I'm with Swimbait, 5 min each for 2-3 baits that are appropriate for the visible and/or inferable conditions and it's down the bank I go for bass. For other active species (Trout, crappie...) I might double the time limit but not usually. On Catfish under 5# I try to move every time I have a 1/2hr fishless stretch. For Cats over 5# with a live bait, I usaully will wait upto 2 hrs., but they're the exception.
As for "bird dog" lures for bass look at lures that are versatile and moderately conspicuos that can be worked fast or medium to cover a fairly large amount of water. I like a 4" Kalins grub on a 1/4oz darter jig head, a 3-5" minnowbait (Rapala) that can be straight-pulled or twitched, and a weedless spoon (Johnson's Silver Minnow). With these three I can quickly eliminate dead water, fishing over, around or through nearly anything.
I hope this helps.

Tight lines,
Wade