Two other things I would use. First, I'm not afraid to change my approach if I'm not doing any good with how I'm fishing. I like to jig so that is usually where I will begin but it goes either way. No matter where I start, I will try whatever it takes to get myself into fish if I can. If surface jigging doesn't work, then I'll try trolling. And if trolling doesn't work then I'll try verticle jigging. If verticle jigging doesn't work then I'll try bait, first tipped on the jig and then without the jig if that didn't work. Of course I'm still yet to see bait work when tipped on a jig. I do not know why but I always do better when I leave the bait to all the other fishermen and just stick with plain hardware. With all of that said I must point out that I won't change up too quickly or I may find that I'm changing just ahead of the fish.
The second thing is something I'm usually doing from the time I hit the water until I leave. I watch other fishermen on the water. If I see someone doing something that seems to be working I'll try and watch and learn something. If there is one thing that the fish have taught me over the years it's that I don't know it all. Somedays, I just have to hang my head in shame at not figuring it out all by my lonesome and accept the fact that somebody else got it right first. And yes, I say that with sarcasm. I've never been too proud to learn what others can teach me, and sometimes it really helps to make the trip. In return, I hold no secrets from anyone asking what I am using. When I'm fortunate enough to get into them well and someone else isn't, I would consider it almost criminal not to share some of that joy. That's one of the great things about these prolific little fish, there's plenty of them to let the fun go around to all.
