Whare should I be looking what depth  the lake I will be fishing has a max depth of about 65 ft with tons of drop offs and weeds not much for rocks?  It is my belife that on opener of the season I am beter off using live bait in 10 to 12 feet of water. 

I would think your best bet would be the weedbed edges and anyplace you might fish for Walleye. I have caught more Pike fishing for Walleye than intentionally! Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

i would try to find about 5 feet of water around some weeds, or the mouth of a creek/ river that runs into the lake

Look for a swallow bay on a sunny day that will warm up. The pike should work there way into the bay as it warms up. Good spot for bait under a float.

I follow the crappies on the lake, but the river is a little different. The pikes will still like to do their ambush points for other forage fish.

The pike are getting ready to spawn here in NE Il. It's a great time to fish shallow. Tom

I have always enjoyed fishing with a black buzz bait along shallow weed lines for northerns. Sometimes a musky will be lurking in the same area.