column!
Spankey reply :
I feel that I'm far more to the generalist side. My nicer fish this year have been on fishing crankbaits and jerkbaits. I feel my strength is split shotting and drop shotting worms. But what I use at any given moment I have confidence in. I have one HUGE mental block. That's the jig & pig. For the most part has never panned out for me. I feel over the years this has cost me some nice fish. I just fish a different type of jig configuration. But I feel my catch of the season is yet to come and be on a Roboworm.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 8:40 AM, thinkingredneck said:Is it better for a recreational angler to master one type of lure, such as say jigs or worms, or is it better to try to be good enough with many types of lure?
Interesting premise ~ I'll say I am perhaps a bit of both.
Time on the water has afforded me General knowledge & experience in seasonal patterns, bait life cycle & location, as well as various techniques & presentations.
If there is any specialist floating around in there, it's centered around boat operation, safety, liking hard work & most importantly - desire.
Don't always get them, but this helps me sack a few now & then.
A-Jay
scaleface reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 8:40 AM, thinkingredneck said:Is it better for a recreational angler to master one type of lure, such as say jigs or worms, or is it better to try to be good enough with many types of lure?
You master jigs and worms then you can fish most anything .
NHBull reply :
One of my buddies is a 2 trick pony,
Poppers and wacky. He spent a great deal of the Summer watching everyone else put fish in the boat. He was brought up that way from his father and now realizes it is time to broaden his foundation. Learn more now or latter, it is easier when your young
scaleface reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 9:13 PM, NHBull said:One of my buddies is a 2 trick pony,
Poppers and wacky. He spent a great deal of the Summer watching everyone else put fish in the boat. He was brought up that way from his father and now realizes it is time to broaden his foundation.
Reminds me of a friend of my Dads .I heard him say numerous times that he had two lures [ dont remember the name of these two magic lures ] and if the bass were not biting one of those lures then they just were not biting that day . Bet he had lots of days the bass were not biting .
Spankey reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 9:13 PM, NHBull said:One of my buddies is a 2 trick pony,
Poppers and wacky. He spent a great deal of the Summer watching everyone else put fish in the boat. He was brought up that way from his father and now realizes it is time to broaden his foundation. Learn more now or latter, it is easier when your young
I know a couple of guys who have fished as many years as I and possess as much and probably more tackle than I.
When they are out they get hung up throwing a fire tiger Crankbait all day or as long as they are out.
Not dissing a FireTiger Bomber because I've caught many smallies on one but the association of FireTiger and stained water only goes so far with. Good way to put it " one trick ponies ".
RPreeb reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 9:08 AM, WRB said:I learned to bass fishing plugs and spoons. What are plugs you ask? Long before crankbaits, jerk baits and surface lures they were called plugs.
the only jigs were Doll flies and Nick Cremes rubber worms were just becoming available.
It's better to know how, when and where to use a wide variety if bass lures, bass will strike a wide range of lures as long as you can effectively use them.
Tom
I grew up in the "plug" era too. My first plug was a Bass-O-Reno redhead - big old heavy wooden thing designed for the old casting rigs of the time (mine was a 1930's era casting reel and a steel casting rod). That plug ran shallow, even left a wake, and I did catch a few bass on it before I discovered the hula popper.
I'd say that I have to be a generalist, as I'm just beginning to get back into bass fishing. I like variety, even if I'm not that accomplished as a bass angler. If I feel that my technique is okay, but I'm not getting bit, I'll change to something else and fumble with that for a while. My real preference though is topwater, and if the conditions seem right, that's usually how I'll start.
david in va reply :
I think a generalist will catch more fish in the long run
r83srock reply :
I fish a lot of different baits like everyone else, but I feel like im more of a specialist in jigs and plastics. I think from a recreational standpoint specialist is the way to go.
king fisher reply :
There is an old saying, beware of a man who owns one gun, because he can probably shoot it well. I'm sure the same is true for an expert with one fishing technique. Problem is fishing is supposed to be fun. Trying different lures is part of what makes fishing fun for me. I even change lures when I'm catching fish, just to see if I can catch them on something else. I'm always trying new guns, for the same reason.
primetime reply :
I would say it is best to be a specialist in both shallow and deep water, and have more than just a jig and texas rig fished shallow, or a frog.
I am working on getting better when I go offshore, I just want to be as comfortable with a crankbait as I am a Texas rig, and so far I have a long way to go.
I never appreciated how good a guy like KVD really is when it comes to fishing crankbaits and feeling deflections etc. I just thought he had special electronics......and his own brushpiles. Guess I was wrong.
WRB reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 6:45 PM, Spankey said:I feel that I'm far more to the generalist side. My nicer fish this year have been on fishing crankbaits and jerkbaits. I feel my strength is split shotting and drop shotting worms. But what I use at any given moment I have confidence in. I have one HUGE mental block. That's the jig & pig. For the most part has never panned out for me. I feel over the years this has cost me some nice fish. I just fish a different type of jig configuration. But I feel my catch of the season is yet to come and be on a Roboworm.
Have you every fished a "jig & pig" ? For reference that would be a bass jig with a pork rind trailer.
Tom
Spankey reply :
On 9/3/2017 at 12:45 PM, WRB said:Have you every fished a "jig & pig" ? For reference that would be a bass jig with a pork rind trailer.
