i am 19 years old and have been fishing like an addict as long as i can remember. i can remember when i was very young my dad started me out on small simple baits such as crappie jigs and in-line spinners like a rooster-tail that were fun to fish and easy to keep me entertained as they often not only caught bass but a wide variety of species from crappie to chain pickerel (sp?). as i got older i began to love using texas rigged soft plastics, and i would suggest trying a texas rigged worm no longer than 7.5inches with an in-line sinker that fits your water depth and current. i usually use the smallest amount of weight i can that still allows me to cast a reasonable distance. you can hop it quickly, slow roll it across the bottom, try every tactic you can think of and you will find a technique that works best for you. good luck and i hope this helps!