what is your go to bait and why?
CRAPPIE fishing is not a sport, its a way of life!
Trolling Cranks - Berkley Flicker shads and Salmos - because they just plain flat work - and both had countless hours of development put into them.
Jig and plastic ( and I have limited experience here) would be a berkley power minnow minnow or twitch tail minnow.
Ice - Custom Jigs and Spins Demon and a "tooth pick" shaped piece of red Powerbait.