Started fishing Monday and sunfish are definitely biting in southern N.Y. ! In fact, I'm catching more 'gills than perch or crappie. Best lures are similar to the designs Snake River sells or any soft plastic around 2" long rigged on 1/32 - 1/16 oz ball head jigs. I done well with braid and a 1.5' leader of fluorocarbon lines. They have been scattered but not in shallow water; more like 40 yds from shore in water over 6' deep. Fish the lures slow with slight variations in speed.
4 species of fish will bite. Today I caught crappie, perch, sunfish (mostly) and three bass.

Best kind of day to fish early spring with water temps bordering 60 would be overcast with a breeze so they come nearer the surface.

Here are a few lures that work all year for most species: