Took the kids up after work . Checked a brush pile that always gets fish on it soon and there was nothing. We started throwing jigs under a float to the bank in the back of that cove . I could smell fish strong. No bites. Went to the back of another cove and the smell was there but no fish again. Really I have never did well on the bank. I'm a bass fisherman first and I know you sometimes have to hunt crappie before getting bit but I wanted to ask if maybe there is something I can improve on? I'm throwing a mini jig approx 2 ft under the float and slowly winding it back. I look for any lay down or that straw grass. I usually throw black with char tail. I did mark some small hybrids and we caught a half dozen of them so they enjoyed that. Soon the fish will be moving out to my brush and ill start catching them but I'd like to catch them shallow. Any tips? Patience perhaps? Oh yeah , fishing mid lake near fishing village. Water temp 61 after 5 pm