When some species, blue fish for example, go on a bite you can drag about anything and get a fish. It is unbelievable at times. Then they're gone and that is the end of it. They follow the bait. However, sometimes salt water fish want a specific size more than exact pattern. If they are feeding on 3" bait, that's what they want. In the salt the fish are pretty much moving all the time. You can locate trout, see them and if you don't spook them they will stay pretty close for a long time allowing you some time to get everything right. I think for a rule they are more selective than warm water or salt water fish, although I don't have enough experience with trout at this point to have an opinion that is worth much. (by next winter I should be a little more knowledgable )