Quote Originally Posted by deathb4disco View Post
CrappiePappy has written an article on "Vertical Casting". I've been using the same method for about forty years. It works!
Here's the article : Crappie Pappy Article

Other than using this method, if I were to encounter the same situation you've described, I would probably downsize my bait & jighead. If I had them, I might also consider adding some "meat", as Badgerloader suggests.

Their "interest" in your bait may have been more "curiosity" than a desire to feed on it. Their close proximity to the bottom could also be a sign that they were in a neutral/resting mode at the time, possibly from weather/water conditions.