Nothing gets the blood pumping like casting a lure and having your retrieve interrupted by a smash-and-grab robbery. When the fish are aggressively chasing down food and prey, few things get their attention like a moving bait.

Miniature offerings of popular lures can often turn an outing from “okay” into “Yeah, buddy.” I don’t like to go home skunked, so I try to turn over every rock. Changing things up also allows adjustments in casting and retrieving lures to find the magic again.

This is where I advocate for everyday anglers on a budget. The Lew’s Laser Lite combo I’ve been enjoying runs about $60 to $70. A solid, 1000/1500 series spinning reel in the $30 to $50 range, paired with a moderate/fast action, light- or ultralight-power rod up to $70 to $80, will get you into fish. You can go cheaper with a big box rod and reel and still have plenty of fun.

I started with a $50 Abu Garcia Gold Max spinning reel—which was a lot in the ‘90s—and paired it with a 2-piece, light-power, 5’ 6” Abu Garcia Black Max rod for $30. Many fish have been caught on cheaper combos, so I caution not getting hung up on price to begin; you can always upgrade as your budget allows.

I call this approach “potluck fishing” at local ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers. I like casting 1/32- to 1/8-ounce hard baits like topwaters, jerkbaits, crankbaits, Johnson Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners. It’s like Forest Gump opening a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get.

One cast, it may be a big bull bluegill on the line; the next, a solid, ultralight largemouth bass. Rock bass and smallmouths are also lots of fun. It also puts you on a more level playing surface with your opponents, given the lighter gear. Several years ago, I landed my PB (personal best) bluegill at a pond after catching 2 decent, “keeper” sized bass.

You don’t need to spool up with braided line if you’re not comfortable using it; monofilament line is fine. I caution you to use no more than 4- to 6-pound line, with 4 being my overall choice.

With braid, you get more strength, durability, and increased casting distance with smaller-diameter line. The drawbacks are wind knots; you must be careful not to wrap the line around the rod tip or you may inadvertently break your new favorite rod. Monofilament is also more forgiving once the fight is on; even if your drag is a little too tight, the line has stretch. Trial-and-error reveals what works best.

Everyone wants an answer to the burning question, “What’s the hot lure?” It depends on weather conditions, water quality/clarity, and the presence of weeds/cover.

I’m a big fan of Rebel and Rapala ultralight hard baits. The Crickhopper, Minnow, Jointed Minnow, Husky Jerk, and Mini Fat Rap populate my ultralight Plano Pocket Magnum box. They’re my, “Don’t leave home without them” baits, along with lures that spin: Johnson’s Beetle Spin, Worden’s Rooster Tail and Blue Fox’s Vibrax spinners. During last year’s historic Cicada hatch, I experimented with ultralight bug imitators, with good results. If bluegills or rock bass beat a smallmouth bass to the lure, they won.

Whether it’s an overcast or bluebird sky, don’t leave your ultralight gear at home. Bluebird skies have produced bluegills in the 9- to 12-inch range; my PB bluegill caught on such a day on a green/black-striped Beetle Spin. The same can be said for other spinners; they’re great search tools when trying to locate active fish.

On overcast days, I start with a regular-sized topwater early. As fish weary of that, I change to something a bit subtler in a smaller size. I also keep a firm grip on the rod, because 2- to 5-pound bass don’t turn down an easy meal even if the intent was to catch “anything.” It’s a gas to have a 3-pounder peeling drag as you hold on for dear life, hoping your 4-pound line is up to the challenge.

I love light and ultralight fishing for the sheer fun. It’s productive any time after May 1st in Illinois, and across the upper Midwest through fall. As the water cools, I switch to tiny plastics and jigs again to slow things down. It’s a no-lose situation for enjoying quality time catching fish in the great outdoors.

Looking for some new fishing techniques to try this season? You’ll find plenty of suggestions in every issue of MidWest Outdoors. Subscribe on our website.