well, the zoo is very hard to figure out.  What works for one definitely Doesn't for another guy, or on another day.  there are 12,080 acres of water during normal summer pool.  The constantly changing water level discourages major weedbeds and forage populations are minimal.  There's a trophy population, I'm convinced, because predator populations are low.

They are easy places to start. Trolling is a normal place to start.  Also, You can buy a good map of lake which shows most of the major fish attractors and cribs.  I'm not a boat angler nor Am I familiar with the lake but i've had a few nice bites, doing nothing but hanging around the sugar bay boat launch and floating minnows below a bobber during dusk.
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as for the tackle shops in the area.  Pages is of course under new management.  Grizzly Gary and a couple partners and bought it.  Its a good place and has grown on me.  Generally if you ask a few easy questions, that are specific, you should get some hints. 

the place by red bridge, Graybill marina. yeah that guy is quiet.  but his is open late and well equipped. 
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and of course, there's the board itself.  we have given out a WHOLE lot of times some general hints to the waterway.  If you go back through the pages, it becomes crystal clear who answers questions and can get you started.

so I'm sorry you had a bad experience at a tackle shop but curious as to why the normal pretty friendly shops treated you that why.  maybe they were busy.
Some of those guys at the tackle shops really will spill a lot of beans about local hotspots.  What they say depends on how busy they are, whos been talking to them and of course, who they are.  Knowing how to ask useful questions is a real big deal.

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so.. thankx for the reply. and if you have an issue at Grizzly gary's I know management, I sure they will work out any reasonable issues.  I am willing to help if you have problems.  I've not influential with the store, but some of my friends are.

my only experiences with quaker have been bad.  basically I've tried a couple times in the last two years to catch pike through the ice.

here's what I think happened with Quaker.  Quite a few trout were stocked in Quaker.  Over time, the foremost predator in the lake starting really some good years because of the available food.  Word was that just after the 2000's , pike populations were fantastic. 

now, NY is concerned because half their stocked trout are just becoming pike food.  so they did an assessment found a lot of pike and  spread the word. 

pressure increases on the lake, and pike are heavily harvested.  now they are much more balanced and continueing pressure on the pike have beaten down the hoard.  I'm not the only one to recently get skunked up their, and one of my NY friends say Pike isn't anything like it was.

personally, I've got some river hotspots that during the right water level are very reliable.  Early spring is the time to try it.  Just as you say, its a pattern deal.

its not worth the drive.  the funnest deal in NY is chautaqua lake.  Unlike anything in this part of PA, and in the winter and spring, the fishing is so good, it makes up for the pricey NY license. 

There are very few that consistently catch fish in Kinzua.
In Erie anyone on a boat can catch perch and an occasional walleye.
The guy at Hook, Line and sinker near Willow Bay will share info.
Slavens down the road might give a little tidbit like walleye  were hitting near the RR bed north of Willow Bay or bass are biting in Sugar Run
I do not think anything is a constant in that lake
What works today might not work tomorrow.
I think one of the secrets is to change presentation, lure, bait and area until you start catching.