Catch more crappie with this! by Brad

If you are struggling with being able to catch a limit of crappie when you go fishing consider long-lining, trolling or pushing and adding rod holders or a rod rack system. Having multiple rods out allow anglers to get more lures or minnows in front of crappie which will result in you catching more fish. The good news is there are several choices when it comes to picking out rod holders or a rod rack system.


There are numerous options when it comes to adding rod holders to your boat. You can start off with just adding a single, fixed rod holder and base. While these are limited to the ability to adjust often they can be turned for just the right placement. It’s common for these fixed rod holders to hold rods from 0 to 50 degree angle depending on which one you purchase.


Driftmaster Rod Holders has a complete line of rod holders; in addition to rod holder racks. Both single rod holder and racks have advantages to using them. Often it depends on what the angler is fishing for and the boat they are using.


Crappie anglers spider rigging on the bow of their boat usually want a single rod system separate from the other single rod system that way when a pole moves only one will move and not the entire rack. The Driftmaster T-275-HC Crappie Stalker is attached to a base mounted to the boat’s floor, but is fully independently adjustable allowing an angler to move the rod forward and backwards or rod tip up or down. That allows an angler to get the rod tip near the surface of the lake plus adjusts the Crappie Stalker to avoid electronics or the trolling motor.



Renowned power troller Les Smith from Mississippi utilizes several different styles of rod holders and rod racks on his center console fiberglass boat. “The bow of my boat has a rack similar to a crows foot, but designed to fit in my boat with the sonar units. It has 4 Driftmaster Rod Holders Li’l Pro on each side of it,” Smith continued, “I use a 1/8-ounce Trout Magnet Fin Spin and attached a Trout Magnet Slab Curly for the top jig. For the bottom jig I use a 1/4-ounce Fin Spin Pro that has a shad dart head and hand-tied body of five layers of rubber, flashabou, tinsel and thread. On the Fin Spin Pro I will attach a Slab Curly for a larger profile especially during the summer months; in addition to the lure I will have a 3-ounce round egg weight. That’s a lot of weight and strain, but my Driftmaster have never failed or broke.”


In the stern of Smith’s boat he has two planer board racks designed for big boats like his although Driftmaster has several options when it comes to rod racks anglers can choose from. “I’m pulling planer boards for trolling PICO Lures Crankbaits very successfully for crappie fishing while power trolling up front,” said Smith.


The one thing Smith does in the spring is change out his front rod holders to the HC Gun Slingers. “The Gun Slinger rod holder allows me to set the hook by quickly moving the rod sideways without raising the rod upward allowing me to get a good hook set,” Smith continued, “That’s the only thing I switch. Driftmaster makes the highest quality, adjustable and sturdy rod holders and racks you can buy.”


For anglers not wanting to drill holes in their boats Driftmaster Rod Holders offers a T-250-HP and T-250-HCP no drill trolling system. “When I got my new boat I didn’t want to drill holes in it to attach rod holders or rod racks,” Beaver Lake Crappie Guide Brad Wiegmann continued, “So, I got the Crow Foot system by Driftmaster. It attaches to the seat post and can fit two different sizes of seat pins one should fit your boat. The system is available with just the Crow Foot Rack by itself or with 6 or 8 different rod holders.”




Wiegmann noted that the rack was perfect for using during the summer months during prime time for trolling for crappie with PICO Lures Crankbaits. Utilizing 8 rod holders out of the stern of the boat Wiegmann can have 4 rods/lures out each side of the boat when trolling.


The Crows Foot Rack can be used in the bow or stern area of the boat. It can be taken off at anytime by just pulling the seat upward and removing the pin/pedestal from the boat.