I am reposting this here as per moderator suggestion.

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and this is my first new topic. I am mainly a bass angler but I want to try out some crappie fishing before bass season opens. I was planning on using my light spinning bass gear for them crappies this weekend, and wanted to check with some experts here for any pointers. I am planning on using my 6'6" ml st croix premier and pflueger president 6920 with 6lb fluoro (my bass dropshot setup) for casting 1/8 and 1/16 oz roadrunners and jigs. I want to use my other finesse bass setup which is a 6' med cabelas tourney trail, pflueger president 6930 for a slip float rig with live minnows (no line spooled up yet, so I could use some suggestions there). Would these be a good place to start? Also, the ice is just starting to melt here in Michigan, and I'll most likely just be casting from shore by the mouth of a river feeding an inland lake (Huron River and Ford lake to be exact). Do crappie like to hang out in or near current? What types of books should I be using for my minnows? I think I have some tru turn bait holder and panfish #6 hooks which is what I was leaning towards. Should I try any of my ice lures since the water is so cold (jigs, small rapalas, Swedish pimples, small cleos)? Like I said I'm very new to the crappie game. I did catch 1 through the ice on a minnow and slip float this winter, but I want to try casting for them before bass season opens. Thanks!