Try to establish a routine when you launch your boat so you get yourself in tune with the lake. Look down into the water to determine what the depth of light may be and if you can see any life in the water or around the dock in the marina or birds out on the water. Check the water temperature, then survey the marina area with your sonar. If the marina has a log boom or big buoys, check the anchor blocks or any other structure down to whatever depth is available. Follow the first major point that protects the marina out into deep water. If you locate bass, fish for them and determine what they react to. Marina's are great places to determine what may be going on in the rest of the lake. I nearly always do this to get myself into rhythm and settled down and ready to fish. You would be surprised how many times I have caught big bass or established a pattern without leaving the marina.
Tom
Tom