Hello Jackie, to answer your question crappie in most rivers and creeks will always be shallower than in the lake! It's because of the thermocline. If you take a pond that's only 12-15 ft at its deepest point the thermocline will only be 4-8 ft. The oxygen is there! Now one other thing to consider is water clarity. Most creeks and rivers in Oklahoma are stained which makes the fish shallow! Because of light penetration. The last factor to always consider is the forage. I believe if a fisherman knows where his forage is all the time he will be catching fish often! EB