Wow, tough one matt. No doubt we here in PA face that situation commonly in the spring. In the cold water and wind, I usually allow the weather trend the PREVIOUS days dictate what I do. If it had been warmer the previous days, and I'd been catching some shallow, I'll fish the ugliest cover I can find, but one key, really slow down. Make multiple presentations to the targets such as bushes, stumps, laydowns, rocks. I will usually pitch/flip a jig or slow roll a spinnerbait. Last year in the spring, I found a stump with my trolling motor > well, I fished that stump later in the day, got nice fish off of it. Next trip to this lake, a cold front had gone through and dropped the water temp some 5 degrees. I went to this stump, made over 30 casts to it with a spinnerbait, but got bit 2 times, both keepers. Fishing in the wind stinks, but it could play to your advantage in some cases. I have had success ripping a lipless crankbait around weeds in the wind, specifically, on windblown points and weedlines. You can sometimes trigger a reaction strike this way.
Some days, you just get fed up with the wind. In those cases I try to find protected areas and switch to finesse baits if the ones I mentioned aren't producing. Finnesse worms on a jig or senko style baits would be my choice there. Biggest thing to remember here is that you must maintain constant contact with your bait, your strikes will probably be subtle. If you feel something, set the hook. Most bites will feel like pressure on the line. IMO hooksets are free, so why not swing if it feels fishy.
In terms of boat control, fish into the wind. That will help you in windy conditions. In open water situations, try a drift sock in combination with your trolling motor.
One other thing that helped me tremendously. Find someone that you point blank know is a better and more experienced fisherman and fish with them if possible. If you are not ina club, I would suggest joining one. Being in the right club will cut your learning curve in half in some instances.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
