Welcome Lee
You have come to the right place as these folks have a lot of very good crappie knowledge and are very willing to share. I have discovered that whenever I share my very limited knowledge of crappie fishing I always seem to get more that I give.
Just a warning tho that crappie fishing can be as addictive as crack cocaine so jump right in and go for the high. Once you get hooked you'll find that crappie fishing is a 365 day habit and will discover that the spring spawn just might not be your favorite or best time to crappie fish.
For me winter crappie fishing is the best of crappie fishing. In the winter one can dress and stay comfortable where as in the summer time you can only take off so may clothes and will still be hot and miserable. When dressing winter crappie you will find the crappie meat is more firm and not mushy. Guess one could throw them in ice after catching. Another winter advantage for me is that I don't use minnows. I only use them during the spawn. Another winter advantage is that there aren't as many boats to contend with on the water.
Those folks that winterize their boats in Sept or Oct just don't know what they are missing.
Also you will find it almost limitless as to all the different methods techniques baits and presentations used to pursue crappie.
Go for the fun and good luck fishing.
LBM
“There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide.” Ayn Rand