This is a tough one. Lots of good advice in the thread. For my two cents I'd say the earlier or later you can get on the water the better. Stealth is very important from the shore. You can spook fish that are in the shallows when you approch snapping twigs and stepping heavy. Always sneak up on the shore, and gently drop a worm in when you get a few feet from the edge when you come to a new spot. And go with a worm. W rigged, T rigged or C rigged, SLOW i mean one cast should take you 5 minutes to stitch it back in. Try a worm with a tail that floats on a shaky jig if it's not too rocky. If you water is pretty stained try brighter color worms. Nose hook or wacky hook a floating worm and twitch it on the surface. Find the weed edges and any structure, rocks and fallen trees, drop offs. But before all that you need to be confidant that there are Bass there. Always talk to other fishermen and ask them if they've had any luck. If a guy knows that water chances are he'll give you some useful information. Good Luck
