Hey Anthony...I'd find out where the best big crappie waters are in you region and then I would take some time to learn the techniqes on that particular body of water.
Several years ago, I got a tip on some trophy crappie at Pinchot Lake in Southcentral PA. The locals weren't offering up much info, so I had to work at it. After a half doz trips, I finally stumbled on to some shoreline brushpiles tha eventually yielded several 2 pound plus fish, including my PR of 2 lb 8 oz. Caught em on small hair jigs and 1/16 oz Panfish Assassins in Nov in but 3 ft of water...other anglers had overlooked this spot that had big fish on it. I lost the largest crappie I have ever hooked...a 3 pound class fish...right at the bank. Heartbroken, I stuck it out and made more good catches on similar structure in future trips.
This is a great site for bluegill fishing, but to learn from the best about crappie fishing, go to crappie.com and sign up, use the search tool to address any topic. You can also watch free midwest crappie videos at myoutdoortv.com Hope this helps, Tom
Since you appear to like crappie fishing I have included a picture of my new rod holders for spider rigging. I bought all the pipe fittings, ground lugs, and aluminum bar stock at Home Depot where I work, the rod holder itself is made by Bee Ready
I use an 8 to 9 foot crappie pole or a fly rod works great. Rig a quill bober or a wagler about two to three feet above a hook and minnow, note if you have rigged it correctly the bobber will lye flat on the water untill you get a bit and then it will stand up. Be patient and let the crappie pull the bobber under, if you set the hook to soon the crappie will only have half the minnow in and you will miss. Pitch this at any structer, my favorite is a beaver's lodge, and let that little minnow do his thing. If you hook the minnow just behind the dorsal finn he will work his butt off trying to stay upright, however i find i miss allot of fish because I don't give them time to completely swallow it. If you find that your missing allot of fish hook him through the bottom of the lip and up through his nose. I think you will get less action from the minnow but you will get more hook ups.
By the way if you slay them on this tip you have to take me fishing in your favorite hunny hole. lol lol lol