I didn't answer your entire question...You never know when you go fishing, whether you are going to find them deep or shallow. And yes, they go shallow too, and not just to spawn either. My opinion, is that wherever the food source is for that day, then that is where they will probably be. This time of year, I carry at least two rods rigged for bottom fishing, with a #4 or #2 crappie hook, and a couple of split shot about 2 1/2 feet up the line, and one rod rigged with a slip cork, crappie hook and a good size split shot. This is for shallow water. I don't use a bobber stop, so the bait goes to the bottom, and I can watch the bobber for any movement. To fish shallow, I go from cypress tree to cypress tree. They love cypress trees for some reason, they will spawn around them too. If a cypress tree is sitting out in the water by itself, and it's in 3-5 feet of water, and there is a dropoff starting only a few feet from it, that is the perfect spot. They could be right around the tree, or on the dropoff, out from the tree a little. Also check under overhanging bushes and branches, with the bobber rig..redworms mostly