Good weedbeds are easy to locate by mid-year. You can find them by looking for the weeds which are breaking the surface near shore. Genz focuses from the point that weeds slip beneath the water's surface to the weed edge where light no longer penetrates deep enough to promote growth. Big bluegills and crappies may also hold close to standing timber over deeper water in lakes and reservoirs. Man-made fish cribs are also great summertime magnets.
Equipment is simple.
Cane poles or long light-weight spinning rods are best. Use 2 or 4 pound test most often, but switch to 6 pound when fishing among rocks or fallen timber that might cause nicks in your line. Wax worms, eurolarvae, nightcrawler pieces or small leeches are great choices for bait, and ice jigs are a terrific way to present them live bait to hungry, summertime 'gills and crappie. They lend color and action, and unlike plain hooks, fish are usually hooked in the lip with ice jigs and rarely swallow one. System Tackle's Fat Boy or the Genz Worm, made by Lindy Little Joe, are good choices.