re: Finding The Bait

plenty of literature out there. For general understanding of game fish and bait fish life cycles and patterns use the internet and start by learning all you can about your target gamefish species and then expand through that fishes primary food sources.

For learning how weather, temperature, wind, and water influx affect a body of water there are lots of limnology texts you can reference. Applying that to a fishing outing takes some experience.

For learning how the above knowledge applies to fishing, magazines, fishing shows, and fishing guides are a great resource.