I've noticed the jig/Roadrunner bite from the Crappie, is very light also !! Now, put a minner or bug out there .... and they'll grab it and go - but, the artificials ... they just seem to kinda make the line "shake/vibrate" ever so slightly. And, as clear as that lake is, it was a surprise to me that they seemed to like to suspend just a foot or so below the visibility depth.
Did you happen to notice any schools of small Shad ?? Last years 'breeders" were about 7-8" long. They should have spawned already. I hate it that they're in there, but what is done is done. I just hope the Crappie can sustain themselves on the little'uns. Don't sound good, that the 7-8" Crappie you caught were "thin". I'm thinkin the larger Crappie must stay a bit deeper, like in the 10-15ft depth range ... and hang out around the bases of the submerged Cedars & other trees.
Everyone's in a rush, nowadays ..... it's just the nature of people today. Don't expect them to offer to help ... with people suing people at the drop of a hat, many people don't want to take the chance of getting involved or "helping". They're afraid that if they mess up .... they'll end up in a lawsuit. I find the best course of action, is to let the "impatient" ones go ahead of me ... I'm not in all that big a hurry, anyway. ........... cp