"The small baits in the NRG series are really made for rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout, but you can catch a lot of pan fish and smallmouth bass in streams, too," Thomas said.

The Pointer 48 is a very small version of the popular Pointer 100, with the same action. The Pointer 48 DD is also a smaller, light-tackle, deep-diving version. The Humpback Pointer 50 may be a mystery to many, but it offers the fish a different look than the other small pointers allow.

With its curved back, the Humpback Pointer 50 has a subtle, yet larger profile, matching some of the forage trout and other cold-water species thrive on, such as short minnows or small bluegill and crappie.

Fishing in areas with no current is key when throwing the small Pointers. They aren't efficient in heavy current because of their size, so the eddied pockets and calm spots are best when fishing the NRG series.

"In other words, the back pockets and calm spots out of the main current are the best places to use this series," Thomas said. "The trout and smallmouth hang out in those areas to ambush their food, so they are great places to fish."

There are several ways to fish the baits in the NRG series, but Thomas pointed out a few key techniques that will be best in these cold-water areas.

"Probably the most effective way to fish is to keep the rod tip low and use very erratic action to make the bait look like an injured minnow that is struggling to dive," Thomas said. "If you get into really calm ponds, you can also try holding your rod tip really high, letting the lure swim just under the surface. The baits are suspending, so they're never going to wake across the top, but keeping the rod tip high will allow those baits to swim just under the surface, and that action will generate strikes in calm conditions."

Thomas also mentioned, because the baits in this series are suspending, there may be one more effective way to fish them. If no calm areas are available and you must fish in the current, throw the bait out and jerk it a few times, then let the current carry it while it suspends. Sometimes the best strikes can come when these baits are sitting still and the water is doing the work.

"We float aluminum jet boats in that area, drifting for hours in the tail-waters of the river just below the dam," Thomas explained. "In addition to eddies, this body of water has lay-down trees and roots that also break the current. I target my casts into those dead spots of water behind those objects."

The Pointer 48, Pointer 48 DD and Humpback Pointer 50 retail for $13.99 and $14.99 and are available in the following colors: Aurora Black, Original Tennessee Shad, Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad, Table Rock Shad, MS American Shad, Laser Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Ghost Rainbow Trout, Pearl Char Shad and Engaged Super Rainbow.