The water I catch crappie in does not have gills were I fish. The crappie are normally suspended in deep water and I have never caught a gill in that type of fishing. I am fairly new to crappie fishing from a boat myself. I have never had much luck in shallow water for crappie yet, that's were I look for gills right now. The crappie will be soon moving to shallow water and then it may be a battle between the two then. Gills that will take a crappie minnow are usually worth keeping anyway!
Keep them poles bent and the boat right side up! LOL