Will using electronics improve my chances of catching Crappie in the ice?

In all actuality, ice-fishing for Crappies probably provides the fisherman with the best scenario for the use of electronic equipment that any other species.  As you’ve more than likely been told, the secret to successful Crappie fishing is finding them.  When fishing into the ice, knowing precisely where the Crappies are will allow you to pull the bait up above them and drop it back down, effectively “teasing” them into striking.  Consequently, the use of a sonar unit is a must.  One of the most popular units for Crappie ice-fishing is the Vexilar FL-8.  This particular unit is a four-color flasher that will allow you to “see” the structure and composition of the bottom as well as the fish, your lure and the depth.  Another electronic gadget that works well for Crappie Ice Fishing is an underwater camera.  These cameras are capable of providing digital read outs of their depth as well as the direction it’s pointing.  Once you’ve found the fish, you simply drill your hole and drop the lure to the appropriate depth.  If you’re trying to hit the bottom dwellers as opposed to the suspended fish, using a flash unit with a bottom zoom will make your task much easier.