1) I like Bobby Garland Baby Shad and Panfish Assassins. Color would depend on conditions and could change multiple times in a given day. A good go-to for me is anything with white and chart, but that doesnt always produce.
2) Cant comment, never used it.
3) I have a couple of the older model Crappie Max combos and theyre ok. For the price difference, I'd go with the older model.