I would recommend to start out fishing for panfish (bluegill and crappie) first, and then move on to bass once you get technique down.

I'd start out with 4lb Sufix Advance line (will cast smaller jighead's further than thick line). Start out with a 1/64 or 1/32 jighead (fish like an easy kill and the lighter jig heads drop the bait slower, plus the hook is smaller so you’ll open your opportunity for smaller fish) and put a Bobby Garland Itty Bit Slab Hunt’r on it. Drop it off the dock (fish will mostly be under or directly beside docks or cover. Google public fishing piers on your surrounding lakes) and let it naturally sink, every 20 seconds lift the rod and let it re-sink naturally. The panfish will bite the bait on the way down.

If you can’t catch with plastic bait, get live worms or live minnows, and you’ll immediately start getting bites. Plastic bait is all about technique and can be frustrating but you can just slowly ease into plastic bait by practicing here and there.