Effective artificial lures for chinquapin include hair jigs (for instance the Poppa Chops), as well as Johnson, Betts or H&H Beetle Spins. The best sizes for working around cypress and tupelo trees are the 1/16-ounce or 1/32-ounce versions.
Besides cold worms, other live baits include crickets and june bug grubs. My wife has even used kernels of corn.
A hook tipped with Berkley Gulp! Nibbles is also a sure bet when fishing redear sunfish during the spawn in April.