Been a long time for me being at Barren too.

2 things I di this time of year.

Late evening and just as sun set, I'd hit the shallow areas back in covers and pitch the cast net to come up with some gizzard shad.

Then I'd head out to the high walls area south of the 2 islands (part of the lake surrounded by Barren, Maple, and Bailey Point Roads) and drop some down poles with heavy sinkers and short leaders anywhere from 20 to 40 foot, and them also put out a couple free lines to drag off the stern.

With that going on off the back. I'd troll dead slow 20-30 foot out from the rock walls. And while doing that, as it was now dark, pitch Zora Spooks, or Baby Redfins along the surface more tightly to the walls. I used to fish all night that same way. When the sun started coming up, I shallowed up the down rods to 10-15 foot, got good bait on the free lines, and trolled a little faster working mainly out in front of the 2 islands, and but making a pass two behind the islands.

Best day ever was the one where as the sun came up, on a cool Mid -May day, the hybrids and or whites were just peridocially , single popping at the surface or swirling. Got just between the 2 islands, and my Zora Spook hooked up, 2 down rods bent over, and one of the 2 free lines got whacked. Came away form that feed with 3 Hybrids, and a darn big catfish.