Only fished a handful of strip pits a couple years back around Big Brutus. Did find crappie in several of the pits. Never found a "brushpile", but best bet was to fish the top part of trees that had fallen in the water. One pit you could see down 5-6ft, you would put a minnow down as deep as you could and still see it, and you could watch the crappie come out of the tree and take your minnow. Pretty cool. Also found some on a sort underwater ledge that we stumble upon in 10-15ft, that held some fish. I know these pits are a couple hundred miles apart, but hope it helps.
Tim.