Old Guy New To Fishing, Asking For help

[todrut]

I'm 47 recently diagnosed with brain aneurysm. Trying to spend more time with family and friends so decided to take up fishing. Have not fished since 13yo. Bought an old cheap boat, few rods and reels, and lots of tackle. Been fishing cordell hull dam(below), Center hill both below and in lake, Percy priest lake twice recently. We just don't seem to have much luck, will catch a couple here and there but many keepers. We caught trout, crappie, small mouth bass, catfish, drum, bluegill, stripers. However they have been very few and small. Like both days at Priest fishing for 7 hours each day we caught 2 catfish and 1 small mouth then the other day only 1 crappie. We don't know what we are doing or where to go.
First biggest issue is learning to use fish finder, of course never used one and best friend bought one for us. Humminbird 597ci HD DI There was a post here of a picture someone took of his showing a bridge. I cannot get this thing to show trees, brush, structure. Have read manual and watched utube videos but just don't understand.
Any hints, tips, help would be greatly appreciated. Even willing to meet at lake if someone would help teach fishfinder ect.
Thanks guys!

[TomD]

Im sure not the one that can help you if the water is over 4 feet deep and as it gets warmer and warmer they're going down.

In the A.M. in grasses and down falls along the shore lines I find using a Texas rig with plastic crawlers, creature baits and the lizards are good producers. Tubes are killer.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp342/TnTomWoodbury/C_zps253bb842.jpg

Get into the brush and flip heavy wireless jigs and skirts. It'll will get you hard hits, getting them out can be tricky.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp342/TnTomWoodbury/G_zps084ccba1.jpg

Stay in the shaded cover and you'll find them, even under the bank. As the day wears on they move out and the guys using diving cranks score well.
Be persistent. This fellow came out of shallow emergent grass "chuckin and duckin" with a creature bait on my fly rod.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp342/TnTomWoodbury/F_zps2146f594.jpg

Persistence pays off and I always do best very early in the day and i avoid the weekend (retired now).

[todrut]

I appreciate the info, I've heard about texas rig but have no idea what it is, I'll try google. Also know what jigs are but what is skirts?

[Catchingtrout]

TomD. How are you keeping your plastics on a hook while fly fishing?

[TomD]

TomD. How are you keeping your plastics on a hook while fly fishing?

Nothing fancy. I hook it using a worm hook like you would normally and then secure it with a piece of tippet tied around it. No hauling involved meaning I lay it out behind me on the water then lift it off and deliver it into the grass.

For bass in the grass one of my favorites is still a woolly bugger, clouser minnow or a long streamer.

[TomD]

I appreciate the info, I've heard about texas rig but have no idea what it is, I'll try google. Also know what jigs are but what is skirts?

https://www.google.com/search?q=texas+rig&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=M1z-UfKoIYj69QSPiIGoDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=599

https://www.google.com/search?q=jig+skirts&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=jVz-UaujLoGE8gTLy4HIBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CHoQsxg&biw=1366&bih=599

[fishfindergeneral]

you should consider trolling, it puts a lot more fish in the boat and bigger ones too..

[Catchingtrout]

Nothing fancy. I hook it using a worm hook like you would normally and then secure it with a piece of tippet tied around it. No hauling involved meaning I lay it out behind me on the water then lift it off and deliver it into the grass.

For bass in the grass one of my favorites is still a woolly bugger, clouser minnow or a long streamer.

Gotcha. Thanks.