I had always sorta went with finesse type of fishing. For years, I rarely used any line larger than 8lb and the biggest bait I threw was a rattletrap and the 1-minus(always slow rolled the 1-minus). Usually, I tied on a 4 - 6 inch plastic and thoroughly worked grass lines, points, and creek mouths from the bank.
If you are able to go to an area often enough, you will be able to 'follow' the fish as they go through their seasonal migrations. When in college, I fished 3 to 7 times a week, and I could go to three different lakes, or a couple of streams and know exactly what bait to throw, where to throw it, and how to fish it. Even if you can go once a week or two, if you go to the same area you should be able to find them again. That experience will assist you when approaching a new body of water.
Once you find fish in a particular area, record the conditions (time of year, temp, type of surrounding land/banks). It will help you remember them and recognize them on unfamiliar water, which will help you find a pattern quicker and result in more fish. I'm sure you've already read about all this, but it helped me in the past.
