Andrew:

Your encountering areas would be good spots to keep in the back of your mind as you fish to there or away from there while fishing. You didn't mention in a lot of detail, but considering your quarry this spring, look for any weed growth that may have some up since or wood, no fish, then consider the channel edges not far from those locations. As you are motoring along to your locations to start and you flat calm water consider a little visual scouting for things that you might want to fish, such as cabbage tips...

Good luck, I heard an absolute monster came out of there recently!!!

Mark