Crappie sometimes don't congregate in likely area's, so you have to find where they are most of the time. I got a brush and never caught a fish off of it. Fifty feet away and bam they hang out in a oak brush I have. Location is your key! Hope you find their hiding spots. Nothing wrong with Cedar, Ba Boo, Oak and Willows. I have PVC piles and they hold fish from time to time. Just don't put them to close to one another. You get more numbers one than you will on 3 or 4. Good luck.