“We added a rack to the bow of our Triton to hold trolling rods,” Cory Sipes says. “We also use this bow rack for pushing baits.” Sipes designed an aluminum rack that allows them to fish 8 poles off the bow.

Storing long poles while running has always been a challenge for crappie pros. Sipes: “When moving from spot to spot in a tournament, we needed a way to get all our poles back fishing as quickly as possible. It’s frustrating to place poles on the boat floor for a run, only to find them all tangled upon arriving at a spot.”

Sipes solved this problem by making iron rod holders than can accommodate four poles up to 20 feet long on each side of the boat. One end of the holder has sections of PVC pipe to accommodate pole handles, while the other end has rod rack-slots and a snap to secure rod tips.

When running his single-console Ranger, Outlaw places all his 14- to 16-foot poles on the portside of the deck. He recommends single-console bass boats rather than dual-console models, for easier storage of long poles.

The locker system in Driscoll’s War Eagle allows him to store six 8-foot rods in tubes, and there’s additional space that he uses to secure long trolling poles. Both sides of his boat have a flat surface so longer rods can be laid on the carpet and strapped down for a run. “The biggest reason we break poles is through mistreatment, and one of the worst things is to let them rub on an aluminum surface. The metal quickly rubs the finish off a pole,” Driscoll warns. “Once you get a weak spot on a crappie pole, it breaks soon enough.”

For pulling crankbaits, most anglers place holders on the stern. Driscoll also designed a rod rack system for the rear of his boat so he can hold eight long rods for a different technique he plans to employ later. The rack allows him to slow-troll with minnows in the morning and then switch to another tactic later in the day, without having to break down the poles and store them.

Minnow Buckets and Livewells: Since live minnows are used often, the War Eagle Predator 861 has an aerated, insulated plastic minnow bucket built into the bow. Driscoll notes that other manufacturers place minnow buckets on the sides of their boats, but that the War Eagle’s central placement means you don’t have to turn to get bait, which prevents watching your poles.

Driscoll’s boat also has a compartment next to the aerated minnow bucket that holds marker buoys. “We designed it so two buoys fit inside,” he says. “Other than your trolling motor and poles, buoys are the next most important tool when fishing reservoirs. We immediately drop one to mark a brushpile, stakebed, ledge, or drop,” he adds.

Livewell placement varies among boats, and opinions vary as well. Some experts prefer a front livewell on their rigs. Driscoll’s War Eagle has a divided livewell with recirculating system directly behind the front seats. It has a cord running from the corner of the seat to the livewell lid. When he turns, the cord lifts the livewell lid so he can quickly deposit his catch. The War Eagle also has a divided livewell on the rear deck, along with two ice chests.

Walters and Outlaw, by contrast, have no problem with the livewells on the back of their Ranger boats, though Walters would prefer a larger one. “Some bass-boat livewells aren’t big enough for a limit of big crappies,” he says. “I’d rather have a bit more water.” He solves this problem by carrying an oxygen tank that he refills at a welding supplier. He believes injecting pure oxygen helps keep his fish alive.

Whatever waters you fish, and whatever your favorite tactics, more options than ever are available in boat style, size, and features. When considering a boat, talk to crappie experts and pros and discuss options with boat dealers. Catalogs and company websites also allow you to comparison-shop from home, looking for features and price-points most important to you.

Freelance writer John Neporadny’s work is often seen on the pages of ­In-Fisherman’s various annual Guides and in In-Fisherman magazine. Neporadny works from his home in Lake Ozark, MO.