Hey Froze,
You probably weren't doing a dang thing wrong. I've been fishing in WI since Thanksgiving day, and have yet to find anything that works. The only suggestion that I can give based on my luck so far is that size does matter. Go small. Size 14 at the largest. Don't use a whole waxie or mousie. Break off anything that isn't necessary to cover the wire. I've been using dark colored marmooskas and that's about all I can get to work. Black seems to be the best.
In 6' of water you really can't do much with your presentation. The only thing to remember is don't stop what you were doing to bring the fish in the first place. I'm guessing you were sight-fishing by your post. If the fish came in to a jigging bait, and when they get close you stop jigging, it can turn them off. Keep jigging. Just tone it down a little. Keep the jig moving, just make the movements smaller so they've got a change to inhale it.
Take this all with a few grains of salt. After all, I've been fishing for 2 months and still haven't caught more than a dozen panfish in one outing.
kerosene