There is an area on my lake with flowing runoff water that runs through a wooded tree line, then abruptly onto a shin to knee deep sand bar then drops very fast with an unknown depth. It' deep tho. Water is black in the drop off. I see lotsa activity in this area and not sure what bait to use and which way to present it. I was thinking a Chartuse spinner bait while standing on the sand bar and casting into the deep then retreiving toward the sand bar. The drop off is in a horseshoe shape.

What would you do?

I would drag a jig through the sandbar then let it drop down the drop off till it hits bottom but don't expect it it to make it that far before something scoops it up. You're spinnerbait would work too

You read my mind! I already have a rod setup with a bluegill color jig and a trailer and another rod with a chartruse/firetiger spinner bait with a chartuse trailer.

The let it drop thing is a good idea. These fish are most likely waiting at this drop off for whatever comes down that creek to make it's way into open water. This is where I caught my 10lber exept he was caught where the run off meets the lake right next to the tree line in some bushes. He was caught on the jig as well. He was FAT so they must have a great food source in this area.

I really like an old-school Kastmaster for these kind of drop offs.  You can cast it a mile and it gets down deep pretty quick.  Just yo-yo it back in trying to stay just off the incline(sand I assume?)  Jig also looks good here.  I don't do much finesse fishing, but a drop shot seems like it would work.

I would approach from the area markedDeep drop off, I would keep my boat at a distance that would allow my cast to land 4-6' onto the sand bar, once properly positioned I would drop anchor.

Techniques would include top water, mid-depth, & bottom; lures your choice. I would fan cast the entire area at least 4 times before moving either left or right anchoring and fan casting again. Remember as with any type of structure fishing just because you didn't get bite this time doesn't mean they aint there, probably going to be a timing thing.

    I would cast a jig onto the sandbar and slowly drag off the drop off.

I would try casting into the deeper water on the left of the image, across the two "fingers" that create the u-shaped drop where the runoff empties into the shallow sand bar.  Bounce a jig up the drop on to the first shallow finger and the let it drop off the other edge.  Bounce it through here along the bottom until you hit the shallow finger on the right of the image and work it until it drops off the other edge.  That should allow you to work all of the deep and shallow areas with the greatest efficiency.  Good luck.  Let us know how you fished it and how you made out.

I'm kinda surprised no one has suggested a C-rig yet, first bring it from shallow to deep, then if that doesn't work,go from deep to shallow, if that water is flowing,it should work, also give a spinner bait a shot.

What would you do?

Don't know about you but i would fish it!

Seriously though, i would throw a Rat-L-Trap and a C-rig in there!

Deep drop off is a relative term. I have fished the Harris chain and I would hardly call the deepest of those lakes deep. Ten to twelve would be very very deep. I do not know your lake but I would guess it to be similar. For some of us, especially this time of year, that is about as shallow as we would start fishing. Last weekend my boat was in 58 foot of water and I was casting into 15. I have heard of spots being caught in Lake Lanier in the 100 foot range. I think everyone gave you good advise for fishing your deep drop off... so I will not mention the DD22 method of deep drop off fishing.....

I would park that canoe where you have the line knee deep to start.

Then cast directly across the sand bar points out into deep Lake water with a wake bait or shallow running swimbait in both bluegill and golden shiner patterns. Then fan cast all around slowly moving around to the opposite side. Next I would split shot a 6 inch worm and work back to the other creek outflow. Although I like jigs, this doesn't look like good water to me, unless there are some rocks or stumps for crawdads to hide under. If there is a little chop on the water or very low light conditions, I would also try a buzzer, spinnerbait and a crankbait, if the bass are active.

WRB

What would I do you ask?

I would catch fish of coarse, I think that its best if you did the same.

I would sit my boat in front of the drop off (about 30-50 feet), make long cast w/ a jig & retrieve it slowly.  

But for anyone to make a clear judgement on what they would do, or what would work best ..I think that they would have to be there to determine the conditions in person.

There is an area on my lake with flowing runoff water that runs through a wooded tree line, then abruptly onto a shin to knee deep sand bar then drops very fast with an unknown depth. It' deep tho. Water is black in the drop off. I see lotsa activity in this area and not sure what bait to use and which way to present it. I was thinking a Chartuse spinner bait while standing on the sand bar and casting into the deep then retreiving toward the sand bar. The drop off is in a horseshoe shape.

What would you do?

*Chartreuse (correct spelling)

Maybe it's just me but that feature seems, well uhhh.. weird.

A point of land with water flowing through the middle of it.  Except for the Mississippi running out into the Gulf,  it's just not something you see very often.  At least not around my parts.