Speckanator had it right. You have have all you want in the boat but only 8 rods in the water at any given time, usually with a limit of 2 baits per line. That's the rules that CrappieUSA, Crappie Masters and ACT have. Most of the local clubs like FCC, Peach State Crappie Club, CrappieNutz etc, usually follow those same guidelines. I have seen smaller Fruit Jar/Pot Luck tournaments waive the 8 pole limit and go with 12 or as many as you like. But whatever is specified is the amounts of rods that can be fished at any given time during tournament hours....God Luck!!