Ok, I went out for a few hours this morning to Cochiti Lake which is the closest lake to me here in Albuquerque. I have never really fished here before. Taken the boat out there a couple times in early season just to make sure everything was working but that's it. It's a no-wake lake so you have to idle everywhere.

I fished in a tournament at another lake last weekend and we caught all of our fish in 3 to 5 feet of water at water temps averaging about 57 degrees. This lake is at roughly the same latitude so that was my plan here too. I went directly to the spots marked with red X's on the map:

I fished those areas for 2-3 hours (water temps from 53.5 to 55 degrees) and I had 1 bite on a suspending jerkbait that got off. That was in about 9 feet of water. Now the water everywhere in the lake was extremely murky and full of floating debris (river is running hard right now from run off) and we just had a front come through here Friday. I factored that in and spent a lot of time fishing the brush with a black/blue jig with a power frog trailer but didn't get bit on that.

I'm looking for some critiques on my approach to this new lake. Finding fish on new water is something I feel I need to get better at. What, if anything, would you have done differently with regards to locations, presentation, etc. I appreciate any and all feedback. I've only been a member here for a couple of weeks and I've already learned quite a bit. I'm hoping I can learn more with regards to fishing new waters as well.

Maybe instead of fishing the shallow flats move out to where the transition to deep water starts.  The fish may not be ready to move up shallow yet.  If the water is murky try a gold colorado bladed spinnerbait with a black skirt.  The jig was a good idea but put some rattles on it so that they can hear it  because in that murky water they hear things a lot further away then they can see them.  Hope this helps

That makes sense Bassinator, thanks.  I really didn't go much deeper than 10 to 11 feet.  Do you agree with the general area I chose or is there someplace that looks better to you? 

I chose that area because it had that nice flat in between the two little canyons.  Figured it would be a place that bass would spawn in.  After getting there and putting eyes on it though, I'm curious whether they would or not because that water is full of crap.  The flotsam coming in from upriver has managed to find it's way in there via the prevailing wind and it's accumulated so much it looks like the slop you'd see in a lake with grass in it.  There's also various and sundry trash from the people that I guess had no better place to put their tires, shoes and 5 gallon buckets  :

That makes sense Bassinator, thanks. I really didn't go much deeper than 10 to 11 feet. Do you agree with the general area I chose or is there someplace that looks better to you?

I chose that area because it had that nice flat in between the two little canyons. Figured it would be a place that bass would spawn in. After getting there and putting eyes on it though, I'm curious whether they would or not because that water is full of crap. The flotsam coming in from upriver has managed to find it's way in there via the prevailing wind and it's accumulated so much it looks like the slop you'd see in a lake with grass in it. There's also various and sundry trash from the people that I guess had no better place to put their tires, shoes and 5 gallon buckets :

Don't know about you but i'm likein that largest island with a 12' submerged point east of it and then drops off. I have found that these areas tend to hold lots of fish be cause it creats a funnel and is great transition and staging are. Hit it before the spawn and then after. then fish the deep southern Island point in summer

You should try some more main and secondary points. I see a some nice looking areas that you didn't fish, but were in sight of. Also as mentioned before fish some of those deeper banks, if you find a bank with some wood or rocks on the drop spend some extra time on it. Fish rock mid and late day, sometimes this time of year when the rock heats up the fishing heats up.