Today's fishing requires you to do what you need to do to catch fish vs. what you want to do; that my friends is called "versatility." If I can attribute anything to the changes I have had to make over the last few years to consistently catch fish, it has been to be a versatile fisherman. I have found myself sometimes with 7 to 10 rods on my boat deck all rigged with different baits that cover different depths, patterns and structure to find active fish. I remember when people referred to me as the guy who always fished a June bug colored lizard, and could catch fish anytime of the year, anywhere and with any pattern.
No more, the lakes are getting to much pressure; there are an enormous amount of tournaments week after week. The bass see the same bait year after year week in and out and you must be able to adjust to the changes to be effective. Versatility is not a suggestion it's a requirement.A keynote here is; versatility is not just throwing different baits rather it is the ability to understand and present a bait so it will entice a bite. It is the ability to pull up behind a fisherman who has been working your hole and catch a fish when he or she pulls off of it! Working baits through grass that most would say you couldn't, because it's too thick. Finding areas that most do not fish, and making it work for you. Create; do not follow that's "versatility."
So from Captain Mike to you, if your out on the water struggling, you can't seem to get that bite and your doing what you have always done. Then maybe it's time to stop fishing like you want to, and start fishing like need to!