Buy good gear to start with. High Tech are great out the front, but you cannot drag crank baits with em - something you will want to do when the water gets hot. Drift Masters are hard to beat. First thing to buy is an UMBRELLA. The biggest mistake most people make is too wide a set up. You want everything out front. If you spread it out too wide, you will have to turn your head right to left constantly. After two days of fishing, you will feel like someone tried to twist your neck off. Keep it close so you can glance side to side. Ideal speeds are .3 to .8 - the warmer the water the faster. Spider rigging is addictive and a lot of fun. Tie up Capps - Coleman Rigs - don't make your drop lines too long - about 6". Get some big minnows and get in the middle of the lake. Now you are fishing the things you cannot see - not the things you can. Remember - big crappie spend 90% of their time suspended in open water. Good Luck!