Ok, I have access to a private dock on Cumberland. I regularly go down and use a cast net to catch shad for bait (or just b/c I'm bored and want to practice/kill time). I regularly catch significant #s of what would be keeper crappie (as well as some very nice Ky bass) but of course can't keep them. Because I know there are lots of good size crappie suspended under and around the dock, I've taken my kids down a couple of nights with minnows and shad, experimented with light line, hooks, shallow, deep, extra lights, yadaydadayada. Lucky to catch one or two over 4 hours or so. I guess its as simple as explaining that these fish are suspended and not feeding but I've now fished for many hours and haven't been lucky enough to be there during a feeding cycle.

Any ideas? Do they just not actively feed under such situations? Its a bear to fish in a spot for a couple of hours, decide to head home, throw the net one last time and catch multiple fish and bait just to have the pleasure of letting the kids throw em back . . .

Thanks in advance for any advice.