Pre-spawn bass, early April fishing in central Ohio

Question
I will be fishing a bass tournment on April 9 in central Ohio.The lake is a shallow lake but a large one.The average depth is four to six feet,with some spots up to eighteen feet.The lake has mostly mud bottom but has all the cover most lakes in this area have.Shallow flats with newly emerging lilly pads,canals,rip-rap shore lines and a northern end of the lake as a wildlife area with all types of cover and many small islands dot the lake also.I have been told that crank baits(square A,Minus ones,firetiger in color)fished in shallow flats has been the popular bait.I known that the weather will play a big roll in what happens fishing wise.Finding the warmest waters will be important in finding the fish.I am confused that there is not much talk of jig or worm fishing. Any suggestions would be a big help this is my first big tour.The lake is a state park and is called Indian Lake.     Thank you Gary.

Answer
Hi Gary,
Thank you for dropping me a line. I planned on answering you quicker, but between storms, power outage, and computer problems, it has delayed everything, including this answer.

April, as you said, can be a tough one for finding a definite pattern.  I would target areas in the north and northwest portion of the lake.  Especially those with rip rap, and shallow sandy points that lead to deeper water.  These will warm quicker, and can be staging areas for the bass.

You may also want to target smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass, if available.

Another trick that may work, which is a great one in Bull Shoals Lake, is cranking and ripping a Spoonbill Rebel.  This is a great technique if there are dying shad in the lake.  I've had tremendous success in Bull Shoals from March through April with this system.
Crank the lure down, normally about ten fast turns of the handle, pause, and then rip it with the rod tip, using a side sweep.  If it stops, then there is usually a fish.  You can also pause briefly between rips, and allow the lure to slightly wobble upward before the next rip or crank.  I use this with other diving crankbaits as well, but it is mainly a technique used with the longbilled Rebels and Rogues.

I would also try Rat-L-Traps.  They are a great search lure, and many times can steer fish into action.

Slow roll spinnerbaits around wood that may be in the warmer areas, making sure that it bumps the cover.

Don't forget Texas rigged tubes.  Use them with a slow, bottom sliding action.  Move them about 1 to 3 feet at a time.  Crawling them over wood, in the same areas as the spinnerbait, have also worked for me at this time of year.  I use Larew Fat Tubes and Mega Ring Tubes.  I would also suggest trying their new floating tubes, although I have not had a chance myself to do so.

Something else you may want to give a shot is a 4-inch straight tail finesse worm, on a small lead head jig.  Swim this along like a 搒lider? or with a slow pump.

I would also suggest that you ask this same question to the pro staff on BassinUSA.com.  I am a member of this group, although I have not been on the boards answering questions  for many months.  If you like you can tell my fellow pro staff members that I sent you over to them.

I hope some of these suggestions will work.  If I think of anything else, I'll try dropping you another line.

If you have any further questions on this, or other fishing subjects, just drop me a line.

Best of fishing,
Dan