Well, you asked a bunch of very detailed questions. The only thing I can tell you is that on any day you have to experiment. If I know a stocking has just taken place, yeah Ill start shallow. If that doesnt work, I look elsewhere, if you know what I mean. I have never seen bass sitting right up in shallow water where the trout were stocked (ok, once I did but it was at night and I saw them using a spotlight, coolest thing Ive ever seen).

I used to live in Humboldt Co., and fished an Oregon lake with trophy potential. If it helps you with confidence, the big baits work in Oregon (sorry Chris).