First -- and perhaps most importantly -- river crappie don't school by size. In fact, they really don't school at all.

They'll bunch up in certain places at certain times, but it's misnomer to call that "grouping" a school. They're more accurately described as individuals holding in favorable places under favorable conditions.

As such, it's likely that you'll catch a couple of good ones from a spot, and then the size will go to heck or the bite will drop off completely.

When that happens, move to another spot and come back later. The bite is likely to be better after you let the spot rest for a few minutes.

Why they do this remains a mystery known only to the fish. Maybe they turn off, or maybe they move in and out. Plenty of anglers will argue either possibility. Whatever the reason, a short rest is often an effective stringer-filling strategy.

Second, these crappie won't often be found in deep water. They hold shallow -- many times in water less than 6 inches deep -- and generally don't move, regardless of changes in the weather.

When the bite gets tough, it's not because the crappie have moved. It's because they aren't biting.

A word of caution is in order here. This is a place of swift and unforgiving currents that can change direction and intensity on a moment's notice. These currents can be deadly. Don't fish in this area if you are an inexperienced river boater. Remain vigilant at all times and never -- not for any reason -- remove your life jacket.

YELLOW BANK ISLAND (OWENSBORO)
Owensboro, at mile 757, offers a wealth of nontraditional crappie fishing opportunities. The place to start, if the water's up, is on the west side of Yellow Bank Island, directly across from the city. You can get in from either end if you boat slowly and carefully.

If the water's down, the upstream and downstream entrances often close, however. When that happens, you'll need to choose another spot.

The fish tend to be scattered here, so keep moving even if the bite is good. Most anglers choose minnows or brightly colored jigs hung under bobbers. This is a slack-water area, so you'll need to impart a little action to your offerings by pulling them gently with your rod tip -- not too fast, just enough to move them a bit.