This is just an observation, 4th fishing trip since winter thaw (Orange County NY) and the only tackle that has worked for me are:

 

1.  yellow/white jigs with trailers and a spinner attached.

2.  Phoebe gold spoon.

 

Countless plastic worms from numeorus popular brands have not even gotten one bite.  I have used the pre-rigged and did the rig myself.  Rigs I tried:  Wacky, California.

 

I am assuming its just early in season.

 

Spinner and Crank baits also have not worked or even experienced any strikes.

 

 

 

 

Those synthetic worms can be a little tricky to fish. 

Sounds like you're having fun though.

Good Luck on your next trip(s).

A-Jay

I'll admit I don't know what a "California" rigged worm is but I'm sure it is effective. Based on your location I'd have to say the reason worms aren't effective is the fish are most likely feeding up, meaning they are focused on minnow forage exclusively. This happens in the North, the water is a bit cool for craws and other bottom forage species to be active and big temperature swings usually happen which makes thermal shocked minnow forage available in big numbers and easy to get. Another thing is the only real good worm presentation that is reliable during this time is a small shaky head with a small straight tail worm and because of the way it sits on the bottom, it probably resembles more of a bottom feeding minnow than a worm but if we knew why they hit one thing over another fishing we'd be millionaires. I'll bet once you get into mid to late June you'll see more of a worm bite take hold but while the water is cooler and loaded with oxygen plus the fish getting ready to spawn, you'll do better with moving presentations because the winter groupings are now spreading out actively searching for food, cover more water and get more bites, no secret there.

 

That is what I am thinking.  I was catching very small bass back in September using a very specific brand of plastic worms that were made with real worms plus sent and had a interesting shape.  Sadly I did not keep the brand and the tackle shop I go to does not carry them now.

 

In my far past I remember the big bass really only going for spinnerbaits in June - September.  Plastic worms were hit or miss.  I suppose its the same 20 years later.  

 

This is the first time I have fished consistently on a river and there may be other factors making it much harder.  For one thing the current is fast now that the drought is over mostly and Bass are competing here with large trout and pike (so they tent to be a bit smarter and fewer).