Once your equipment is lined out then its time to find the fish. I look for schools of shad that are holding near the bottom along dropoffs in water anywhere from 10 to 20 deep. Visible on your sonar near the bait fish should be the larger echo returns of larger fish. Presentation of crankbaits is the next step. It is essential that the lure be making bottom contact at regular intervals throughout the retrieve.
Long casts give the lure more time in the strike zone.
I try to move the lure with a steady or stop and go retrieve that keeps the lure working along the bottom, always feeling for the lure to touch bottom and anticipating the strike. Big fish like to crush crankbaits so there is rarely any doubt when they hit. When you have a fish on the line, use the length of the rod to keep the line tight as you lead the fish around the boat until it is ready to land. Next summer, when it gets really hot, leave your shade tree for awhile and pack plenty of lemonade in the boat.