This is true Dave, but I used to compete on venues that were baited with everything and anything. I followed the route, used pretty much the same as everyone else, but with slight variations. I'd catch as much as the next man, but rarely much more. I was fishing a mid Kent water and everyone was piling in the same or similar baits and I just changed tactics around. I left my gear on the lakeside with a friend and went over to my tackle dealer and picked out a bait flavour that reversed the norm. That afternoon and night, I took the place apart whilst those around me blanked. I couldn't say I follow the nutritional values to a tee, but I know the difference between crap and stodgy. I've had excellent success on baits that are a completely different smell and colour from the norm and have stuck by the theory that whatever everyone else does, do the exact opposite. I really do believe this way. The problem with newcomers to the sport (which I was just three years ago) is one of confidence. If everyone around them is catching on a regular bait, then that’s an automatic confidence and beginners will follow suit. A vicious circle in fact. You’ve got to be brave to test new baits as a newcomer because the little confidence you have will come from the norm. But bit by bit, these guys will break away from the pack and leave their mark. In doing so their catches will increase and their confidence will soar through the roof.