Fishing Points and Drop Offs

[IowaBasser]

I hate to admit it, but I'm a one dimensional fisherman; a shore pounder. I cast spinner baits to shore, rubber worms to docks, plastic frogs in weeds, etc. My biggest weakness is fishing in depths of more than 6 feet.

When people ask, "Where should I fish for bass?" inevitably I hear someone respond, "Try the points and drop-offs." The hair stands up on the back of my neck and I cower in fright like a 12 year-old listening to campfire stories about an escaped convict with a hook instead of a hand. My confidence level is ZERO.

1st Question: Where should I start? Occasionally I hear to look for points near deep water or look for wind-blown points. I have a topo map of the lake, but I don't know how to target one point over another.

2nd Question: Do I cruise the point looking for fish on the depth-finder, and if I don't see them, do I move on to another point?

3rd Question: Once I decide to fish a particular point, do I start fan-casting spinner baits and crank baits. If so, do I position the boat deep and retrieve down the point, position the boat shallow and retrieve up the point, or retrieve across the point. Or would you start with a finesse bait like a rubber worm, sluggo, jig, etc.

Crank baits are not one of my "confidence lures" ...I have a difficult time telling at what depth they are running. Instead of casting a crank bait, I would more likely slow roll a spinner bait or drag a rubber worm (either Texas or Carolina) so I could feel the bottom. Any tips on crank-baits to improve my confidence. I have mostly Rapala count-downs and shad-raps. I also have a handful of lipless rattle-trap type lures, but I've NEVER caught anything with the lipless cranks.

4th Question: How long do you spend on a particular point without catching fish before trying a different bait or moving on completely. Does this vary depending on whether or not you've seen fish on the depth-finder? After I've covered a point with a spinner bait or crank bait and haven't caught a fish, is it worth trying a finesses technique to catch fish showing up on the depth-finder? Or would the fish be warry due to all the crank-bait casting? Perhaps it would be best to come back to this point in 30 minutes and try a finesse bait?

5th Question: How do your strategies for finding fish on drop-offs differ from finding fish on points?