Let the fish show you what technique to use. If crappie are holding tight to cover and not wanting to chase anything, then keeping the bait in the strike zone is the deal. Using a nice B'n'M pole (10 or 12 feet, whichever you prefer) and crappie reel with line in the mid-single digits to 10 or 12 pound test will do the trick. You can tightline, but keep a forefinger on the line to add a little feel for the lightest taps. This method is also sometimes effective when adding a cork bobber. Some folks call it a float and fly technique. If the fish want to chase, you can go no float or float. Without a float, you a basically swimming the bait - sometimes stopping, dropping, bouncing - along near the bottom or some structure. With a float, you are swinging the jig above the fish and allowing the bobber to swim it back in place. Strikes can often comes when the jig is motionless in this method. Plus, the bobber can act as a fish attractant by jerking it along similar to an old Lucky 13. As for colors, I like black/chartreuse, black/firetail and red/chartreuse for clear to stained water. Blue/pearl is good in muddy water. Size depends on where you are. I use 1/32 oz. or 1/16 oz. generally, but bigger baits may be needed in current or when trying to use larger plastics for the slabs. I also like some of the shad imitation jig tails and occasionally will still tie on a marabou jig in white, black, olive or black/brown.