I started bass fishing with artificials about 6 years ago, and I'd say I'm still very much a beginner (so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt).
When I started, I literally did not catch a fish for 1.5 consecutive summers. I was fishing a heavily pressured suburban pond in NJ, and I would see people around catch fish pretty regularly. For me? Nothing. Zip. It was incredibly frustrating... but fishing beats not fishing any day of the week!
The first lure I ever caught a bass on was a weightless T-rigged Yum Dinger. Still my most consistent lure for fishing specific pieces of cover/sight fishing (I like them better than senkos, but that's just a confidence thing). Cast it out, let it sink for 10 seconds, lift it and let it fall again. If the line swims off, set the hook (they'll usually hold onto it for a long time, b/c of the scent and salt).
The second lure I ever caught a bass on (and caught my PB) was a Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait. Still my most consistent search bait. Cast it out and wind it in, keeping it above the bottom and below the surface. Honestly, most of the fish that hit it hook themselves, but if you miss bites just cut the skirt shorter.
The lure I hand friends who have never fished before is a Trout Magnet. That little gold bug is magic -- you'd be hard pressed to catch anything giant, but I've landed largemouth, smallmouth, trout, crappie, white perch, yellow perch, shad, shiners, fallfish and various sunfish on those things. Almost never been skunked with it. Attach a float (the company that makes trout magnets also sells good floats) a foot or two above the lure and slowly twitch it in -- set when the float goes under.
On rivers, inline spinners are da bomb. Cast and reel. Never heard of whiptail, but maybe try a 1/8-1/4 oz roostertail, panther martin or mepps aglia?
Enjoy fishing!!!
