Don't wait till early spring, from now through April is the time to go. You need to get a variety of different rattle baits as well in many brands, size and color. Red, Royal Shad, Gold, Blue Chrome Back. To be honest, I use 12lb mono on a 6'6 to 7'0 rod. 7:1 gear ratio. Most of the fish I have caught doing this are always caught right on the edge of the grass, right before you leave the flat and into the transition to deeper water. I have never lost a fish this time of the year due to getting hung up in the grass. The grass will be in patches and fairly short. In all seriousness, you need to be going now and not later. I will start out throwing a 1/2ounce red, if that doesnt work I will go throug all my colors on the 1/2 ounce till I catch a fish. If I don't catch any, go to a the 3/4 ounce same progession of colors. You may start to pick up fish, but then they stop. Switch up brands and size and you will usually pick up a few more.
