Yes, the trees make it black. I t is decaying of cypress trees that causes the water to look like tea or coffee. I have fished stained water all my life, growing up on the rivers of NC. I am living on the Perquimans River and if you Google it, you'll find that biologist actually think there should not be any fish in this water because of the tannin.
I almost always use chartruese when targeting crappie unless I use a white road runner for casting. A white curly tailed spinner will catch every species of fish their is to catch in the rivers I fish.
You can't go wrong with minnows either. Especially if you find a spot that is holding fish and can't seem to persuade a bite with artificial.
I take turns trolling chartruese storm baits (2-3 inch) and verying colors of bandits. I also like spider rigging with different colors til I find what they want. Usually any scenerio of attack still reveals the same dominant color chartruese or chartruese and something, or minnows.
Right now I like chartruese marabou 1/32oz for spidder rigging
chartruese storm swim baits 2-3 inches or chartruese with blue bandits 1-2mph usually 1.5.
White curly tail spinbeatle and white road runner for casting (I use all silver blades because all the bait fish are silver, also I have noticed... I don't catch fish with gold blades).
Used less often; there is the 3-4 inch black and white (typical) broke back repala, as well as pink and white skirted mini spinner baits for the spawn.
This only my opinion, but nothing you can say will change my mind. That makes it a FACT.
Today is a Blessed Day and a Prosperous Day