the only thing i know is that i was taught by some folks to go big in the winter
and then i was taught by other folks to go small in the winter
and i have seen days when a bait so small it was almost invisible to the naked eye was slamming whale crappie in the dead of winter
and i have seen other days and on other lakes when 4 inches was the size they wanted ......
i hit the water with the never say never attitude and bring several bait selections with me
these here crappie fish tend to be rather unpredictable at times