Fortunately I don't think the cormorants have any effect really. Haven't fished at your lakes but Laguna Niguel and MV both have them all the time, 15 probably roost at Laguna Niguel and it doesn't hurt the fishing. They are there long before the trout go in too.
I think it's just taking some time adjusting to the lack of weeds. While present it gives something to relate to but without it sounds like it turns your lakes into mostly featureless bottom with the docks. I'd think it'd make the bass sort of spread out more. It happened at LN, they chemicalled the water, the fishing got slower then back to normal. But then the chemicals took effect and it totally got rid of all the moss/algae/grass slop that was growing in the tapered shallows. Without that vegetation it went back to being just featureless boringness and the fish spread back out and related to what little contours there are or just hungout in the nothingness.
It was warmer then but worked for me was covering water with a lipless crank. The crank just helped me find fish and I started catching fish in a couple specific areas. Once I found what area they liked to bite in I could then focus more of my time on the specific areas.