I have seen what they look like after a year or two in the water. Barren River is drawn down 25 foot in the winter. They end up being about like a pointy fence post with a few nubs sticking out. Once you get past the main trunk they reall don't have that much meat on them.

A bucket with cane is probably better but doesn't seem to last as long. A bunch of christmas trees set pretty close together are good the second and third years. Like a forest of stickups. One tree won't amount to much.

As more and more people are getting out of tobacco I am able to get tobacco sticks (good hardwood) and use them in buckets and in cinder blocks. They are sturdy and last a long time in the water. Three arranged in a triangle on a sloping point is a very good tactic.

There is lots of good info in Crappie cover and structure forum.