Much of the appeal of pursuing crappies relates to their versatile, often unpredictable natures. In early spring, once water has warmed into the low 50s, you’ll often find fish as shallow as a foot of water, especially around brush, docks, and vegetation. During the spawning season, crappies usually build nests anywhere from 1 to 3 feet of water, occasionally deeper, given a lack of shallow habitat or greater water clarity, as well as predators, such as birds and, sometimes, anglers. In summer, crappies often suspend 2 to 15 feet off bottom, often hovering around brush piles, weedlines, or beneath deep boat docks. After fall turnover, crappies may move even deeper, typically suspending 10 to 30 feet down over water as deep as 50 feet.