I have fished Bull Shoals a lot, especially the west half from Peel to Tucker Hollow. Bass will stay in the creeks all year. I usually map out spots I'm going to fish beforehand on a topo, then run and gun until I think I've figured them out. I like to drag a 3/4 oz football jig across creek points, especially gravel points this time of year. Also, grinding a wiggle wart through rock transitions, points, bluff ends, or just covering water in the backs of creeks is always good on that lake in the spring. If I find a nice looking cove with clear water, I'll pull out a jerkbait. Seed tick hollow towards Peel is usually pretty clear this time of year and has produced some of my biggest smallmouth on a jerkbait during the spring. If the bites really tough or the water is super clear, I'll fish a hula grub on a jighead or a reaper on a shakey head.
Don't be afraid to fish tight to that buck brush either. There's more fish in there than you think. My bigger bites usually come from out deeper on the points though.
Do some reading on seasonal patterns and use this link to find some good spots.
http://webapp.navionics.com/
I would recommend buying a fishing hotspots topo though if you are going to take it seriously. They have them at Walmart. They show what the banks are made of such as clay, rock, gravel etc.