Mamba 334 dont give up! The fall bite to me is the best. Here in central Illinois the fishing has been on fire. The bite started picking up in October when the nights started getting cooler. Here they come up shallow and hang out near docks,lay downs, stumps, just about anything that protrudes into the water. and Im talking from 2'-10' usually. We always fish with jigs (1/16 oz.) in different colors (black/chart, chart, black/pink, pumpkinseed/chart, etc...). I know it says you use minnows, but you might give 1/16 oz jigs a try. The water temp here now is in the high to mid 50's and like i said the bites been Great. The water clarity is stained and murky but the fish don't mind. Sometimes it surprises me how shallow they are!!! GOOD LUCK