Here in Colorado, they seem to enter the shallows in mid April and stay for about a month or more, depending on water temps. The key temps are 50 - 65 degrees. When it's warmer or colder they go deeper. Just any shallower cove, the bigger the better, with brush and tree cover or weeds seems to hold tons of them. Small minnows or jigs under slip bobbers is all you need to fill your limit. Once water gets too warm, they back out into adjacent open water and suspend 5 - 15 feet off bottom in 20 - 50 foot depths, depending on the lake. Crappie are generally always easy to catch once you find them. It's finding them that is the hard part. In spring you don't need sonar usually. In winter, summer, or fall, it's a must.
Tyler
