I'm fishing a small city lake with not a lot of structure, at least compared to a real lake.  This is my favorite lake to take my two-man on as I've caught my three biggest fish here--an 8 and two 7's during April of the last two years in the shallows.  My question is:  where would these fish be in colder--49-50--water (right now) or hot (summer) water.  The depth of the lake doesn't get much deeper than 20 ft and the middle is 20 ft and FLAT!  There is only one small, defined channel where the creek comes in and goes to the spillway and the channel is only a few yards wide and a few feet deep and I haven't marked a fish there yet!  Do you think they just suspend in the middle over 20 ft. deep flat bottom?  There are plenty of shallow cover targets and a few pockets.  A rip-rap that runs the entire western edge and goes down to about 18 ft at the bottom.  I'm going to try the rock bluffs today where it is about 15 ft deep 15 yards off the bank.  I can't find fish worth a crap on the this lake when weather is not ideal!  I've already caught some nice one's at other lakes this year.  I know they're in here.  Help!

I would think that they would be in the shallow water during sunny days because the water will warm up and they will be sun basking. I live in wisconsin and I deal with cold weather all the time, And most of the lakes I go to the fish are usaualy sun bathing. THis is were site fishing comes in hand.

The lake I fish alot has similair characteristics. The water temp is in the 40's, the lake has no cover, and the lake gets around 25 foot deep max. So far I have been catching the bass with shallow running crankbaits in 1-7 foot of water. Most the fish won't bite until I can run the bait into a rock or the bottom to get it to jump and draw the strike.

i fish a few lakes like this and have found that the bass will stay shallow all year unless the water temp is extreme, then they may suspend close to shore structure off any kind of slope ,even a half a foot difference could be all the difference I find a buzzbait is great on these bodies of water . it will cover tons of water and will call up a fish from the depths to bite.

I fish an 18 acre private lake that sounds very similair, the homeowners assoc. wont let me put in any brush or laydowns so I am stuck as is.  I fish the shallows at the dam end with alot of success.  but the best spot is out in the middle over a submerged weed bed.  without electronics I would have never found this type of structure but that is where I have caught most of my fish.  also remember any slight change in depth even though it is mostly flat will hold fish.