Most important is cover. Rarely will you find crappie in the open. Best bet is the tops of fallen trees in a slower current preferably an eddieback they will be in dead lakes on the river too quite often close to the bank in the cover of limbs, bushes, and treetops. Try the upside first but they may be on the backside. I will jig for em a little but I prefer a minnow about 2 1/2 in. not bigger than 3in. I like a #4 truturn hook and a slipcork so I can adjust the depth on 6lb. test line. Crappie suspend theirselves in my area this time of year they are holding at about 6 ft. as the day warms they might come up to 3-4 ft. or go deeper whatever the baitfish are doing. Drop your minnow at the edge of the cover and let it swim in.

Good Luck