I do know they are in their. I live 20 mins from lake and dont fish it that often for your reasons. Last year their was a good report once up river. I hear a lot of people going up the river and finding them.Strippers in their sure make it tought for them crappies my guess. I have fished it many times looking for those slabs with not one ever caught my self from Pleasant. Lakes Bartlett, Roosevelt Alamo are some of the best close to valley.
I head to Bartlett most the time myself cause its the closest out of the 3. Almo is good but gets lots of presure. With that said there was reports of 25-50 caught at night. Roosevelt I cant say much. I have only caught them at night over by marina under lights. Dont give up on them slabs its just been a tough year for many crappie fisherman. I just fished Bartlett yesterday and lil tonight with 5 to show. That doubles what I have caught all year. Look for more details in Bartlett fishing report ill post up later.