A_A, and PJ are right on. KF's/ MT's tips/tricks/advice are excellent and for the hardcore/serious fisherman invaluable.

However for probably the majority of us, in the Q just trolling a crank bait or even a jig with tail of choice will get you a meal.
Unless the wind is up and I'm in dicey conditions, I'm trolling something all day long. I don't see how you can't not catch fish the majority of the time.
Experts are the guys who can catch fish when others can't in conditions others find frustrating. Most of the water I've paddled in the Q isn't that way. Troll a body-bait shallower in cold weather, deeper in hot, and sooner or later you'll have fish dinner.
Now if your looking for trophy fish/volume, then all the tips and tricks are invaluable. For the casual/meal fisherman, just keeping a line in the water as much as possible will do the trick 99% of the time.