With so much stuff out there I've really cut back to the basics and downsized my gear. Crankbait, Spinnerbait, platics, top water. Now granted I have a TON of em so I should be good to go for a while. I'm sticking to what I'm good at. Most of the new stuff on the market is just a tweeked version of what's been out for 40 years. My old stuff still catches fish so game on.

Very good point, I think this is one of the factors that differentiate between us normal anglers and those that are professionals. Professionals understand all 3 of these questions and are pretty good at knowing the right answers most of the time.

I'm usually too impatient to tie one lure on and live or die with it so I haven't done it much. But I'm thinking maybe I'll be able to tie on three of the same type with different weights or some other characteristic and cut through the monotony a little more tolerably.

That brings up some funny stories, and I am sure I am not the only guilty party.
Have you ever started the day with 5 or so rods up front...with different baits, and by the end of the day you look down and 3 or 4 of them now have the same bait on them?

Not so much, i normally start with 4 on the deck, and by the end of the day all 14 are scattered out allover the place!

I plan to change that this year, i'm leaving them at home!

LOL..I tend to due the same with baits...they are all over the boat by the end of the day.