What other lures work well for crappie besides jigs or small soft plastics?
Finding a ton of crappie but catching few in the school. Fishing vertically and short cast.

Small crankbaits and spoons. There's always minners...a cut minnow can be deadly at times with a jig or plastic.

When I was a kid, dad used to catch them on small Lazy Ikes all the time.

Minnows. Some will say it is not a lure. But it sure lures crappie to bite.

In ponds and small creeks never underestimate a beetlespin.

Also Hair jigs, especially in cold water.

Road runners and bettlespins. though they have a jig bottom most of the times.

Crappies also like worms....but mostly MINNOWs.

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When I find crappie like this I down size to a 1/32 hair jig, works real for me.

i like to jig it really really really slow

Don't forget Rooster Tails

i think i have caught almost every species of freshwater fish with a roostertail. no doubt one heck of a versatile bait. i do have a bit better luck with the road runner getting it to spin even when reeling at a slow pace. i feel i have to reel the rooster tails a little faster. i'm experimenting with MEPS spinners too and really like the ease with which they spin (maybe a slight edge over the rooster tail) but haven't tried them yet on crappie. and be wary of the knock off brand rooster tails!

Rooster Tails work might fine!

Might try crankbaits if all else fails. Go to Google and look at Arkie, Bandit, and Pico crankbaits.

I use Strike King 3XD's and have a lot of success, until the crappie get so deep I can't reach them anymore with a long cast. (Currently I'm catching Crappie on jigs 13' deep in 15' of water.)

Make a long cast reel it quickly a few turns to get some depth, then reel it slowly thru the school. You would be surprised how many crappie will inhale the crankbaits and only have line sticking out when they get to the boat.