Try looking for them in open water adjacent to, not right on the drop offs. Don't bother with anything 3' or less off the bottom. Crappies will go there, but only when they're completely turned off. Perfect example from my experience - I fish a lake that has a submerged hump between to peninsulas. The hump tops out at 13' with water down to 35' on either side. Most of the time I can find the biggest crappies 50-100 yards off the hump on either side suspended at 13-18' under the ice.
kerosene