what am i doing wrong

[S10CHEVY]

If your using larger baits or plastics, then you need to downsize. Did you at least ask at what depth they were fishing. It never hurts to ask.

[Ketchn]

Depth and action or lack of means everything when pursuing crappie
Size and color next ....
The rest of its whatever makes them tick for whatever reason

[skeetbum]

Size and sometimes color make a difference, but I’ve found that presentation is a bigger key. The word jig confuses some folks by making them think that they have to impart action into the lure. In some cases this is true. I most cases for me, finesse with small baits and almost no action produces more than anything else. It’s impossible to hold a jig still, and a lot of folks lift 3 or 4 inches, even more, when they jig, thinking that they like to hit on the fall. While this works sometimes when they’re aggressive, not usually for me. Holding as still as I can, my movements are super slow lift or drop, nothing sudden, and maybe a inch drop in the rod tip and let it resettle.

Another approach is a pendulum cast, letting the jig swing down on a closed bail to a given depth. This covers a bit more water and also does well with tiny bumps of the line or tiny drops of the rod tips along the way. Hope this helps.

[Spoonminnow]

I'll have to try a slow steady retrieve for small finesse lures. Maybe there will be enough action to provoke strikes.
Today I caught a couple dozen after allowing the lures to pause - drop - & then resuming the swim horizontal to the bottom.

[SKs Crappie Catching Adventures]

Y'all listed some good techniques here..... Gotta have a big bag of tricks for these fish.....

[Grainraiser]

I have a spot that you will go fishless if you use and line over 4lb test and a bait over 1.5 inches long. The funny thing is the water is not clear but those fish will not touch a large bait or line over 4 lb test. I tell guys this and they still show up with 10 lb line and 2 inch baits. I have no idea why these crappie are more finicky than any others.

[Capt Cormorant]

A few weeks ago my wife and I were on the fish. We were slinging them in the boat hand over fist. We had three different boats anchor with in 12 feet from us at different times. They were lucky to catch 1 to our every 20th fish we caught. After 30 min one of these boats a guy said "lets find our own fish" they pulled anchor and left. I laughed... Two of the boats ask what I was using. I told them enough information to be successful if they tried. But I didn't tell the exact details. Heck they were close enough to see what we were using..

Now at the boat ramp if someone asks me what I was using. I'll give the exact details and give them any lure/bait if I have extra.

Then there are times my wife will catch 15 fish to my 1. We are using the exact same thing and casting the same place. Go figure!

[wannabe fisherman]

All of the above is correct, but they've left out something I find very important, sometimes you just aren't holding your mouth right.

[Bricks]

All of the above is correct, but they've left out something I find very important, sometimes you just aren't holding your mouth right.

^^^^^^This is the biggest reason you were not catching.

[S10CHEVY]

Wanted to say what wannabe did, a few days ago, but resisted, as some people don't appreciate humor.