Oh you are taking me back.
We used to fish, and dad still does, fish for crappie a lot in the spring back in the late 70's through the 80's. It was like you said. Livewells full of 2lbers. Nobody questioned you if you had some topping 3lb. We always worked the Eagel Rock area, Big and Little Indian as well as up and down the Kings.
But a new generation showed up and coupled with other things the fishing suffered. I remember well the blood curdling screams that came with the new 10 inch 15 fish limits imposed on some lakes. I wish it was a 12 inch limit. If you would have kept a 10 inch back in that day you would have been run off the lake!
I have always been amazed that these lake produce like they do. I mean Stockton is beat hard all year.There are literally millions of crappie coming out of there ever year.