gjfisher,
Don’t give up on using jigs. I was like you once, I had no confidence in them. But, they have been constantly my biggest fish producing bait. Buy yourself a bunch of the Strike King Denny Brauer Baby Structure jigs in 1/4 oz. size (black/blue and green pumpkin purple); as a trailer use the baby rage craws(3”) size, same color patterns. I was fishing a jig this past Thursday on a southern NH lake and caught close to 30 fish on jigs and spinnerbaits. I caught 2 5+lb largemouth last week on spinnerbaits, my brother caught one that was a few ounces shy of 7lbs; we were fishing Squam lake in NH. Both on spinnerbaits. They are feeding now, getting ready to spawn sometime in May, don’t be afraid to throw big plastic baits too. Find structure(wood, rock, stone embankments) and especially transition spots, usually between 7-10 feet of water.