I have a a theory, as to what lures are probably at the bottom of most angler's favorit arsenal list.  But I'd like to test it.  

So do me a favor, list the following (#1,2,3,4,5) as to your "confidence level" in each:  crankbaits, topwater, plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits.    (No ties - list them 1-5, with 1 as your most confident technique, 5 as your least.)

Then do me a favor, whatever is at the bottom of your list - tell me why.   I'm curious about the mental challenges anglers deal with as they gain or don't gain confidence in certain lures.

1. Plastics
2. Spinnerbaits
3. Jigs
4. Crankbaits
5. Topwater

I am making it a point to get my crankbait confidence up quite a bit this year.

Just put me down for exactly what Chris said. But for me its all about not wearing my self out & tossing a crank bait 600 times makes my neck hurt. Slow & go saves the old bones.

For me:
1) Jigs
2) Plastics
3) Cranks
4)Top H2o
5) Spinnerbaits

Why on 5 haven't caught squat on them in years. Used to catch tons of fish on them.

Number one I can throw blindfolded and know exactly what my bait is doing at all times-Catching Toads.

I am actually confident with all of the above in using and presentation.

Russ

Great subject Rev.

  Let's see,  maybe I have been fortunate enough to fish a variety of parts of the country and it required to learn new and different things.  I feel very comfortable with all of the techniques / baits listed.  That being said here goes my list.

1) Plastics,  texas, wacky, carolina, drop shotted, weightless,   all good
2) Cranks,  some days you just know that you will only get 5 bites for your 1000 cast, but oh baby, they are 5 BIG bites
3)  Jigs,  what I originally learned to fish bass with.  Very versitile lure
4)  Spinnerbaits  I was fortunate enough to live near the Delta for some years and that is prime spinnerbait country
5)  Topwater.  I am with Sarge on this one.  Love to throw it, it's just that I am not on the water very often when it is the most productive.  Also, the smallies on the westside are not as topwater prone as the eastside smallies are.

I always make a point every year to spend considerable time learning how to work and gain confidence in new baits.  Last year I worked on the chatterbait and swimbaits.  This year I will continue on swimbaits and also work on a technique which I dubbed swimshotting.  ( think of working a dropshot pretty fast just a few feet off the bottom)  I will let you know how it goes.

Mark

1)Plastics...can cover all types and cover and water depth
2)Crankbaits...hard to lay this down during the prespawn
3)Spinnerbaits...great at banks and my biggest fish came off one
4)Topwater...just don't use it enough, but fun when the water explodes
5)Jigs...use it a lot at night, but not much during the day

This year I'm hoping to catch a fish on a frog topwater and buzzbait.  I'm also going to work the jig more and catch better quality of fish.  I think I don't use the jig much becuase you don't get too many bites with them and I get discourage.  I'm going to fish Silver this year so hopefully catch a nice pig on a jig/pig.

This can be very hard to answer as you need to be versatile in your fishing around here to compete with the guys in the club. As western has alot of great fisherman. Myself I try to apply the right bait at the right time. 

1.plastics
2 swimbaits
3 topwater
4 cranks
5 carolina rig

these do change from fishing trip to fishin trip as I try to build confedence in what ever I choose to throw or fish with. I dont think its more what I like to use but more what I choose to use. I am O.K. at using all of the above. Most people give up after 1/2 hour and change to something else when its not the lure but the area you need to change.

1. Plastics 
2. Spinnerbaits 
3. Crankbaits
4. Jigs
5. Topwater

That's as close as I can get, since the categories are so open. What I mean by that for example is that under the umbrella of plastics are my most favourite/confident lures/methods; Dropshotting wacky-rigged bolt grubs, Skipping Senkos and Texas rigged Twintails - as well as my least favourite/confident; Carolina Rigs.

My 2007 number 5 would have been Crankbaits, but I made a concerted effort to use them as much as possible and learn how to make them work for me rather than just "chunk'n'wind". I'm nowhere near "expert" with crankbaits, or anything else for that matter but I feel I have improved greatly in my use of Crankies.

I rated Topwater at 5 like a lot of people simply because the other 4 seem to be far more consistent and workable more of the day.

Faz