tader, it's a tough go with most any kind of bait now. From the reading, it appears that most fish are being caught using minners but jigs DO catch fish. Since youre having such a hard time with them I'd recommend minners during the cold months and start this spring tossing a jig under a cork and using a steady retrieve. Once the crappie make a move towards the shallows you should be able to fill coolers using this method. As far as verticle jigging, maybe others will chime in since I've never done any of that style of fishing.