During postspawn, fish for crappie on the first dropoff away from the bank, between the spawning area and the creek channels. Though the bottom may drop two or three more times before it reaches the creek channel, postspawn crappie generally will concentrate in cover on the very-first drop-off near the bank.

Try pitching jigs to dropoffs and vertical jigging down through the structure. In clear water, back away from the structure and pitch to it. In stained water, vertical jig right on top of the structure. Another proven spot to find postspawn crappie is in the brushpiles in the fronts of docks and piers. These brush piles provide cover at the depths where crappie suspend and are near shoreline cover. Bridge pilings, railroad trestles and other kinds of vertical structure are also good bets.