Hello everyone.. as you can tell, I'm new...  I just have a few questions first off...  I mostly fish at a private pond(ex strip pit) owned by a friend that is about 25 acre's of area, with about 80% of the bottom covered in thick coontail.  The water is also very clear and 25 feet or so at deeper parts. We didn't start fishing it til late last summer, and the fishing was mostly good the 8 or so times we went out.  We used mostly topwater lures such as chartruese buzzbaits, jitterbug, and an excalibur spittin image.  I was wondering about good pre-spawn tactics for a lake with such vegitation...?  I have a good idea of where some good spawning areas are on a rock bed in much shallower water(3-4 feet) and fewer weeds..  Crankbaits are pretty much useless in this lake.. We've used spinnerbaits occassionally with some luck. I'm curious to try a senko this spring, since I'm really trying to try new approaches this year.  What do you guys think?

BTW, We've caught about three 4+ lb. fish, and 2 crappie over 17"   for the larger ones last year

 Weightless senkos or creatures jig and pig off the rocks rattle trap burned fast over top the weeds and tubes rigged texas style

Weightless Senkos wacky rigged on about a 3/0 hook.

swim a light colored jig

Creature bait and try a lipless crankbait along those coontail.