Make sure you tied a good knot for your baits.
LittleJohn
If you are without a boat and you need to get your "crappie fix" on you can always fish from the bank during this time of year. The crappie are shallow for spawning and are easy to catch in 1-5 feet of water. Use a small bobber and small split shot with a #1 or #2 aberdeen hook with a minnow attached drives crappie crazy. Grab a kid and take them with you and find some nice crappie this time of year!
"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm." Theodore Roosevelt
If you plan on using fish attractants like Johnson's Crappie Buster Shad Scales you will need to apply the attractant directly to your lure before lowering it into the water. Use it sparingly but cover the lure enough to make sure the scent will slowly leak off the lure attracting the crappie. The "shad scales" or bits of glitter fall off the lure as the scent disapates and the glitter looks like scales of a fish being attacked or hurt. It works great and I use it often!!!
USAF Retired and fishing!