Fishing the river on the upper end of the lake.

I was searching for some info on fishing the river portion of reservoirs. Nothing much out there.
Do any of you fish the upper ends of the lake? What tactics, where, time of year.. I have always fished the lake and creeks of the main lake. In the spring I fish up river but I bet some nice crappie live in the channel yr round up there. I want to learn about the river crappie. Any help is appreciated..

I find here in Oklahoma that most of the bigger crappie are in the upper lake and river areas on one lake here they always beat me on the tourneys because I wont take my boat that far up river thru the forest of trees and stumps. One of the best crappie fishermen that I know always told me to start at the mouth of the river the big boys would be there and he was right