There are many methods and they all work, and some better under some type conditions than others.
And some better for some people than others, depending on the mindset of the person.
I personally don't much enjoy reeling in a Crappie from behind the boat after he caught my lure.
Same goes for Walleyes and most others for that matter.
If im going to troll for Crappies, id much rather it be on a short line from the front of the boat.
I prefer a long single pole with a jig, with a minnow attached if necessary, while I move very slowly along the edges of weeds or other type structure. I frankly don't cast well enough to keep my lure away from the tree branches like Richard Gene does.
I have found that if I put a second rod in a rod holder on the opposite side I catch more fish, especially if it wears a minnow. If that rod starts out fishing me, I add another, and maybe yet another till I can no longer use the one im holding because of all the others. When that happens I will try one with just a jig without a minnow, or just a hook with a minnow. Point is that method has helped me see there are other ways that work and work well.
And, although I have some very long rods for that use, I don't use them because of the storage issue.
I have several 3' sections of 3" pvc pipe zip tied to my console with telescopic rods stored in them and they work just fine for that. Just have some different length rigs premade and wrapped around sections of foam pool noodle and use snaps to attach to the rod and the hook or jig. I usually just leave them on the rod when it's folded up and wrap a short pc of Velcro over the hook as I do with my others also. Try using them when it's windy with floats attached also and just drift with them all around the boat. Just bump the motor as needed, and maybe drag a pc of chain.
If I were a dedicated troller, I would no doubt use the long rods and leave all the others home, but im not, and since it is my second choice, this works well for me.
Fact is though some of the locals around here do prefer trolling and drifting, and guess what rods they use.
Bottom line to the O P is that I would recommend trying another method without going overboard with cost in order to do so.