It has been my experience that if I do nothing more than identify all the best-looking structures on a contour map, and then systematically fish as many as possible, I can generally acheive some degree of success in almost any situation. When fishing new waters I always make it a point to call or visit at least a dozen fishing shops, marinas, and resorts before launching my boat. I ask how fishing has been, where the hot areas are, and what they're hitting. Much of this information may be old or misleading, but if you ask enough people, the current, productive pattern will generally come into view. One little tip on where to go or what to use can be a great starting point and save lots of wasted time.
Fishermen just coming in off the lake with a good catch can be an excellent source of information.
You can't fish everywhere, so you must limit your approach to smaller, more fishable areas with the highest potential of success. Check your map and target these areas. I f the fish are reported to be shallow, then locate potential coves, cuts, and backwaters on the map. If the fish are reported deep, then locate the better-looking points, humps, and ridges. These are only starting points, but it's important to have a confidence area in which to begin.