I was casting a Bill Norman Middle N crankbait (in white with a lt
purple back)

Right there is your problem, you were throwing the wrong color and size Norman!
Where was the ol' standby? ;-)

Seriously, did YOU not try a spinnerbait? It's like your second bait after a
crankbait, is it not? Fishing a spinnerbait over and in the weeds and ripping
it free from time to time might have gotten a bigger bite. Maybe slow rolling
the bait over and around the deeper weeds.

I would have also had to try a Crigged plastic in the grass beds. I know it's
a pain in the rear to do it in the weeds, but it can pay off. I've fished in
the wind in weeds and got away with using a 3/8 oz. bullet weight on the Crig.
I could still cast and feel the weeds and the hangups were a bit less.

Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com