Fishing for florida crappie is great because it seems to me that its real simular to spring fishing in some ga lakes with fla all year round...Trolling for staging fish no structure no pattern just just open water fish..I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule...Fished orange/lochloosa 1st fla crappie tourn. last year and saw simularities you describe...I also developed a passion for fla crappie fishing