A trick I have been doing for years is to go crappie fishing during opening weekend of deer season. There is usally no one on the water which makes for a nice day, besides I don't like hunting with crazyass half drunk people which seem to dominate my area. The crappies act alot like they do in the spring with out all the people trying to catch them. They will be right up on the banks or suspended under docks. I love to fish the crack that seperates two docks. I fish jigs mostly because that is my prefrence but i'm sure that minnows would work as well. I like some thing that is in a shad patern with some kinda tail that swims. good luck.
Drew
Drew