fishing the hillsborough river late winter early spring

Question
i know there is a big difference from the late winter and early fall. but my question mostly goes for the late winter. When you are trying to get them first of the year jitters out for your bass fishing it seems like you cant get past the cold water that slows the bass down and slows the bass feeding down. but what do you think is the best way to hook in to the big bass. should i get some live bait like some shiners on a bobber or slow move a rubber worm. or stick to rapalas and rattle traps. it just seems like everything i put on i catch like one or two bass and i come from Wisconsin catching nice 4 or 5 pounders i moved here knowing there are the typical 4 or 5 pounders here plz tell me what you guys do so different here for when it is still cold in the water.                    

                                           Thank you,
                                                    Jack Dvorak

Answer
Hi Jack,

As much as I don't like live bait, this part of the season just lends itself to live shiners down where you are.  I'm sure that the weather conditions this winter aren't helping matters either.  I was just down there 10 days ago and it felt as cold as WI the last two days.  The water at Siesta Key was 58 and it is usually 66-68.

Everyone fishes big shiners right now and it is probably your best bet.  Free line them or fish them under a float.  

For artificials, go with something that you can fish slow.  A 5" Senko-type worm fished wacky style is a great option.  Another would be a rubber-legged bass jig with a big jumbo pork frog on the back.  Slow is the key.  

Rattle traps and crankbaits are probably a little too fast.  You may catch a few smaller ones here and there but the big ones will come on the slower baits.

Good luck and I hope that the weather starts to improve for you.

Marc