Today, however, there are all sorts of soft-plastic crappie lures. Tubes and twisters have been joined by shad-bodies and micro-nymphs, thumpers, swimmers, jokers, and more, giving us a wide array of fish-attracting options.

Jigs are king when it comes to Crappie fishing. You can use them in almost any situation. They can even outfish live bait, especially when the fishing's hot. You don't need to deal with keeping them fresh or changing them after every bite, either, which is an added bonus.

Some of the most common and effective crappie baits are live minnows, crankbaits, or plastic jigs with lead jig heads. So grab your favorite lure or multiple different ones for your spider rig, or be prepared to switch it up under challenging conditions.