In my experience and granted I've only caught 3 pout my entire life, was any kind of shelf coming from much deeper water into shallow. This was in February in Minnesota when they were spawning so its something to keep in mind. My best luck has been on Northland Rattle Spoons in glow green or white, in 1 oz size, lots of minnows on the hooks, and pounding the bottom then lifting just above for a pause.