Should be in creeks or coves protected from the north wind correct? So does that mean these areas will have the first spawners and therefore the first fish staging on secondary points?

Rocks hold heat in better than regular shoreline so your best bet is to find a rocky area that is in the sun all day and is  protected from the wind. That is the most I can provide on the topic.

Rocky areas that get direct sunlight during the afternoon and evening hours should have some of the warmest water early in the year. Creeks and protected coves will warm up quickly during warm fronts because there's less water to warm. 

Loking out my window, I believe the warmest water this time of year is 39 degrees and at the bottom.

As a general rule, the NW corner of lakes/resevoirs (or SE facing coves in rivers) will recieve the best afternon sun, therefore being the warmest. As mentioned above, rocks heat up faster than other structure/cover (wood, vegetations, etc). Slightly muddied water will warm faster than clear water.

During the cold water period of winter the deep water remains warmer then the surface water. Underground spring water will be the warmest natural water coming into the lake during the winter. The shallowest volume of water will warm faster the nearby deeper water. Shallow water that isn't subjected to wind creating upwelling current will warm faster then areas where wind is present. Darker color bottom or rocks have very little thermal heating affect.

Bass stage in deep water near traditional spawning areas, where there is abundance of prey available.

Tom