I live in Central New York and fish mostly Onnodaga Lake. It use to be extramly polluted and there are still alot of heavy metals in the sediment. I have notice the past two year a pattern right after the spawn, the fish have moved off the shore lines and on the outside edge of the weedlines around the lake. Not to uncommon. I shore fish theis lake because my personal accountant doesn't see the need to buy a boat. My question is what is the best bait to use the bring these fish in from the outside edge. I have thrown top water with some success. Cranks, spinners, & platics all come back with massive amounts of greenery on them so once it comes through the other side of the weedline it must look like the swamp thing to the fish. Any advise would be great. i.e I don't know anyone with a boat on the lake.

Have you tried a weedless Wacky Trick Stick? I have been in the same situation and it worked. I pulled the rig thew the weeds and allgey was a little covered but is very productive. I let it fall in front of the area and on the way down I get some strikes. I also add some twiches in the bait here and there. You can buy a weedless jig head or I just rig the octopus hook inside the worm so I won't get hung up.

A lot of my ponds are as you describe. There are likely locations where bass will come closer to shore, or areas where the cover is broken and you can get past it. You can look for shallow areas of slop too (froggin').

Mornings and evenings bass may be more willing to come inside, and to the top.

Otherwise, here's what I do: