Im sure You will do Fine, I really didn't want to get into the element evaluation of working and or finding structure.
Yes I like needles, Its My #1 big fish lure.
when You walk down to the water and in the corner of a bar /hole and see peanuts on the beach and fins and tails.
grab a surfster or a Danny in blue silver or pink white and Pink and work it out side the fining fish, usually large there.
popped a 40lb bass this year doing this on a Danny I made.
its all about know where and what, along with when.
I find a Danny is a good choice at night under a full moon in Yellow, But feel a Pike May top out as being a tad better in June
for that application.
I work those things steady and I may slow it down and snap the rod and make the tail of the pike come up and then start over and just as You move the plug bam!
If You ever seen a herring on top doing the top water thing and then slow down. I emulate that type of Death calling to the plug.
some time I will work a Danny and pop it to make it pop.
This retrieve works some times I keep the rhythm steady and You need to have control on the plug to do it properly.
some fish are ass kissers, I was working a plug in may last year and there was tons of bass around they would come from behind and nip at the tail of the plug, I remedy's this with a precise drop the rod and into the mouth the plug would go. it worked for a few bass.
Guess its all about adapting to the environment as the fish will dictate.
allot of times I have been out and got multiple bumps.
Had a charter and was telling the Guy showing Him how to deal with it.
the fish would bump the lure, I would drop the rod and snap it and most the time I would hook up, Either in the chin side of bass or in the belly
case and point, They learned a new technique