what to use...

jigs are a good place to start, fathead minnows are great for crappie too.

I have a Plano-type box full of jig heads, mini tube heads, some lindy spinners, and a ton of different color mini tubes and twister-tail grubs. That is my "crappie box".

I need to pick up some of the Blakemore roadrunner heads too - they are supposed to be deadly.

Crappie can be very picky in what color they'll take. Chartreuse might have worked great yesterday, but today pink and white are what they're hitting. you get the picture.

Check out the home page on this site, there are a bunch of articles on different ways to go slabbin'. Also, basspro.com has a library and in the "panfish" section there are a bunch of crappie articles too.

If it ever stops snowing, we'll be in for a month or two of hot crappie action as they go through the spawn. Get your gear together and be ready to hit the water!