Hey dude, I'm fro New Zealand, so I'm sure thre will be better advice than mine, however I always find that if you can find a decent bank with a good sign of fish, you should be hooking up every 10th cast on average.... If not, ask a local about the lure colour, make sure you are casting into the bank (skimming maybe mecessry to get around obsticles) and when you hook up, play the fish d

I don't have a Boat or Kayak yet , make friends with folks with boats, some old timers are looking for young Fisherman to go along with and even help load or unload,ask around the tackle shops for Fishing buddies,someone will hook you up.
I caught a Bass in a creek that feeds the lake, they come up and spawn or feed,yes it is hotter now so i would def try fall in the creeks, a guy i met was using salt impregnated soft craws and others from BPS,(Bass Pro Shops) and seen him catch 8-9 bass the same day i was there-so i know they work when the Bass are hitt'in good.Oh and switch colors and lures to find the best for your area and time of the year.Try to either cage or net some live minnows, hook thru the lip to present these tasty little ones ,Bass like live worms as well. Find some rivers for a change and do some drift fishing.Take some time and do a search on Bass Fishing techniques,watch some on Utube.
Maybe look for cliffs to fish down from or hike down and fish the honey holes. Read all the articles here and other places you can find to learn, i am learning every is a new lesson.
Shop Craigslist ,(tempest.com shows the whole state or country and you can imput perimeters that you choose like zip or type),i see good used older aluminum boats with small gas saving engines-there are groups-forums that are set up for fixing up these tin boats. Tinboats.net then click on their forum-great site, and i am sure there are more. or take a good look at KAyaks they are viable, and you can pick up a used one and make it into a Fishing Yak with your own stuff,whatever you search , read a lot to gain a wise choice.http://www.kayakingjournal.com/buying-a-kayak.html
http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/263-buying-a-used-fishing-kayak.html

Ask the old timers to show you good places to fish,and remember it is not how many fish you catch that makes the Fishing a Good Day, it is Nature's Beauty and serenity .
Best Regards,Tight lines, AJ in North Arkansas

I go for numbers most of the time. The only time I target in n a species is in the fall salmon fishing in Michigan. But where I'm from we are able to wade most of the water, don't be afraid to get wet! Like I said I don't really go out for Large Mouth but I have hooked forty-fifty fish this spring and haven't changed lures once. I use a 1/8 once Mepps that is All black with orange stripes on the blade. Three of the fish where 17"+ Smallies.

Good luck to you.