Was using a bait caster with the top water popper. As for crows nest, it's southeast past the dam and across the big water. (More east then south) Fish the camp site right off the point, which I belive is campside d-13. Run some divers or rattle traps on the drop off for smallmouth. Then move into the coves. You'll see a lot of log jam's in the area. The first two jams are kind of on the small side which are the ones in the north east corner, if you move to the southeast corner, there is a long continues line of log jams and submerged logs to fish. It's an easy area to get to withouth screwing up your boat/motor and sould satisfy your needs for log jam fishing. Offers pretty much what the beaver flats offer. The only difference is, the crows nest is protected and the beaver flats is open big water.

If your feeling gutsy, past crows (south) youll see 3 islands just south out of crows off the the d-13 point. I usually make that my cutoff for running on that side of the flowage. I cut back west across the big water and run in the old beaver creek channel south past the 2 islands and cut back east very slowly using a saved safe route on gps and that will get me to the southern edge of the beaver flats. While your on the southern tip of the beaver flats, take a run into the cove south of beaver which is no more then a 5 min. ride going slow. Good place to throw spinners for northern if your looking to have some fun. Mine as well if you make it that far south withouth lower unit damage or a hole in the boat! LOL Well good luck to you guys and stay safe.