Noobie help with fishing?

My friends an i recently started fishing a lot at a tiny tiny creek in virginia, so far we've caught a few minnows about 4 inches long with a black strip down the entire body, bluegills, catfish, and an unknown type of b. Could anyone give me tips on how I should be fishing there? Like, what bait? do i leave the bait on the floor of the water? Do i cover the entire bait with hook or is it ok to show some? help...