Fishing a new lake

[PikeTipper]

I'm going to try and get out on a lake I've never really fished before but have heard has a decent crappie population over Easter. It is very shallow with a few bays and plenty of cattails. There is 1 hole in the NW corner where they have an aerator in the winter.

What do you look for on a lake map to start? The lake is Ringo in Kandiyohi county if you want to look at a map.

Thanks

[mainbutter]

Crappies hiding in the cattails midday would be my first thought. Shallow, warm, and relatively flat bays would be where I'd start.

Aerators are always worth hitting.

If none of those work, I'd fish any of the steepest dropoffs.

[OnAFly]

Try to find any water that is warmer than the rest of the lake. Even if it's only a few degrees, it will attract crappies.

[pushbutton]

Like the previous guys said, would try to hit up the cattails on the northern part of the lake as that usually warms a little sooner. Just slowly troll along pitching right up against them. Work the bait to find active fish, then set up if you want to bobber and minnow fish. Might also check out those "deeper" holes on the southern end, especially during the middle of the day.