Hey guys, I haven't been doing too well this season because it is my first spring. I am going fishing tonight and need some lure suggestions. I fish from a dock on a 175 (give or take) acre lake. The temp all week has been 50's-60's, but right now it is in the 70's. The water temp is probably around 50-55. To the left of the dock is a ton of submerged timber, growing gradually steeper, and to the right is a drop off (so I've been told) at about 10-12 feet with some light submerged timber closer to shore. What would you guys throw? Also, it is very windy, so there is no guarantee of being able to cast a jerkbait well. Thanks!

Well, generally, cranks cast pretty good in the wind, so you might try that. If it were me, I'd try to focus on that drop off, and that timber with a jig. Work your areas slowly and thoroughly. 

If the wind is blowing into the shore and there is some shallower water there, that should be a good spot through the spawn.  You say you've been told the one area is 10-12ft. deep. I'd check the steeper drop with either a jig or tube Texas rigged.  Cast it out and count it down. when it hits bottom your count will tell you approximately the depth.  You'll need a heavier weight in the wind, but along with determining the depth, you'll be checking out the fish's activity level.  If they'll hit the faster falling bait, they're pretty active and you can switch to a spinnerbait to cover it a little quicker.  You can then count down the spinnerbait (no trailer hook) to the depth where you first contact the cover and work it there for active fish.

This would also be my choice for the side with all the timber, but unless your ability to feel your line coming over limbs is pretty good, I'd stick with a jig or worm as you would likely get hung up and loose some s/b's.  If you have bigger cranks, both size and running depth, you can bounce them off the timber. Just be sure to pause when you feel it bump a limb. If the bump is a fish, it'll pull back. if it's a stump, a short pause will float the crank above it and you can continue your retrieve.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I started out with a black and blue jig along the drop off and over the timber but did't get anything. I switched to a green bomber crankbait I found a month ago. I was bouncing it along the timber, and was pulling it out of the water because it was at the dock, when I see a flash of green go after the lure! I was too late, though. I guess the bass followed the lure all the way to the dock, and tried to strike just as I was pulling it out of the water. That was the only action of the day.

 

If the wind is blowing into the shore and there is some shallower water there, that should be a good spot through the spawn.  You say you've been told the one area is 10-12ft. deep. I'd check the steeper drop with either a jig or tube Texas rigged.  Cast it out and count it down. when it hits bottom your count will tell you approximately the depth.  You'll need a heavier weight in the wind, but along with determining the depth, you'll be checking out the fish's activity level.  If they'll hit the faster falling bait, they're pretty active and you can switch to a spinnerbait to cover it a little quicker.  You can then count down the spinnerbait (no trailer hook) to the depth where you first contact the cover and work it there for active fish.

This would also be my choice for the side with all the timber, but unless your ability to feel your line coming over limbs is pretty good, I'd stick with a jig or worm as you would likely get hung up and loose some s/b's.  If you have bigger cranks, both size and running depth, you can bounce them off the timber. Just be sure to pause when you feel it bump a limb. If the bump is a fish, it'll pull back. if it's a stump, a short pause will float the crank above it and you can continue your retrieve.

Thanks for this, I am going again tonight and will definitely try out the tube as well as spinnerbait.