Tom
Yes I know what it is very well. I've fished it. I've fished it very unsuccessfully to boot.
My way to any success with it will be to empty my boat of anything but an assortment of jigs and pork and plastic trailers. Fish a couple of consecutive days that way. I'll either fish it or go home early. Most likely my best bet. Years ago I had to do this worms, spinnerbaits etc. to pull it together and be successful and a believer.
ww2farmer reply :
I am the proverbial "jack of all trades, but master of none" fisherman.
I can catch them deep, shallow, and any where in between.
I can fish grass, wood, rock, docks.
I am good with a jig, a drop shot, a t-rig, frogs, cranks, chatterbaits, etc...
I am good with both largemouth and smallmouth
I can be competitive on multiple bodies of water during a tournament.
I cash in tournaments (most years LOL) more times than I don't. In fact over the last 8-10 years, I am probably the most consistent angler in the group of guys I fish with. I think that's due to the fact that I won't live or die with one technique, or bait.
What I don't do..is win a lot. I might win once or twice a year, or sometimes go a full season without winning, but getting in the money a bunch of times. I have noticed one thing about guys who win a lot. They lock onto one thing and run with it all day. I just can't do it, it's boring, and not my style.
Will Wetline reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 8:40 AM, thinkingredneck said:Is it better for a recreational angler to master one type of lure, such as say jigs or worms, or is it better to try to be good enough with many types of lure?
It's fine to have a preference for one type of lure but important to become proficient in the presentation of the whole range of baits for your fishery. I'm thinking now of a late spring morning this past season when I really, really wanted topwater action. Conditions seemed perfect to me and I was at a proven location but the smallies would not come up. When I spotted a bass cruise by I put away the popper and picked up a rod with a small jig. Turned out there was a number in the area that picked up a jig from the bottom.
Better to be versatile than stubborn.
basseditor reply :
On 9/4/2017 at 3:52 AM, ww2farmer said:I am the proverbial "jack of all trades, but master of none" fisherman.
I can catch them deep, shallow, and any where in between.
I can fish grass, wood, rock, docks.
I am good with a jig, a drop shot, a t-rig, frogs, cranks, chatterbaits, etc...
I am good with both largemouth and smallmouth
I can be competitive on multiple bodies of water during a tournament.
I cash in tournaments (most years LOL) more times than I don't. In fact over the last 8-10 years, I am probably the most consistent angler in the group of guys I fish with. I think that's due to the fact that I won't live or die with one technique, or bait.
What I don't do..is win a lot. I might win once or twice a year, or sometimes go a full season without winning, but getting in the money a bunch of times. I have noticed one thing about guys who win a lot. They lock onto one thing and run with it all day. I just can't do it, it's boring, and not my style.
IMO this is the key. Versatile generalists end up in the money often, but don't win much. I don't fish big tournaments as I used to, but I either was in the top 3 or near the bottom. One because I have a big fish mentality but mostly because I believe in doing what you do best. There are several times a year when your specialty will take you to the winner circle. I prefer to fish for five big bites over 20 keepers.
Mike L reply :
I consider myself a specialist in 1 or 2 techniques, a generalist in most, and a novice in a few.
Not a novice because I never tried them, but because it never made sence to me to use a technique that I'm not the least most profient in.
Sure I can take the time and learn everything I can and maybe be successful at times.
But I believe if I can work harder to make my strengths stonger and have a level of success equal to a higher standard than just doing ok with others, in the long run, my chances for overall long term success is increased than by being a "generalist" with modest success.
It works for me
Mike
Boomstick reply :
I don't think there's a right answer other than maybe a little of both. If you fish one type of lure and it's just not getting bites in any color or presentation, you will definitely want an alternate plan. Plus it's simply more fun to mix it up and change your pace. But nothing wrong with limiting your bait selection to those you have confidence in, but also nothing wrong in learning something new either.
Bulletman20XD reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 12:11 PM, papajoe222 said:Being an all around good fisherman AND a specialist at one technique is a whole different ballgame than just being a specialist at one. If one is all you know, you'll be missing a lot of opportunities available to someone that knows a few fairly well.
Well said---A specialist needs one rod. By doing so your done if they aren't biting what you're throwing. Sometimes it takes every rod in the box to figure them out.
kickerfish1 reply :
I specialize in being general!
J Francho reply :
Be a specialist in determining location. Let the cover, depth, structure determine what works best. Specialize in that.
Raul reply :
On 9/6/2017 at 12:31 AM, kickerfish1 said:I specialize in being general!
On 9/6/2017 at 1:00 AM, J Francho said:Be a specialist in determining location. Let the cover, depth, structure determine what works best. Specialize in that.
X2
OCdockskipper reply :
I believe you can be a generalist, good at a multitude of techniques and also have 1 or 2 techniques where you are excellent. The two categories aren't mutually exclusive.
thinkingredneck reply :
I am a pretty fair worm fisherman and pretty much a novice in everything else. Yesterday I caught two 4 lb bass on a spinner bait. My first experience with a spinner bait. (I am coming at this from a fly fishing background--which is great when they are shallow, but a pain otherwise! ) Yesterday was blue bird skies and a chop. What I'd read was spinner bait conditions. It worked! Thanks for your replies.
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