Kinsey fishes a bit shallower at Burnt Mills than Gizara, although their fishing styles and techniques are similar. Kinsey said 90 percent of the bass population will be in less than 5 feet of water either getting ready to spawn, spawning or in a post-spawn mode.

Shallow pockets and coves with abundant sunshine are prime areas to search for bass in both lakes, he explained. His prime spots are underwater stumps and laydowns on sandy shorelines.

Kinsey doesn't have any pet lures or techniques at Burnt Mills. He favors floating worms and natural-colored tubes for sight-fishing.

Gizara said a reasonably good day in May on Burnt Mills -- under normal weather conditions -- would be 12 to 15 pounds for a five-fish limit. He has caught largemouths as big as 7 pounds from this Suffolk jewel.

"They average between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds mostly, but the chance of an anchor fish weighing between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds is always possible," Gizara added.

He said to look for anything that these bruisers can hide behind and ambush prey, like blowdowns, hurdles, rockpiles and stumps.

Kinsey has caught 8-pound-class largemouths from Burnt Mills but said bigger fish are available.

"I've heard of several bass over 10 pounds that have been caught over the years in Burnt Mills," he said.

Kinsey's opinion of typical days -- at Burnt Mills and Cohoon -- are stellar. He said accomplished anglers could expect 20 to 30 fish in the 2- to 5-pound range during the weekdays. Fishing pressure on the weekends will make it tougher, but fishing is still good.

"On typical Sunday tournaments, it will take at least 20 pounds to win and the 15-pound limits will place anywhere from eighth to 10th on most days," Kinsey said.

Gizara sticks to the open-water areas near the boat launch and dam early in the day during May, but will then navigate uplake to the standing timber areas during the midday hours.

"Although there aren't many named areas on the lake, any cove, point or spawning flat on the entire lake can be productive during the month," he said.

COHOON'S CHUNKS
Lake Cohoon measures 510 acres and is a dynamo for largemouth bass, bluegills, chain pickerel, crappie and shellcrackers. Gizara employs the same tactics at Cohoon as he does at Burnt Mills.

"Cohoon and Burnt Mills are practically the same body of water, concerning water depth and clarity," Gizara said. "Cohoon has standing cypress trees uplake, but like Burnt Mills, it becomes more open in the midlake region down to the stair-stepped dam, which separates it from Lake Meade.

"Cohoon has one main creek and one smaller feeder creek, both of which are worth fishing in May," he said. "A good spot to fish in May is Briggs Cove, located halfway up the lake. It's a long creek and has standing cypress in the back and stumpfields half way back in the creek."