All of you old pros weigh in on this one. I'm crappie fishing this weekend with my Dad and brothers. We're fishing a relatively small (2800 acre) lake in Kansas that is rated the #1 crappie lake in the state. The water is murky and the lake is slowly rising. Their are a couple of timbered creek arms, a few timbered points and the water temp is probably mid 50's. Overall, it's a somewhat shallow lake. I've never fished the lake, but know a little about it. Oh yea, we've got a boat with a LCD unit. How would you approach it? What color jigs, etc.? Thanks for the input.

I'd take Jerry or Paul to the lake with me.

Hmmmm...I've seen crappie hang out where the water is coming in, but they dislike current. Get up there, find a little back eddy, better if it's got some cover, and get after 'em.

I am by no means a crappie pro (I don't own a boat either), but I know what I'd do. I would hit those timbered points (especially those with the least amount of current around them). I would use a big jig (2-3 inch variety, 1/8 oz pink jig head) in either black and pink or black and orange.
In those water conditions I've had great success using a Roadrunner head and either of those jig colors...it's either the flash or the sound of the spinner hitting the jig head, but it's been deadly for me in murky/muddy water.
That may be the absolute worst approach to take (not a pro), but that's where I would start if I was faced with those conditions.
Good fishin' and I'm sure you'll get much better advice as this thread continues to grow.

simple black chartruse rocky tops of course first day try deep try shallow learn for what u fish and procede fishing is only as hard as you make it but the real good fishermen make it easy just wish i could figure it out tellin you right now jerry and paul would stay north but with thoose water temps you might wanna try the deep points on the lake.

Water in the mid 50's I'd find the deepest water and start there or go up a creek. If water was running in muddy/cold the creeks might not be a good choice. Sounds like tough conditions...
Murky water black/chart or black/orange but with those conditions I'd probably have me some minnows.

My first thought would go deep.

If I could find some water that was cleaner than the rest of the lake, I'd fish shallower, but if that was not an option; I'd fish deep. If I used jigs, they'd be black with either chartruese, orange or pink tails. I'd definately have some minnows with me if the jigs didn't work, and I'd 'bump' any brushpile or timber that I could find with those minnows. Good luck to you and your dad.

Kansas,

That's winter time fishing up there (Highs in the 50's, lows in the lower 30's for this weekend) sitting on water that is around mid 50s.

Wear lot of clothes (lots).

When you get up there ask the locals (they may be ice fishing).

I appreciate the input guys. I will take the advice to the water. I wish we were on one of those beautiful Texas lakes, but we'll save that for next spring.