i've never caught a fish while lure fishing?

There was an old Jewish fellow who owned a surplus and sporting goods store in California's Bay Area. He had an interesting philosophy. He discovered that fishermen could tell what the most popular lures were by how many were already missing from the rack or display card. The word travels fast when something proves to be REAL hot (or is that REEL hot?) and those lures sell fast and furious. Less popular lures would stay on the display because it seemed obvious to the subconscious mind that if they were any good, there wouldn't still be an abundance of them and the missing lures must surely indicate a preference by the fish, and ultimately the fishermen. The more he witnessed that happening, the more he came to the conclusion that he could induce the unsuspecting fishermen to buy some of his slow moving inventory as well by thinning down the quantities. It worked like a charm. He is the ONLY guy I ever saw do that. I've been in a LOT of sports shops since then (the 60's & 70's) and NEVER seen his theory in practice ANY where else.

So what's my point? There are literally thousands of choices out there on the tackle racks offering lures of every description, size, color, action, lighted (or not), material, etc. There aren't many among us who can afford to stock even a small percentage (even 15%) of what's available. The alternative to guessing is to CLOSELY examine the displays and see what lures seem to be MOST popular based on what's obviously missing. That doesn't mean you have to buy some of everything, but it CAN tell you what sizes, colors, styles, etc. seem to be MOST popular with the fishermen and the fish. You'll find the preferences change from one location to another. What works for walleye in Minnesota may NOT be the best choice in Oregon. Georgia bass may want something different than California bass. Get my drift? What I'm saying is that the answer you get in here from one person in one locale may be COMPLETELY different than a reply from an equally talented fisherman even just a state or two away, let alone from one end of the continent to the other. Knowing that one little trick that dealer knew could teach you a LOT just walking through the displays of tackle and making a few notes as you go. In HIS store, you couldn't be sure if the fish and fishermen took those lures, or he just thinned them out to make you think so. But at every other store I have been in (hundreds) over 60+ years of fishing, I have NEVER seen anyone else plying that "trick of the trade". Not even in the shops where I worked or managed the department. Take advantage of it. It can and WILL teach you a LOT about what's hot and what's not when it comes to fish and fishermen. Good luck.

You don't have to master each individual lure, but each "type" of lure. Go buy 5 diff lures, diff types. Try one cast with each and make sure it runs the right depth for the water you're fishing. If 3 out of 5 look like they're working correctly and come back without weeds, use those 3 lures that day. Try lure #1 for about an hour. Then switch to lure #2. One of them will work. After you find the one you are comfortable using, try to master that "type" of lure. Then go buy more lures of that type, since u know how to use them. Next time you go fishing, leave that 1 lure that worked at home. Use the other 4. Try to master a different one and add to your repertoire.

Working a lure is definitely an artform.

Now, it's not hard to work a lure, it's just hard to work it the right way for the conditions. I've caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout, perch, saugeye, walleye, wipers on lures. Each one was different. I've caught them on grubs, jigs, jig n pig, small jerkbaits, large jerkbaits, poppers, plastics, flies.

Part of it, especially as an amateur used to worm drowning, is luck. In an ideal situation, you would be able to make an educated guess about which lure to use with a little information. Water color, water temperature, weather conditions, wind, season, species, lake forage, cover all play a role in deciding what bait. The other part of deciding what type of bait, is deciding what size and color, and then how to work it. I admit, I haven't had the best luck with bass fishing personally, but I've done well overall. You can feel free to message me if you'd like and I'll share what knowledge I do have...It might not be the greatest, but I'm more than willing to share.

However, I do have to contradict one thing that was said previously...A bass in Georgia will likely take the same baits in 60 degree clear water on a clear day as they would in Georgia in those same conditions. A rainbow trout in Wisconsin in 34 degree water in January will take the same lures/flies as a rainbow in Colorado in January 34 degree water. You can't breed out natural instincts, but it will change somewhat. A bass in a lake with no pumpkinseeds and tons of perch will probably react well to a perch colored lure far better than a similar bass in another lake with very few or no perch and tons of pumpkinseeds.

Try the rattle lures that are mirror finished. Strike King lures are good----they kind of do the work themselves as you wind them in. Wind up slowly. Also, heavier lures cast further out. Before you purchase a new lure make sure it .....rattles..... Another GREAT lure for salt water is the golden GOTCHA' lures. I caught a ton of Mackerel and Bluefish on those. Good Luck!

Well it means you aren't using the right lure for that specific time. You need different colors for different days depending on cloud cover and temp. For heavy cloud cover try using a darker color and for sunny try using a brighter color. Try different lures that go different depths depending on what fish you are fishing for. Watch a lot of fishing shows and read as much as you can. Fish only bite when ever condition is right. You have to move the lure just right, the right temp for that lure, you have to work the lure correctly. (One problem with your teasing is that you are working it too much or too little)

Then stick to the worm, if it works for you then why bother with anything else.

try to use different reels and baits when fishing.