zig zag back and forth along the bank of the lake in about 15 - 20 feet of water and look for brush piles on the bottom. When you find one throw a marker over. Then pass over the brush pile again and see where your marker is in relation to the brush pile. Drop small 1" tube jig w/ 1/16 round head right down on top of the brush pile and right beside it. You want to keep the jig moving, but it only takes slight twitches with your wrist. I like to twitch my wrist 3 or 4 times and then raise and lower the jig 6" - 12" with a pause after the fall.
They will usually hit the jig on the fall or during the pause. Crappie can be picky about colors on any given day, so take a variety of colors and give them each a try. You need to take your time and be sure you know exactly where the brush pile is in relation to your marker, because if you are not dropping your bait on and around that brush pile you will not catch crappie. And don't get frustrated about getting hung up on the brush. If you are not getting hung up and losing jigs you are not doing it right.
If you prefer live bait fishing buy the smallest shiners you can get. Drop them over the brush pile and let them sit for a couple of minutes. If no hit raise you rod tip 12" and let it fall. Then let it sit another couple of minutes. When they die put a fresh one on. Crappie prefer minnows that are moving.

I developed a few of my techniques in a crappie house or fishing barge. I learned a lot from other fisherman, by watching and then asking if I couldn't figure something out. Cut down the learning curve a lot. Still a lot to learn when expanding your horizons,, like fishing from a boat.

Guides help a lot.

Call Jacky Wiggins. He's a crappie guide on Fork and will not only show you how and what you need, but you'll take home a couple of gallons of crappie fillets. You can get him at 972-342-8803 or jackywiggins@verizon.net. He is also my crappie tournament partner.