bob,
A while ago on here I found a little equation that helps find the level that the crappies usually suspend at. Take the depth, divide it in half and add a foot.
Example
Fishing 24 feet of water
fish will be suspended 13 feet down
this isn't set in stone, there are plenty of ponds i fish (some right near you) where the crappies only suspend a few feet off the bottom.
I tend to find crappies over the deepest spot if its a small pond, or if its a bigger body of water, they like to suspend right off of a steep drop off that is located near shallow flats. Corners of ponds with steep drop offs are very good places to try too.
Ive had luck with small ice jigs with #12 or #14 hooks, but sometimes I've had to go up to a #8 if they are aggressive, or when I seem to be losing too many, but sometimes I have to switch down to a #16 or #18 if they are not biting aggresively.