Classic shallow and stained-water locations host much of the activity. Wind protected bays and river backwaters rank high. In the spring of the year, panfish chasers focus on the shallowest of shallows and the darkest water Mother Nature affords. They understand that stained and shallow places warm the quickest, attracting prespawn, and later, spawning panfish. Prespawners shallow-up to gorge themselves on emerging insects and schooling baitfish.
Spawners come to perpetuate their species.
Go a step further this spring. Dissect your favorite waters and locate some Really Small Water. Inlets are a good example of Really Small Water. Not the inflow of a well documented throbbing creek either, because these aren't secretive. Rather, a trickling stream of warmed water, which had its origins as snow.