don't know if this will help or not, but :
my experiences have not been on KY/Barkley (so keep that in mind) -
but, on Taylorsville Lake (no weeds, lots of timber, both species) ... I've found them to basically utilize the same cover & depth.
and on Watts Bar Lake, in East TN (no weeds, limited timber, stationary docks, both species) ... I've found that the Black Crappie come to spawning areas earlier than White Crappie, favor the deeper water docks during prespawn, and return in the Fall --- whereas the White Crappie seem to come to spawning areas later, favor shallow timber/docks, and tend to stay in deeper water in the Fall.
my Weiss Lake experience is too limited to offer any substantial info, or differing results.
I'm sure you've already read the KDFWR Tagging Study results, but it may be helpful to revisit one particular finding of that study : Black Crappie come in earlier, spawn shallower, and stay shallower longer than the White Crappie (during the spawning period).
You may be seeing other anglers with a greater percentage of White Crappie, simply due to the fact that they are still fishing the time proven areas and methods that they've always used (primarily targeting the known factors of White Crappie habits/habitat).
The fact that you are catching a 50/50 ratio, could indicate that you are covering the habitat ranges of both ... or, that the increased number of Black Crappie is gradually taking over your catch ratio ... or, that the Black Crappie are using the same habitat, or taking over the habitat range of the decreasing White Crappie population.
Both species, in their adult years, eat primarily the same foodsource ... so I don't know if there's any specific "bait" that's more prone to catching Black Crappie. Don't know of any specific method or presentation that favors catching Black Crappie over White Crappie, either.
... luck2ya ... cp