I always thought crappies schooled pretty much by size. If the lake you fish is on the small side it is possible that they have stunted? I fish a lake that's about 120 acres and have NEVER caught a crappie longer than 9" and I assume they are just so abundant that they are all small. Crappies grow fast and die young so things like that can happen pretty fast. Any predators (pike, walleyes) in the lake in question? BTW....your wife cleans fish? Wow! You and Crappie 1 are two might lucky fellas. My wife don't fish, don't clean fish, don't eat fish, and don't stand up and cheer when I go fishing. Come to think of it...maybe she DOES stand up and cheer when I go fishing.