Practice and more practice as you try different artificial lures or baits for different species. I use to use live baits for most of my fishing of different species especially when my children were young and we used nitecrawlers often. I don't think I have used a single type of live bait in maybe 8 years or more. I seldom get skunked and I catch many trophy class fish.

Oh I have too many tackle boxes full of lures and artificial baits including rubber worms and I think any type you can mention. Many of those lures have never hit the water and some have never been opened. I probably have selected less than 2 dozen different artificials that are my favorites that I use for different species during different conditions and seasons. 

Plus my wife no longer complains that I am storing live bait anywhere around our home. Dead bait can stink too!

In my avatar.... That is a 21" 4lbs. 6oz Landlocked Salmon that I just caught while trolling with a lure and it was one of six Salmon I hooked up with in one day of fishing or in 5 hours.

Just as most here are saying patience and practice are the primary factors in using artificials. Also keep in mind what kind of food the fish you seek are able to forage on in the waters you fish and try to match your colors and sizes accordingly. One thing I always do with a new bait myself is I will practice retreving it close to the boat or shore close enough so I can see what speeds make it move diffrently if its something like a soft plastic or swim baits and usually just picturing it in your mind as you retrieve a bait helps too. A sensitive rod will help with the feel part also when using new baits if your just gettng use to artificials. Best wishes in trying something new and just don't give up is my best advise if you want it. I too haven't had live bait as a staple for a long time and it too was my main theme growing up.

Posted By vweeks on 02 Jun 2010 07:38 PM
I know that my cousins often fish with artificials, even though they taught me, they never went into detail about anything, so everything I learned now besides casting and playing fish I learned on my own.

Then drive on down here and meet me and I'll take you out. Steve

The cool thing about these jigs is that you can put just about any kind of soft plastic on the back end of them....and work them along the bottom...or just above the bottom depending on speed of retrieval 

You can also add a snap swivel and a blade to the back connection...or a "hitch-hiker" cork-screw-type wire. O you can put a blade on the bottom-back-end...then put a grub on the hook.

A LOT of options with this type of jig

Posted By the rod tosser on 20 Jun 2010 08:09 AM
You say you are a live bait fisherman so here is a way to start to love artificial s .
go buy some stand up jig heads . 1/4 oz is a good place to start

which is nothing more then a sinker with a hook for all intense purpose .
now either add a minnow or a crawler to that and go cast it out . let it sit there or what ever you can give it a few real cranks every now and then .
after you catch a few fish that way sub the bait with a plastic body .

Posted By vweeks on 17 Jun 2010 09:10 AM
Well thanks for the effort (it's the thought that counts), but I live in Georgia and I'm 13 and it'll be a while before I drive anywhere. Oh yeah and I am a member on Delaware Trophy Bass just so you know.

ROTFL I know who you are Turkey. LOL Get out there and throw that buzzbait!!

Try fishing small waters first which tend to be easier, once you catch a couple on artificials you'll gain confidence which is a must when fishing with lures.  Just be open minded, fish are tricky, if you're no having sucess with a lure it might not be because of you, they maybe don't want that lure, retrieve, or color that day, or it might be a tough body of water.