Got to keep the weight on the bottom for me too. I like using a 1oz weight but when they are biting lite crappie will steal your minnows before your rod will more. When the bites are lite I will use a 1/2oz but you do lose the speed, and if the wind is high your line will more around too, just have to watch closer.
I use 6lb and will use 10lb if a lot of brush is around where I'm fishing.