Here's my 2 cents. One important thing to learn about crappie fishing is learning how to use your electronics. Depth finders and learning how and where to find natural and man made brush tops and ledges is the first secret to catching crappie. You don't have to buy a really expensive FF but try to get the best you can afford. Like everyone has said read these posts and take it to the water. What kind of crappie fishing seems to interest you, spider rigging, jigging, casting, trolling?