I've only fished a few times throwing jigs and weightless flukes but i've had no luck. I'm relatively new to these baits so I probably don't trigger as many strikes. But what baits are you having success with at this time?

Where are you? And what is your water temperature / air temperature this time of year?

Depends on the seasonal patterns where you're located. In our area the water temps are holding in the high forties to low and mid fifties. We're in the early to mid prespawn phase.

Most of the fish are being caught on classic prespawn patterns- shallow to mid depth crankbaits, jerkbaits, finesse jigs, rattle baits, and the A-rig.

Where are you? And what is your water temperature / air temperature this time of year?

In NJ, the water is in the 40-50 range. Maybe a little colder. Air temperature is in the 50s.

Ive had luck with both jigs and flukes while fishing river channels with 41-43 degree water this year.

Jerkbaits with a long pause.

1. Update you location for better answers.

2. Suspending jerkbaits for pauses in the water.

cranks, jerks, jigs - fished deliberately in that order should give you some info on what they're doing - a guide friend of mine gives each an hour - myself about 15 min. - he may be better than me

Suspending jerkbaits are great this time of year. Drop shotting, carolina rigs, and lipless cranks are good as well.

This time last year I was catching them left and right on spinnerbaits.  Not sure what the water temps were but I'm pretty sure it's been a lot colder this year though so you might still be better off with lure that has a slower presentation.  Still, spinnerbait might be worth a shot.

Jerkbaits with a long pause.

X2. And Flukes with long pauses in between jerks.

In TN on Percy Priest, water temp 48 -53, #5 Shad Raps, T rigged Craws, rattle traps and spinnerbaits. Usually they like jerk baits this time of year but no dice this year.

Drop shot with a zoom trick worm

With those temperatures id be throwing either a jerkbait with subtle twitches and long pauses like RW said, or be chucking the alabama rig. If you get a warm day though dont be scared to move up shallow especially on channel swing rock banks and throw a medium diving crankbait or squarebill. Dont rule out a trap on flats near the main lake at the beginning of creeks either...especially if you can find a little leftover grass.

What part of NJ? Cause I'm in Philly and the water is colder than that. Fished last weekend and it was dead. Started slamming them last year in the last week of March and first week of April. We crushed them on spinnerbaits. Chuck and wind, it was awesome. But yea for me spinnerbaits kill it in early spring.