Wagoner, Oklahoma pro Tommy Biffle, is known for his ability to effectively fish a jig in almost every situation. But Biffle is not limited to the jig as his only means of catching fish. He is able to throw a spinnerbait with as much confidence as the jig or, if conditions and the fish dictate, a crankbait. (Though if you ask him, he LOVES that jig!)

His techniques for fishing and success at same, have been honed to perfection over the years. Honed to the point that he can and does fish just about every type of lure or bait necessary to take a win. His ability to be versatile plays an important role in his success.

But how can one become adept at fishing all the different lures available? There is only one answer - practice.

Many years ago, I wanted to learn to fish a new lure that had been introduced to Oklahoma anglers at Grand Lake. They called it the "Purple People Eater". (You can imagine how long ago this was by the name!) The lure was a two-tone brown hair jig with a purple Uncle Josh split-tail eel attached to the hook.

The lure was being used by those in the know to catch many five- to seven-pound bass along Grand's rocky shores. Having acquired the makings for myself, I began experimenting with the lure in the shallow, clear water near the shoreline. I found that by imparting some rather jerky, short twitches of the rod tip during the retrieve, I could make the lure act much like a crawfish scurrying along the bottom.

The shallow water tactics paid off. I found many fish could simply not ignore a tasty crawfish and was rewarded with many fish over the six-pound limit I had previously experienced.

"Practice makes perfect". How many times have you heard that old adage? Well, it's true. And if you want to truly become a versatile angler, then practice you must. Let me suggest a way that will force you to become versatile - whether you want to or not!

I have found that when trying a new lure or method of fishing, the best way for me to become adept at its use is to make a trip to the lake. But take ONLY that lure with which you need to practice. If it's spinnerbaits, then take only your spinnerbait box. This is "do or die" time. You'll either learn to fish a spinnerbait in all sorts of cover and situations, or you'll go home. You may not catch a single fish, but you most certainly will have had more experience with the lure. You'll become aware of the different blades and how they react at different retrieve speeds, how the baits react to brush and what spinnerbait works best when fishing heavy cover. You'll learn how to get your bait through the thick stuff without hanging. You'll find a willow leaf blade penetrates weeds better than a Colorado. You'll learn the difference between a short-arm and a long-arm bait and how the short-arm hangs up much easier in the thick of things.

But most of all, you'll have spent time concentrating on ONE bait and how to use it effectively in different situations.

Not everyone has confidence in all the lures in their tackle box. But you can build that confidence by trying the different lures and spending some quality time with each and every one.

Versatility - the ability that can make the difference between an average fisherman and a winner!