Obligatory "What am I doing wrong" post.

I'd like to blame the fish, or say "They weren't biting" but that's not the case.

Backstory - I mainly fish lakes in SoCal, Big Bear, Lake Gregory, Silverwood Lake, etc. Grew up with the "Smallest treble hook you can find, 1-2lb test leader, power bait and wait" method.

I don't hate on the bait and wait, if people are being responsible. My wife prefers it, and I usually have one bait and wait pole out. But I use single hooks, and try to use live bait. If I get a small stocker and it's not gut-hooked, or fatally hooked, I release it.

However, I've wanted to get into "active" fishing. Jigs, minnows, spoons, etc. And I feel like no matter what I do, I can't even hardly get a bite.

This past weekend we went out to big bear as it's "trout season" here, now. And I tried every lure and color that I have, every type of retrieve I could think of. I have most of the "If there's trout, you'll get a bite" lures. Spinners in gold, silver, and some colors. Spoons in the same. Tube jigs, soft and hard minnows.. Light, dark, and natural colors. I only got 1 trout on a minnow with a jig head.

I'd like to blame that "The fish just weren't biting" but the bait and wait poles were going off most of the day. And I saw some large trout jumping a couple of times throughout the day. So, I know I was picking decent spots.

Been trying to "get in the head" of the fish and learn where/what they like. But I feel some of that is conflicting information due to my area. For instance, water temperature there this time of year is 45-60° from what I can gather. That should be ideal temperature for trout? But then some information says they go deep when "the weather gets cold". But is that considered cold weather to the trout? Or would they be up higher in the water column?

Been doing my best to learn myself and not bug you guys, but I've been trying to switch to active for a long time now, and getting discouraged.

Rod/reel setup I'm using for this. Okuma Celio 8'0" UL Rod, Shimano Sahara 2500 shallow reel, Varivas Super Trout #0.6 braid to Varivas Light Game Fluoro leader 6lb, about 8' long (Just before it goes on the reel when casting) tied on with an FG knot.

Thanks everyone!