Major bays with creeks running into them, sand and gravel bottom, start with bait on bottom in 8 or so feet of water and work your way in. They don't want a bunch of movement. Use redworms, wax worms, or a combo of those on a small hair jig or a bream bug. Bobber is OK as long as the bait is within a couple of inches of the bottom. redears will be under your boat where you would normally sit to cast to deep bluegill beds.
Main point: redears will spook off an area if there is a bunch of noise or a boat is run over the top of them in shallow water. Fan cast an area good but don't expect to catch but a couple or so at one spot.