For most crappie baits i use bait plastics saltwater hard since i'm fishing them exposed hook & it helps them to stay on the hook better meaning you use less baits. Swimbait's for crappie i'd mix medium & hard at a 50-50 ratio. My bass baits are all made with medium except for tubes & i do the 50-50 mix on them.
I will have to get me a gallon of salt water and mix it 50-50 with the medium. Sounds like it could be a good one toughen it up a lot. Do you use that mixture for tubes?