Gangly...
Are you sure the fish jumping are bass? ..Reason I'm asking we have a few different kinds of fishdown here that bust the water
Gar
Tilapia
Suckermouthed catfish /armored catfish

IF they are bass for sure..than they should be able to be caught..

4 foot deep... Horny Toad should work for sure..

After a month of striking out..I'd be tempted to move to another location..Can you get access to a boat or are you fishing from the shore?
Also..aer you keeping your minnows in a cooler till you reach your spot? I put my shiners in a big cooler 1/3 full or they would not live for 5 minutes..There are also 2 types of minnows..If a shop sells Missouri Minnows I buy them..If they sell Bull Minnows.. I leave them alone..All the Bull Minnows I buy die instantly..They are a fatter minnow.The Missuri Minnow are the long skinny ones..