Stealth is critical. Use an electric trolling motor to move silently along the weed edge. Dip the bait in pockets on the outside edge or inside the weedbeds and in visible channels passing through the vegetation. Anchor when you find a bank where crappies are concentrated. But we like to keep moving with the trolling motor until we check the entire length of cover.
Crappies often use one area over others.
Chart a milk run once the spots on the spot with bigger, more active fish are identified. Move down the bank, then circle and return. We've literally taken crappie after crappie by returning to the same places time after time all day long. Take some fish home for the pan, but don't overdo it. Release big, egg-laden females.