Hi Suburbbass-

Your rigs are fine. I would add some 1/32 oz jigs and a selection of 1" tubes and curlytails. You can always add a splitshot or two 3-4" above the jig if you need more weight to balance things. I like to use orange, red or chartreuse jig heads. Chartreuse metalflake is my go to in stained water followed closely by white, black and natural colors in clear water. In cold water I find smaller baits on a slower fall often do best. I've also found attractants to be most effective in colder water. I'm using a Pro Cure product at present and it seems to be effective, but I haven't used it enough yet to form a solid opinion on it.

I highly recommend the 1" Berkley Gulp Alive minnows. I've seen them outfish live minnows time and again. In fact, I've had great success with all of the smaller Gulp Alive panfish baits, minnows, leeches, fry, etc., sold in the small jars.


I'm in NW Indiana and have fished some in Michigan, so I'm somewhat familiar with your conditions. If you can fish open water with ice nearby, try casting your bait on the ice, dragging it to the edge and letting it drop. I catch a lot of crappie at ice out time that are hanging under the edge of the ice.

Crappie don't really like current. They'll hang in sheltered spots near current though, and if you can drift or drag your bait past them they may come out and ambush it.

I think crappie coming out of cold water in the spring are the beast tasting. They also freeze better, I think. Good Luck.